Handlebar shock absorber

A handlebar shock absorber for attachment to a bicycle, the shock absorber comprising:

• a shock-absorbing gas cylinder having an adjustable pre-stressed length;
• a knuckle having a lower pivot mount for attachment to the gas cylinder;
• and
• an arm assembly pivotably coupled to the knuckle and including an end portion for attachment to a bicycle handlebar and an upper pivot mount rearward of the end portion for attachment to the gas cylinder, wherein the gas cylinder extends between the lower and upper pivot mounts to dampen rotation of the arm assembly relative to the knuckle.

A handlebar shock absorber comprising:

• a shock-absorbing cylinder including upper and lower portions moveable in relation to each other to define a pre-stressed length;
• an arm assembly including forward and rearward end portions and an upper pivot mount therebetween, the upper pivot mount being joined to the cylinder upper portion, wherein the cylinder extends downwardly from the upper pivot mount;
• and
• a knuckle pivotably mounted to the arm assembly rearward end portion and including a lower pivot mount joined to the cylinder lower portion, wherein the pre-stressed length of the shock-absorbing cylinder is manually adjustable to elevate or lower the arm assembly relative to the knuckle.

A handlebar shock absorber for attachment to a bicycle steering tube, the handlebar shock absorber comprising:

• a knuckle adapted to be non-rotatably mounted to the bicycle steering tube;
• an arm assembly pivotably mounted to the knuckle;
• and
• a shock-absorbing cylinder partially housed within the arm assembly and pivotably mounted to the arm assembly and to the knuckle to dampen rotation of the arm assembly relative to the knuckle, the shock-absorbing cylinder including an adjustable pre-stressed length and a spring force, wherein adjustment of the pre-stressed length does not vary the spring force.

A handlebar shock absorber comprising:

• a knuckle including a lower pivot mount;
• a shock-absorbing cylinder coupled to the lower pivot mount and including:
• a gas spring including an internal chamber,
• a valve for controlling the flow of gas into the internal chamber, and
• an end cap extending over the valve and pivotably coupled to the lower pivot mount;
• and
• an arm assembly including an upper pivot mount for attachment to the cylinder, wherein the cylinder extends between the lower and upper pivot mounts to dampen rotation of the arm assembly relative to the knuckle.