Cascade Components Announce Yeti SB140 Linkage

Nov 21, 2020
by Cascade Components  
SB140 link


PRESS RELEASE: Cascade Components

Our collection of Yeti linkages has been expanded to bring the proven benefits of our SB130 and SB150 links to those that prefer smaller wheels. We are proud to announce the Cascade Components link for the Yeti SB140. The link increases progression to 20% and bumps the travel to 145mm. This means it’s easier to balance bottom out resistance and small bump sensitivity instead of having to choose one or the other. Larger G-outs and cornering feel more composed as well, due to the added mid-stroke support. Additionally, the bike now laughs off the same roots and square edge trail features that it used to hang up on. When the trails get fast, let the Cascade Components link let you keep your fingers off the brakes with the additional stability gained by .5 degree slacker headtube and lower bottom bracket height.

SB140 link colors
The SB140 link is available in black, orange, and silver

The Cascade Components link is perfect for those who demand a bit more from the stock shock or who want to run a coil for the ultimate play bike. The Cascade Components link is not coil specific, however, and works equally well with air and coil shocks. Anyone who finds themselves adjusting their shock, whether it be damping or volume spacers, and worrying about unintended consequences of that adjustment will benefit from this link. No more having to worry about increased damping making small bumps get fed straight through to you or a spiky end of travel that can result from too many volume spacers.

Specs and Details:


• 145 mm of travel
• Progression increased to 20% compared to 13% with stock link
• Sealed Enduro MAX bearings
• CNC’d from 6061-T6 in the USA
• Colors: Black, silver, orange
• Cost: $269 USD.
SB140 leverage curves

For those of you curious about how the pedaling stacks up against the stock link, check out the plot in the SB140 photo album. Just be warned that the difference is small enough to not be noticeable. This link is not intended to improve pedaling at all.

For more information click cascadecomponents.bike/collections/yeti-linkages/products/yeti-sb140-link.

Author Info:
CascadeComponents avatar

Member since May 21, 2019
26 articles

112 Comments
  • 69 5
 At this rate C.C. will soon discover the missing Link. Their latest findings stumbles upon the Yeti, though DNA samples show it's not this Abominable Species as thought!
  • 30 11
 Way to help out the tribe!
  • 7 6
 No such thing as a missing link.
  • 44 3
 @jrocksdh: shhh,we cant use that word around here man
  • 11 4
 @mau416: it's a progressive agenda, it's all good
  • 2 1
 @mtb-scotland: IMy quick went missing, but I soon bought another.
  • 22 1
 It's probably Australopithecus Orthodontii.
  • 2 1
 @Dogl0rd: hot damn!! You guys are feisty today, haha.
  • 1 1
 @mau416: was mostly about getting yeti not to use it. The term isn't racist or prejudiced, it's just about not reducing the significance of the word while indigenous peoples are still fighting to have their rights recognized.
  • 42 0
 @CascadeComponents are you planning a linkage for the SB100 to convert it to the SB115?
  • 2 0
 Beat me to it.
  • 5 8
 My understanding is Yeti already made that linkage as there is very few differences between the two frames.
  • 11 0
 @warmerdamj: as far as I know Yeti won’t sell it separately though. They don’t want SB100 owners to convert the frame.
  • 2 9
flag warmerdamj FL (Nov 21, 2020 at 10:03) (Below Threshold)
 @jon123rjk: No, you're probably right. And there is probably a lot of small pieces in there that are different too. Possibly the switch infinity link too.
  • 11 1
 They’d be missing the boat if they didn’t go to a SB116
To go with an 10-52 cassette.
  • 5 0
 @warmerdamj: front triangle and rear triangle art the same. The switch uses a new mounting style, but it fits the 100 (and there are update kits available). The 115 uses a different stroke shock and a different link. It also uses a titanium mounting bolt that is the same used on other yeti models rather than the aluminum bolt on the 100.

