Specialized Future Shock installation

[Splatter Paint]

This is an interesting vid on installing the Future Shock on a bike. I was surprised how little steerer is above the headset bearing and there are two bloody big slots in it and a drilled hole! Assembly begins around the 3.30m mark.

 

[zerogravitas]

I guess because its not being clamped by the stem as normal it doesn't matter.. The lower part of the shock assembly presumably acts like a tall compression plug that pushes out on the inside of the steerer tube, mostly below the slotted section.
Well made video on setting up this system and interesting to see how they solved putting preload on the bearings.

It looks heavy!

 

[Splatter Paint]

Reportedly 400g ish.

The early ones had a service life of 500 hours and then the whole unit needed replacing!

All for 20mm of travel.