REVIEW - Cascade Components Linkage Upgrade for Transition Sentinel and Kona Process

[@jessupparo2903]

I would think if you put some grease on the washers to stick them to the bearing would make it easier

[@codystallard5572]

I’ve had the Kona 160 link since summer. They explain it perfect. Been raving about these. This is gonna push companies to make bikes ride better, great for the industry! Cheers!

[@colelarsen8195]

Love it on my v1 Sentinel!

[@harveycasey1900]

A review on the cascade link that I wasn't expecting but one that I really wanted to hear👍🏾 I plan on putting one on my MEGATOWER with a push coil as well. Thanks for the info. CHEERS🤙🏾

[@vitalmtb]

Glad it was helpful!

[@LastAphelion]

Yo I wanna know how that worked out for you, still riding it how you like it?

[@harveycasey1900]

@@LastAphelion the cascade link & a Megatower is like peanut butter and chocolate. They were made for each other but adding the link eliminated the hi & low adjustment settings, so now my bike only rides in the hi position. It's all good though because there's less pedal strikes. I decided not to go with the push coil because of the weight & price so I'm just rocking the rock shox super deluxe ultimate. I ❤️ riding my bike.

[@symmetricon1982]

I got the link on my sb150 and love it, especially paired with my EXT Storia. It's brilliant feeling

[@vitalmtb]

wow, that's a dialed upgrade!

[@nick.j2772]

Im going to second that. I put it on my SB130 along with an EXT Era fork and Storia shock and it has made my bike a whole lot more capable, although its hard to say how much of a role the link has played because it all got changed at once.

[@symmetricon1982]

@@nick.j2772 wish I could afford the fork

[@nick.j2772]

Yea they are not cheap, but there are not all that more expensive than a new zeb or 38. I ordered the Era and Storia together and for some reason I was given a 38% discount on the Era, so for the both it came to about 2100eur.

[@russelwatson5876]

I've got it on my Sentinel with a Push 11-6 and it feels superb, I recommend both

[@ThomasSchoen]

Same here. Riding the link with a Push 11/6 and it is fantastic

[@MrNoddyNottelling]

Running one on my v4 nomad, not a bad word to say and highly recommended upgrade.

[@lexusstefan927]

got a v4 nomad frame on the way, if you can share a bit more about what it improved specifically and how the ride feel changes to the stock link youd help me out a ton deciding whether to get this off the bat for it

[@2dcutout]

@@lexusstefan927 I ran one on my V4 and didn't notice a ton of difference. I think it's a more subtle change on the Nomad than either of these bikes or the Stumpjumper Evo - bikes that are noticeably very linear. I had to up my air pressure about 30% - 140psi to 180psi (so doesn't work for those who're near max shock pressure with a stock link) and I got a little more progression, but I would still bottom the bike out occasionally. The bike felt good, 177mm rear travel is a lot so it was a very confident bike everywhere. Not sure it made me faster or gave more mid-stroke support. (again, I got my link cheap second hand) I guess I should have done some real back to back testing... Certainly a nice quality item. I've got a second hand Stumpy Cascade link here now, waiting for one to come up for sale at a reasonable price, so I'll go through all this again (and the fact I'm going this path again should tell you I have faith in the product). My suggestion - try the V4 as factory for a while, see how it feels. If it feels like you'll benefit from the changes the link gives, go for it.

[@jeffshappard8227]

Great review, thanks for putting this together. I've been looking at these links and will put them on the wish list for 2021 on my Offering. I'd be interested to hear from anyone here has one on this platform. Cheers

[@blackhorsegrind4255]

Agree would also like to hear how they are compatible with after market or high end coil shocks

[@lj1177]

The way I looked at it: only $350 for a new more capable Sentinel. It really is a no brainer. The link delivers on its promise.

[@pseudomugilidae5897]

I have the cascade link on my 2019 Stumpjumper Evo and I'm very happy with it. The stock link on the evo is in my opinion somewhat compromised in terms of what the geometry of that bike is capable of, and the cascade link goes a long way towards fixing that. I can run much higher pressure in the shock to control bottom out without harshness, and the bike is poppier and absorbs bumps and hard landings better. It still bottoms more harshly than I want it to, but I'm going to fix that with a shock that has a better bottom out bumper than the stock DPX2 performance which doesn't feel like it has one at all.

[@levinsonl]

thank you vital! would have been curious to hear more about how it affected use of tokens or how it felt different compared to increasing progressivity with tokens

[@codystallard5572]

I had to run 3 reducers in my Super deluxe and still bottomed out on high speed compressions easy! Cascaded bike I use 1 reducer, and I can’t really bottom it out unless I huck to flat 10ft. Dude it’s the best. Soaks up small bumps, it’s like a new bike actually. Almost sold my 2017 process too!

[@levinsonl]

@@codystallard5572 thanks dude, considering it for my 2018 process

[@Coerced]

Wonder when Kona will finally release a new lineup

[@codystallard5572]

They came out with a new process 153 this year. Also a process X, 170-160 bike. They are both still pretty linear compared to the Cascaded bike.

[@mattbass4807]

I love my process 165

[@stefanbucher9054]

Has anyone here tried this link with a coil shock that had a progressive coil? I want to know if it gets too light up top with a weird progression. Just wondering. Thanks 👍

[@djmarcante]

Love bike TRANSITION

[@kwilson4880]

I love transition and kona so this is a ideal review for me

[@NastyTranquillin]

@@kwilson4880 agreed!

[@meganNefarious]

The Cascade link is AMAZING!!! I cannot recommend it enough! Everyone would benefit from one : )

[@JogBird]

what does this thing do?

[@8664antonio]

for my levo is top update!