There is no reason you couldn’t mount a 115 link and the proper stroke shock to the 100.
  • 10 1
 I always felt like bike companies would take it personal that someone else feels they can made the same bike better than the bike company did
  • 4 0
 @MattF51: nah, they are mature enough to understand not everyone wants the same thing.
  • 17 4
 Seeing as they release these things every two weeks now, do they each need their own full release on the website?
  • 13 1
 Cascade components need to get someone to check their copy. Hard to read was that press release.
  • 15 0
 Yoda built your linkage then wrote the copy:

"This means it’s easier to balance bottom out resistance and small bump instead of having to choose on or the other. Larger G-outs and cornering feel more composed as well, since the bike is more due to the added mid-stroke support."
  • 4 0
 @mobiller: so drunk! Ha ha
  • 8 0
 I wonder if Cascade engineers have thought about Giants Maestro linkage and what those improvements would look like, specifically on the Reign.
  • 17 48
flag usedbikestuff (Nov 21, 2020 at 8:02) (Below Threshold)
 Why would you think that a shop with a cnc machine and CAD knows more than Giant?
  • 26 2
 @usedbikestuff: It's not about knowing more, it's about allowing riders to customize their bikes to their specific needs. For example, putting a coil shock on a bike designed around an air shock.
  • 5 41
flag usedbikestuff (Nov 21, 2020 at 9:56) (Below Threshold)
 @ridenwc1: then why didn’t yeti make it around a coil?
  • 23 1
 @usedbikestuff: you should work on your reflexes, then you might catch things that fly over your head.
  • 2 5
 @usedbikestuff: We Yeti do seem to know more than Giant....
  • 12 5
 @Pcurt27: na, just playing by devils advocate. I’d guess to say a lot of people just see the different line on the chart and fail to comprehend what that means and if it is the right decision for their riding. I’m guessing some time with a shockwiz and some volume spacers will do more for people than this link. All without voiding a warranty.
  • 1 0
 @usedbikestuff: I would say most people (non dentists) prefer to spend a few dollars on some plastic volume spacer, messing with air pressures, and compression clicks rather than dropping a couple hundred on a new linkage. Unfortunately for me, the stumpjumper came with a max volume spacer in the shock and running 265 psi to prevent the frequent bottom outs on mellow trails wasn’t ideal for small bump sensitivity.
  • 6 1
 I wanted to make a joke about Yeti and this item being expensive but in Cascades defense I think this item is very reasonably priced.
  • 2 5
 4 out of 5 dentists recommend it!
  • 8 1
 @h82crash: the 5th guy took offense and claimed he was an orthodontist. He also has an unno...
  • 4 0
 7mm lower bb on the already low sb140 with 5mm MORE travel... Would love to see a 32t chainring scrape the ground on a huck to flat with this thing. Im sure they tested for it :/
  • 2 0
 Sb140 doesn’t feel that low. Check out nukeproof reactor, bb is much lower (and even lower than geo chart states). Rides amazing.
  • 2 0
 I've got 340 mm bb height, 170 travel and 32t chainring. Its great.
  • 4 1
 Was excited to see an SB140 link thinking finally a mullet link, but unfortunately not.
  • 4 0
 It probably would work as a mullet link. CC link would lower bottom bracket 7mm, install a 29er fork on the front would raise the bottom bracket ~8-10mm. Head angle would slacken 1.5 degrees (0.5 degree from the cc link and 1.0 degree from the longer fork). Not saying it is good idea but if you have extra parts lying around or friend that willing to lend out a fork & wheel for a weekend it might be fun to try.
  • 6 0
 @brentg198: my buddy has his 140 mulleted with a coil and it slays
  • 1 0
 @brentg198: finally, a DH slack headtube on a trail bike!
  • 5 5
 Got one, first ride tomorrow. If its like the one on my levo sl then it should be a welcome addition. Slightly better compliance off the top and coupled with an EXT storia will now give me a bottomless feel with the additional progression.
  • 4 0
 shouldn’t the hydraulic bottom out of the storia provide the ramp at the end??
  • 2 0
 @ukli: it does indeed, however some additional bittom out is a good thing as it means I can hit bigger features and still not have any issues. The Storia bottom out is good when there is no progression, but with added progression on the linkage its even better
  • 2 0
 @ukli: Ive got the Storia and CC link on my Stumpjumper.

