The present invention relates to a rear suspension for a vehicle such as a bicycle, a motorcycle or the like, of the type that includes a frame (1), a swinging arm (7) integral with the frame (1) carrying the axle (11) of the hub of a
drive wheel and a
shock absorber (15) whose ends are secured, respectively, to the frame (1) and to the swinging arm (7), the drive torque being transmitted to the
drive wheel by a chain (Z) extending between a drive
sprocket secured to the frame (1) and a driven
sprocket secured to the axle (11) of the hub of the
drive wheel, said chain (Z) between the drive and driven sprockets forming two strands; the stretched, upper one, which transmits the drive torque to the rear drive wheel, and the other, “return” lower one, the swinging arm (7) being secured to said frame (1) by at least two articulation means (12, 13) so that the swinging arm (7) pivots about an “instantaneous
centre of rotation” point C that is movable when the hub of the drive wheel is displaced on either side of its reference position Pr corresponding to the position of the axle (11) of the hub of the drive wheel when the vehicle is in a static equilibrium position, characterized in that the instantaneous
centre of rotation C is displaced upwards along a parabolic path T, the asymptote A of which is oriented towards the rear free end of the swinging arm (7) carrying the axle (11) of the hub of the drive wheel when said hub of the drive wheel is displaced above its reference position Pr.