[@alecchrz]

as a patrol owner i kind of want it for bike park season

[@bstill30]

I’ve been running it on my Patrol since last July. Spent all summer at Silver Mtn Bike Park and it definitely improved the fun and comfort factor. I’m running a coil as well so the added progression along with the added travel was certainly welcomed. I have a full on DH bike and it has sat on the rack collecting dust. Bike still pedals well uphill and shuttle days are just as fun as park days.

[@howejohn1]

Will this fit on my chameleon?

[@vitalmtb]

yeah, only on the fork though

[@howejohn1]

@@vitalmtb cascade linkage fork confirmed.

[@RyuMoto]

I just installed the link on my SB150. Did you guys notice that to keep the same sag you had to add more air pressure?

[@vitalmtb]

they go into more specifics in our website article if you want to dig in - www.vitalmtb.com/features/REVIEW-Cascade-Components-Linkage-Upgrade-for-Transition-Sentinel-and-Kona-Process,3021

[@codystallard5572]

I run way more sag. 30% now compared to 23%. Went from 3 to 1 volume reducers. 165psi to 155 ish now

[@paul.p.smellthetruth2667]

Hmm, question is, if adding this to the frame or selling the shock and getting an EXT Storia instead gives the better result. Price and weight should end at roughly the same and resale worth is better with the ext shock instead of a modified frame

[@steveo_bikes]

I have a 2021 kona 153dl and love to know if it is worth getting for everyday use

[@dchi2125]

I don't think the Kona link will fit because the 2021 models have a new suspension layout compared to the 2020 model

[@ralph14836]

Cascade link went over center over compressed rear shock jamb rear tire against seatpost I went over the bars took 3 mechanics to pull it out sent link and frame to cascade for evaluation and they could not find anything wrong except minor bearing wear and they sent all it back said tuff pal we can’t find any fault with our product. Lesson learned Factory engineers design frames best not to try to make a frame travel further than it was designed for! Now I’m stuck with a damaged $4k carbon frame front triangle. I changed back to Santa Cruz standard link to be safe. I have videos without shock on that I sent to cascade they you can see how link allows head of bolt gouge into frame and jamb

[@gabrielandreszunigacaceres8468]

Kona 🙌🏻⛰🤘🏻🚲

[@LawrenceMacMacster]

I made customs d- link and rock arm for my trance x29 out of 7075, anyway long story short it was pretty involved and went too deep in some bearings cups it was missing material so I used shim spacers, it extremely heavy compared to the hollow d-link and composite rock arm, also using existing reign parts would've achieved the same results 😅 Waste of time and materials but fun experience.

[@NastyTranquillin]

Need one for my 2019 Patrol 🤙

[@bstill30]

Yes you do!

[@NastyTranquillin]

@@bstill30 been thinking about switching from my dpx2 to a float x2. Do you think an x2 plus the cascade link would be good?

[@bstill30]

@@NastyTranquillin I have a buddy running the CC Link with the X2 on his Sentinel and swears by it.

[@NastyTranquillin]

@@bstill30 sweet dude! Looks like I gotta spend some 💰 🤑 💸

[@LastAphelion]

@@bstill30 Still rocking and liking it a year later?

[@Will762]

Interesting. I guess the single biggest downside is the cost. Money no object, they sound like a no-brainer, but for over £320 in the UK (for Norco Sight) there are many other things on the upgrade list before a Cascade link.

[@sameerjg]

Ye I guess but if I think about it I just bought a reverb Axs and my megatower frame already cost 3.4 grand... so to that amount it doesn’t seem like that much if you know what I mean but ye

[@ssjj9584]

Did the link change the geo or bb height at all?

[@vitalmtb]

Not on these particular models, no. Links for certain Yeti models do though.

[@antn8387]

make a billet maestro link plz

[@antn8387]

yes to billet aluminum!!!

[@normanmommu1]

So you are asking 352$ for the damn rocker link, and you can't even CNC it out of a superior material (made out of 6061-T6 instead of 7075-T6), the link would be a lot more lighter.

[@grantwarden7848]

7075 has a 70% higher strength to weight ratio than 6061, so no, it would not be lighter if it was made of 6061.

[@normanmommu1]

@@grantwarden7848 Yeah, that's what I was trying to say, just bad wording lol, it's made out of 6061, SHOULD be made out of 7075

[@grantwarden7848]

@@normanmommu1 I see. If they were to maintain their margins when going to 7075, the link would be uber expensive.

[@nathankennedy4556]

all these people getting cascade links and I can steal their carbon shock rockers for my alloy patrol!

[@Arera1974]

After purchasing I contacted customer service... over 20 days, 2 different tickets and 1 message to get a response from their office, seems excessive to me. Disappointed

[@bbundesbahn]

Painting says: "Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof" is an aphorism which appears in the Sermon on the Mount in the Gospel of Matthew chapter 6 - Matthew 6:34. It implies that we should not worry about the future, since each day contains an ample burden of evils and suffering.

[@Montblanc1986]

I can't believe anyone wants to buy a heavy complicated link for 360 dollars... nuts

[@meteormedia7021]

Way too expensive.

[@codystallard5572]

But vs. getting a new bike??

[@stephenkohler3472]

Every time a video starts out with some guy locking up the rear wheel instead of knowing how to actually ride fast, I immediately think "worthless bro-brah review on its way"

[@stephenkohler3472]

@@boblatkey7160 Oh, I don't know. Maybe because it destroys the trails?

[@marshall1oo627]

this presenter talks like a drill Sargent dude relax.

[@vitalmtb]

you should have seen his try-out video. he's relaxed a ton since, check it out! kzbin.info/www/bejne/qnnbl2Rtrq-mgdU

[@TheAngelicDoctor]

Yes Mr. Roach go off