Without the link you still bottom out a tad too often for my liking.
With the CC I dont buttom out at all or dont feel it.

But my EXT for set up to work with the CC Link, not stock.
  • 1 0
 @NotNamed: on my levo the bottom out was the same, too often! Add the link and the issue has gone away. On the 140, I'm running more sag than I was before, but hope to still notvbottom out and have a much better initial stroke and still not bottom out
  • 1 0
 @NotNamed: is the storia worth it on the stumpy with the cc link? Does it feel more “sluggish”? I put the cc link on mine and it solved the bottoming out all the time without going 265+ in the pressure but I do notice it’s a tad more “sluggish/less efficient”. I imagine a coil would only make this a bit worse?
  • 1 0
 @Pcurt27: The Storia will definitely not feel sluggish. I work with the USA EXT distributor and we have built shocks for several people using the CC link on the stumpy and they are very pleased with the performance. Using this link the bike should be very active and playful, not sluggish. The only caveat I would note is that this may not be the best option for heavier riders as it increases the leverage ratio of the bike. Please feel free to DM me if you have any questions.
  • 1 0
 Interested in the SL link. Did you also swap to a coil?
  • 2 0
 @Chuckolicious: I've stayed on air on the SL as I wanted to keep the weight as low as I can. Dramatic difference though with the CC link, softer off the top and I don't bottom now (I bottomed hard every rice before even with correct sag and max volume spacers) - I have a buddy running a coil with the link and he tells me it also made a big difference with preventing bottom out. Highly recommend getting one!
  • 1 0
 @rjwspeedjunkie: So gotta ask, did you put a different fork on, and 160?
  • 1 0
 @Chuckolicious: running a 150 lyrik ultimate and debonair ultimate with a custom tune. Whole bike is upgraded as I went for base spec, then fitted the parts to my own spec
  • 10 10
 So this company can improve various manufacturers bikes with a single link. The R&D departments of trek/specialized/transition/yeti/santa cruz need to employ some new staff I think???
  • 5 0
 @usedbikestuff: Because most people dont ride an trailbike with a coil.
  • 7 2
 @usedbikestuff: welp false response.

But keep in mind that Yeti/ Speci etc must design the bike around the average rider. They dont know about anti squat or progressivity etc. And most likely dont care too.

The CC is for bike nerds
  • 1 0
 It’s what Ibis did going from the first generation Ripmo to the V2. Turned a air shock bike into a whatever you want bike. I bought the AF (same geo as the v2) because it was compatible with the dvo coil shock. Nothing against air, it’s just one less thing to worry about.
  • 2 0
 @NotNamed: So, now, wait...S-Works is designed for the Average Rider? I guess that the Yeti is supposedly designed for the "Average" dentist, or, what ever.

That said. A friend of mine recently purchased an Audi R8 V10...immediately sent it out to get a twin-turbo modification (what is an other $80k, right?). This is in intune with "upgrading" a bike with this (or any other) link. "Better" is a very fickle word when it comes to rider (or driver) preception.
  • 1 0
 Maybe they cannot, it is just marketing. If you spend that much on custom linkage you also want to belive that it is better than the original.
  • 1 0
 @HenkkaK: sometimes belief is all we have.
  • 1 0
 @NotNamed: I’m familiar. I just think people have a false sense of superiority that they are elite riders. I’ve spent too much on internals and upgrades over the years to know that this is just people wanting to have the cool stuff and that’s probably 90% of people attempting to justify the purchase.
  • 1 0
 @usedbikestuff: So, if someone is not a pro they should not have a pro caliber ride then....right? If they do they are posers?
  • 1 0
 @JustAnotherRiderHere: I’m saying that they should spend their money intelligently. Having a pro ride doesn’t make you a pro.

According to pinkbike’s competition riding doesn’t make you a pro either. Zing
  • 3 0
 @usedbikestuff: Um, my money....period.
  • 1 2
 @usedbikestuff: And, again....who the hell are you to tell ANYONE what they should or should not spend their money on? Seems to me that you are probably that one and only dick on the trail (most weekends there is one). Seriously, you sound like an idiot (or, all you can afford is Box)
  • 1 0
 @JustAnotherRiderHere: well I will clarify and say it I phrased that poorly. I am not saying to spend money or not. That’s a whole bigger thing on my mind. What I meant to say is there are better investments.

