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Watch: Mad Scientist Swaps Bicycle Suspension Springs for Magnets

Colin Furze built a bicycle whose suspension uses opposing magnets instead of springs or a fork. Here is how the build came together, what New Atlas reported about its ride and magnet force, and what remains unproven.
Entry511 Date Time4 min MechanicCarCody Team
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Colin Furze built a bicycle whose suspension uses opposing magnets mounted to a custom frame, in place of conventional springs or a suspension fork. New Atlas covered the build on December 14, 2025, describing it from the video, and reported that the bike rode plushly over a range of terrain but did not cope well with very large undulations. The build is an engineering experiment shown on video, not a tested or production suspension system. The original report is New Atlas’s article by Abhimanyu Ghoshal, and everything below comes from that account.

How magnetic suspension is supposed to work

A conventional bicycle suspension absorbs bumps with a spring, usually steel or air, and often damps the motion with oil. In the Furze build, opposing magnets take over that job. The general principle is that two magnets facing each other across a gap exert a force that changes as the gap changes, so the frame can be made to resist compression and rebound in a spring-like way. The New Atlas report does not describe the exact arrangement, such as which parts carry the magnets or how the force curve was tuned, so the mechanism is best understood at this general level.

How the build came together

According to the New Atlas summary of the video, the project moved through four stages:

  1. Calculate the magnetic force the suspension would need to provide.
  2. Test candidate magnets with a homemade test device.
  3. Modify an older bicycle so it could accept bearing holders and magnets.
  4. Build a magnet-equipped bicycle from scratch on a custom frame.

The report frames the older bicycle as a test platform and the final machine as the purpose-built version. It does not give the design calculations, the test results from the homemade device, or the reasoning behind changes between the two stages.

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The reported figures

  • Magnet pairs: the final build uses two pairs of magnets.
  • Pulling force: New Atlas reports more than 1,100 lb (500 kg) of pulling force for each pair.
  • Source of the number: this is the publication’s description of the build as shown in the video. It is not an independent measurement, and it is not a general specification for strong magnets.

A force figure alone does not describe a suspension. Stiffness across the travel, how the force changes at different positions, and whether the force is linear are all unreported, so the number should be read as the scale of magnets used rather than as a performance rating.

How the ride performed

New Atlas describes the ride as plush across a range of terrain. It also notes that the system did not handle very large undulations well. Those two observations are the only performance statements the report makes, and both come from the publication’s reading of the video rather than from timed, repeatable testing.

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Magnetic build compared with conventional suspension

Comparison point Magnetic build (as reported) Conventional spring or suspension fork
Mechanism Opposing magnets on a custom frame, replacing springs and forks Spring element, often with oil damping, in a fork or rear shock
Terrain response Plush across a range of terrain; struggled with very large undulations (New Atlas, December 14, 2025) Not compared with this build in the source
Measured performance Not stated; no controlled test data in the source Not compared with this build in the source
Force figure Two magnet pairs, more than 1,100 lb (500 kg) of pulling force each, as reported by New Atlas Not stated for this comparison
Evidence quality Video build summary Established engineering practice; not tested against this build in the source

The table does not show that one approach is better. The source offers no like-for-like measurements, so the only fair conclusion is that the magnetic build is an unproven experiment with an interesting mechanism.

What the source does not establish

  • The magnet material, grade, shape, and dimensions.
  • Supplier information or whether an off-the-shelf magnet could reproduce the build.
  • Detailed mounting geometry and engineering drawings.
  • Controlled performance results, durability, or repeatability.
  • An independent safety evaluation of the bicycle, the magnets, or the mounts.
  • Anything about vehicle suspension. The build is a bicycle, and the report gives no evidence about cars or motorcycles.

Safety if you experiment with strong magnets

The New Atlas report does not address safety, and this article does not recommend building or riding a copy. Strong permanent magnets of the kind needed for forces in this range can snap together hard enough to pinch skin and crush fingers, and they can chip or shatter. They can also erase magnetic-stripe cards and damage electronics. People with implanted cardiac devices should keep strong magnets away from their bodies. Any experiment of this kind needs a qualified assessment of the mounts, the load paths, and the failure modes before anyone rides it.

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Why the video is worth watching

The appeal of the build is in its premise: a bicycle with no conventional spring or fork, and a clear demonstration that magnets can be shaped into a suspension-like force. Watch it as an engineering curiosity that shows what a determined builder can attempt, and read the New Atlas summary for the figures it reports, keeping in mind that they describe one build rather than a tested design.

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  • 【THE RAIL USES SPRING STEEL】 You can rest assured in terms of strength. It's made of imported special alloy spring steel material with fine toughness and wearable. Highly tough and not easily deformed.
  • 【Adjustable Design】 You can adjust it yourself, adjust to a comfortable position according to your needs, reduce bumps on the road, and improve the fun of riding.
  • 【For Most People】-The absorber bear the weight from 45LBS to 330LBS.So it is suitable for your family.
  • 【Raise the Height of Saddle】-The absorber will raise the height of your saddle around 2inchs to 3.35inchs,So please check if your bicycle can do!

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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