The term "anti-squat" refers to a suspension characteristic in motorcycles, particularly in relation to the rear suspension. Anti-squat is designed to counteract the tendency of the rear end of the motorcycle to squat under acceleration, which can affect the bike's stability and handling.
When a motorcycle accelerates, the weight of the rider and the bike shifts toward the rear, causing the rear suspension to compress. This compression reduces the effective length of the swingarm, altering the geometry of the rear suspension. If the swingarm compresses too much, it can negatively affect the bike's stability, traction, and ability to transfer power to the ground.
To counteract this squatting effect, motorcycle designers incorporate anti-squat into the suspension system. Anti-squat is achieved by adjusting the suspension linkage or geometry in a way that causes the rear end to rise under acceleration, rather than compressing excessively. By doing so, it helps to maintain the bike's ride height, keeps the suspension in its optimal range, and improves traction.
The anti-squat characteristic is typically expressed as a percentage. For example, a motorcycle with 100% anti-squat means that the rear end rises vertically without any compression during acceleration. However, in practice, most motorcycles have some degree of squat, as a certain amount of rear-end compression can aid in traction.
It's worth noting that anti-squat is just one aspect of suspension design, and various factors, such as chassis geometry, weight distribution, and rider preference, also influence a motorcycle's handling characteristics. Different motorcycles and riding styles may require different anti-squat percentages to achieve optimal performance.