I too have chased the dragon. I had a pike. Then I put a Lufftkape in. Then a fast suspension 3 way kit. THEN I put a coil conversion kit in. All in total I put more into internals than I had purchased the fork for.

Then I rode the new charger 2 damper and it felt way better. Then I rode a helm and that was even better.

I am merely recanting the tale of my misfortunes in hopes of someone else avoiding throwing good money at bad.

Piss away the cash you want on a hobby that makes you happy.

I just don’t think a warranty-voiding link that changes your suspension in a way that is imperceivable to most and putting your trust in a machine shop who has zero skin in the game is the BEST way to invest your moniez.

People too easily think that because something is aftermarket it is better or improved over what the OE could possibly come up with. I spent a decade riding with those people at a lot of these much revered brands and they all shred much harder than most. If they spent their time dialing in a bike, they did for them and it’s good enough for you.

Your comments are a refreshing reminder of why I don’t ride with groups or record things on Strava.

But if you don’t see the merit in what box or microshift is doing then you’ve fallen hard for the sram/shimano marketing.

I’m guessing that most people who buy this link have never ridden their bike with their shock settings in both extremes. Hell I’m guessing most ride them wide open. Hell I’d go so far as to say if most people watched this video, it would do more for their setup than buying that link

youtu.be/BiHQd4mzl3Y
  • 2 1
 @usedbikestuff: I'd suggest giving one a go before making sweeping assumptions about their effectiveness or our ability engineer suspension linkages. I'm not kidding when I say you can accomplish way more with linkages than you ever could with volume spacers.
  • 1 0
 @CascadeComponents: I won’t refute that, but you are changing a portion of the frame itself. If it didn’t change it then you’d be selling snake oil.

I will challenge that most people wouldn’t be able to tell much of a difference between your link and a properly set up bike for them and their terrain and argue that adding your link isn’t a decidedly superior choice to their oe set up on a bike actually set up properly for them.

People have too much blind faith in a graph they don’t fully understand. If you, as a customer, can’t explain what everyone of those metrics means and means for your riding then you have no place buying links to alter it.

As a side zing, I won’t buy a Yeti because it takes them two more sliding friction surfaces to achieve what most can do with bearings. Plus pressfit bottom bracket and don’t even get me started on the horseshit disservice that has been to the industry.

Get your shit together Yeti. Trek went t47. TREK WENT T47. INTENSE IS OFFERING THREADED. Get your shit together guys. Turquoise isn’t enough. Turq isn’t either.

I digress. People, watch the rebound video I posted above. Buy a shockwiz if you have an air shock. Learn. Record. Improve. And most importantly understand. Then decide if you need a link to get to parameters you cannot achieve as stock.
  • 3 0
 @usedbikestuff: the difference between the links is usually noticeable just riding around the parking lot if (and this is a big if) you know what you are like for. That's regardless of shock tuning. Anything from custom tune to stock shock and the link is that noticable.

Now I would agree that the links aren't for everyone one. They have to compliment your riding style. For example there is one youtube reviewer that believes 15% is the most progression you'd want out of a frame, so in that case our Patrol link wasn't a good fit for them. For those that ride in a way that the link suits them it without a doubt surpasses the stock link though.

On the note of rebound, more ramp through the linkage is definitely beneficial compared to ramp at the shock. When the shock is crammed full of volume spacers the pressure differential between top and bottom of travel is quite large so rebound speed varies widely depending on where you are in the travel. This often times leads to the rebound speed being too slow at the top of travel unless you set it to be very fast at the bottom of travel. That results in the shock not performing well over chatter since it will tend to sit high in its travel there and won't rebound fast enough. Running a little more pressure in the shock and having the ramp take place at the linkage allows for a more consistent rebound across all of your travel.
  • 3 0
 Still waiting on the fugitive link.
  • 2 0
 @thegoodflow what do you want to change about the fugitive?
  • 3 1
 @scotteh: I mostly love the bike, but I do think it might benefit from more progression and/or a better shape to the leverage curve. I also wouldn't be opposed to them squeezing a little more travel out of the rear end, although I do think it punches above its weight and feels well balanced even with a 160 smashpot lyrik up front.

