syn.bike

What It Is

syn Linkage Designer is professional engineering software for analyzing bicycle suspension, frame geometry, and spring setup. It brings linkage, geometry, and spring setup into a single workflow, allowing engineers to evaluate everything from geometric layout and linkage kinematics to the wheel-end forces, wheel rates, and energy absorption that riders actually experience.

Core Features

Its core modules include Geometry Layout, Linkage Synthesis, Spring Setup, Metrics, Optimizer, Compare, and Data Management. Compared with traditional approaches that focus only on leverage ratios, syn emphasizes the combined effects of shock pressure, linkage progression, volume spacer configuration, and other factors, enabling users to directly examine wheel forces, wheel rates, and energy absorption. The optimization module can run global optimization based on target curves and point constraints, using cloud computing clusters to deliver faster results. The comparison module can load up to 20 bicycle configurations, making it suitable for comparing different linkages, geometries, sizes, versions, spring setups, and rider attributes.

Collaboration, Security, and Deployment

Data management is a key focus for team use. The system provides three types of databases: Public, Private, and Team. The public database is used for templates and common air springs; the private database is for personal models and version management; and the team database provides centralized storage, user-level permissions, a team management panel, and PDM-like access control. On security, the documentation states that it is based on Google Cloud Services with ISO and SOC certifications, uses encryption for data in transit and at rest, and applies AES 256-bit encryption to the database. Deployment is primarily cloud-based, while a Windows desktop application is also available for local file workflows. Self-hosting is not mentioned.

Pricing and Trial

The Free plan is $0/month and limited to non-commercial use. It includes kinematic analysis, geometry layout, the public database, limited private storage, and basic spring configuration. The Professional plan is aimed at OEMs and includes full cloud solving, optimization, advanced flip chip analysis, team data storage, unlimited private storage, CAD plugins, and priority support. A 30-day trial is available with no credit card required. The Startup plan is designed for smaller companies and requires contacting sales. The main drawback is that pricing for commercial plans is not publicly disclosed.

Pros, Cons, and Best Fit

syn’s strengths are its focused use case, deep engineering metrics, mature team data management, and the ability to integrate cloud optimization and CAD plugins into a professional R&D workflow. Its limitations are that it serves a narrow industry niche, while API availability, specific CAD compatibility, Chinese-language support, payment methods, and access from mainland China are not disclosed. It is best suited to bicycle OEMs, suspension/frame engineers, and small bicycle R&D companies; it may not be the right fit for general CAD or broad simulation needs.

Access from China and Alternatives

The documentation does not state whether the official website can be accessed reliably from mainland China, or whether RMB or local payment methods are supported, so these remain unknown. Alternatives worth considering include Linkage X3, BikeCAD, Suspension Analyzer, as well as general-purpose CAD/CAE tools such as SolidWorks, Fusion 360, and ANSYS combined with in-house models.