I've got the standard CC link for my levo.. is it worth the $$$ for the long stroke link + a new shock? I finally got...
I've got the standard CC link for my levo.. is it worth the $$$ for the long stroke link + a new shock? I finally got a functioning X2 attached to the bike and it's feeling pretty damn mint at the moment so I'm not feeling very ambitious to shell out another couple hundred bucks on the long link and new shock.
I cant compare because I havent tried the standard link. For me it was a part of the new bike. I wanted something that could match up to my 170mm EXT Era fork and my 230x65 EXT Storia, the stock bike did not do that so i factored in the (huge!) cost of the CC link when I got the bike. I do see why it costs so much though, so much machining!
Would be cool to see a link for the upcoming Norco Fluid VLT that bumped the travel up to 160. A 160/160 trail emtb under 45 pounds with the SX motor--that would be rad.
I got one for my transition scout. I'm 6'2 and 240lbs. I've have a rock shock super deluxe that I'd filled up volume reducers, and I...
I got one for my transition scout. I'm 6'2 and 240lbs. I've have a rock shock super deluxe that I'd filled up volume reducers, and I had to run about 280PSI to not bottom out on my normal rides. When I ride it that stiff, It tends to be stiffer then I want over the small stuff. So I grabbed myself a cascade link this offseason. Haven't ridden it yet because it snows a lot in Canada.. Hoping I can run lower pressure, and or take out some volume reducers to still not bottom out while getting it a little softer up top.
Thats my plan at least.....wont know how it works till spring.
The link did exactly was I exactly what I was hoping it would (and what the graphs said it would).
I had to run too stiff previously to prevent bottom outs. Now I have only 1 volume reducer instead of 3, and am not bottoming. I'm using about 90-95% of my travel but the small bump stuff is so much better. Turned stutter bumps into a highway....its so plush. I have to pre-load a little earlier on jump lips because more of the travel is active, but this isn't a problem just a difference. I get a little more pedal bob on hard stand up pedaling, but very manageable and not an issue. Pedaling while sitting there isn't a noticeable difference.
The cascade link is doing exactly what it advertised it would and for my style of riding and body characteristics it really upgraded my experience. Its not something that will be an upgrade for everyone I'm sure, do your research and understand what it will do to your suspension and make your decision accordingly.
I'm old and not very brave, but not particularly slow (many top 5s on Strava but I walk some larger drops, etc.). The stock 170mm rear suspension on my 2026 Orbea Wild with an Avy Bomber coil shock felt really quite good, except I bottomed it like 25x per ride. Occasionally the bottom outs were so hard it sounded like a rear wheel exploding; a sound I'm a bit too familiar with unfortunately. Obviously over springing it and/ or over damping it are options, but then it rode quite poorly.
I had not used a Cascade Link since my '21 SJEvo but recalled really liking it. Heck I even see that I posted in this very thread about those experiences. I searched for reviews of the Cascade for this bike but found nothing so rolled the dice figuring I could always sell it and get half my money back if it didn't work for me.
Sheesh, it's such a HUGE improvement. I had to go up a spring rate and add a click of rebound but set up was really easy. The bike just does everything better. It's mildly plusher off the top, but it's that middle portion where it just feels 'freer'. It's very rocky where I ride in CTX and the rear suspension's ability to track and follow the rough ground now, is really quite something. The complete lack of bottom outs and the attending clank my Shimano derailleur would make being completely absent now, is a nice addition to the package.
Generally, I use all of my travel on a ride but I still have 10mm shock shaft unused on my 2 test rides with the Cascade (I have one of those sag indicators installed) but somehow, it feels like I have more travel to absorb obstacles. The suspension is just better now!
I was already running my Mezzer G2 LT at 180mm travel, so that's a match for my new rear travel.
My Wild is built to smash, with heavier components all over it (i.e. 220/200 brakes, 200mm AXS dropper, DH wheels/ tires, Linkglide, coil shock) and as such weighs 50#s. The link added 100 grams.
Ultimately the only people I would not recommend the Cascade link on this bike ('25-'26 Wild) for would be more casual trail riders who maybe built a lightweight version of the bike, and so pedaling efficiency is of the utmost importance.
I cant compare because I havent tried the standard link. For me it was a part of the new bike. I wanted something that could match up to my 170mm EXT Era fork and my 230x65 EXT Storia, the stock bike did not do that so i factored in the (huge!) cost of the CC link when I got the bike. I do see why it costs so much though, so much machining!
Would be cool to see a link for the upcoming Norco Fluid VLT that bumped the travel up to 160. A 160/160 trail emtb under 45 pounds with the SX motor--that would be rad.
No idea and don't care. Their marketing stunk, their behavior here correlated with their marketing.
The link did exactly was I exactly what I was hoping it would (and what the graphs said it would).
I had to run too stiff previously to prevent bottom outs. Now I have only 1 volume reducer instead of 3, and am not bottoming. I'm using about 90-95% of my travel but the small bump stuff is so much better. Turned stutter bumps into a highway....its so plush. I have to pre-load a little earlier on jump lips because more of the travel is active, but this isn't a problem just a difference. I get a little more pedal bob on hard stand up pedaling, but very manageable and not an issue. Pedaling while sitting there isn't a noticeable difference.
The cascade link is doing exactly what it advertised it would and for my style of riding and body characteristics it really upgraded my experience. Its not something that will be an upgrade for everyone I'm sure, do your research and understand what it will do to your suspension and make your decision accordingly.
I'm old and not very brave, but not particularly slow (many top 5s on Strava but I walk some larger drops, etc.). The stock 170mm rear suspension on my 2026 Orbea Wild with an Avy Bomber coil shock felt really quite good, except I bottomed it like 25x per ride. Occasionally the bottom outs were so hard it sounded like a rear wheel exploding; a sound I'm a bit too familiar with unfortunately. Obviously over springing it and/ or over damping it are options, but then it rode quite poorly.
I had not used a Cascade Link since my '21 SJEvo but recalled really liking it. Heck I even see that I posted in this very thread about those experiences. I searched for reviews of the Cascade for this bike but found nothing so rolled the dice figuring I could always sell it and get half my money back if it didn't work for me.
Sheesh, it's such a HUGE improvement. I had to go up a spring rate and add a click of rebound but set up was really easy. The bike just does everything better. It's mildly plusher off the top, but it's that middle portion where it just feels 'freer'. It's very rocky where I ride in CTX and the rear suspension's ability to track and follow the rough ground now, is really quite something. The complete lack of bottom outs and the attending clank my Shimano derailleur would make being completely absent now, is a nice addition to the package.
Generally, I use all of my travel on a ride but I still have 10mm shock shaft unused on my 2 test rides with the Cascade (I have one of those sag indicators installed) but somehow, it feels like I have more travel to absorb obstacles. The suspension is just better now!
I was already running my Mezzer G2 LT at 180mm travel, so that's a match for my new rear travel.
My Wild is built to smash, with heavier components all over it (i.e. 220/200 brakes, 200mm AXS dropper, DH wheels/ tires, Linkglide, coil shock) and as such weighs 50#s. The link added 100 grams.
Ultimately the only people I would not recommend the Cascade link on this bike ('25-'26 Wild) for would be more casual trail riders who maybe built a lightweight version of the bike, and so pedaling efficiency is of the utmost importance.
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