I switched from an x2 to an avy-tuned bomer-cr recently... unfortunately I got injured shortly after (while riding a different bike) before I was able to get it dialed in... but the 500lb coil I have is only giving me ~20% sag with no preload, yet I still noticed it bottom out a couple times, despite the avy progressive bottom-out bumper option and testing it on terrain that is milder than what I typically use this bike for. It might end up being fine, but I'm a little concerned. Maybe increasing comp damping, maybe adding preload (side note: avy recomends 1.5-4.5 turns, and claims that under 1.5turns will yield excessive bobbing and that having no preload effectively means too much rebound damping near topout) So, I'm concerned I might have to overspring it to avoid excessive bottomout, but only time will tell... I just need to heal up before I can find out.

I'm no kinematics expert, so perhaps I'm misinterpreting the data, but if you look at the leverage curve of the fugi, it seems that the shape of the curve is opposite of what would be ideal for a bike with its intention. It flattens out at the end, rather than ramping up. If I've done the math right, the overall progression is ~23%, which sounds like plenty, but I think the shape of the curve can be at least as important:

linkagedesign.blogspot.com/2018/03/knolly-fugitive-29-2019.html

Also, note that the curve in this graph stops at 120mm (st mode), so if you extrapolate the line out to 135mm (lt mode), it really does flatten out near full travel. Compare the shape to the nicolai, for example, which is generally considered to be a good coil performer.

I'm still optimistic, but I do think it's possible that the frame is not as well suited to coil as people have made it out to be, and that there is probably room for improvement, especially considering how capable the frame is and how some people are riding them.
  • 2 0
 @thegoodflow: gotcha! i'm running mine with a 150mm 36 / 135mm X2 combo, a little less air pressure than fox recommends with lots of volume spacers and it feels awesome - super plush and balanced. i prefer air to coil so i hadn't thought about it, but it stands to reason that a coil would need more progression than the frame offers. wouldn't say no to a little more travel though!
  • 2 0
 @thegoodflow: Avy stuff is rad. Have you tried a progressive spring? I put an mrp spring on my patrol and it made a huge difference.
  • 1 0
 @shami: No, I haven't tried a progressive coil yet. But since I want to experiment with a lighter spring rate anyway, I'm going to get a 430-500lb sprindex coil, which they claim to be progressive in addition to being adjustable. I have high hopes.
  • 3 0
 I like those Easton colours from the past
  • 2 0
 They should make a link for giant reign 29, to get more travel out of that bike.
  • 2 2
 More anti squat!
  • 1 0
 @TheLoamDeranger: that is not so easy with a reign and changing one link. You could run a smaller front chain wheel. Will give you more antisquat.
  • 1 0
 @Bhaack: Can you please clarify what you mean by 'front chain wheel'? Chainring in the front?
  • 1 0
 @TheLoamDeranger: yes. If the chain line is dropped by using a smaller chainring, the chainline will point lower relative to the centre of rotation or virtual pivot point and will result in increased anti squat.
  • 4 2
 Pretty cool that Yeti owners will have a piece of their frame that they don't need to check for cracks.
  • 1 0
 @rjwspeedjunkie shouldn’t the hydraulic bottom out of the storia provide the ramp at the end??
  • 3 1
 Pivot firebird 29 link pls
  • 1 0
 yes please, need that.
  • 2 0
 Ibis Ripmo V2 link please.
  • 9 0
 Why does the v2 need a link? Give us a v1 link so I can run a coil and avoid buying a v2.
  • 2 1
 @Branmuffin: The V1's colour scheme is way better than a V2; a nice orange coil would look amazing
  • 1 0
 I avoided buying a V1 because of the colors. The V2 grey color is by far my favorite. To each their own.
Also, the V2 could be much more progressive. The coil works on them but could be way better. Maybe they can make a link for both models?
  • 2 0
 Now please make a Link for the SB165,pleasseeee
  • 2 0
 Do using these links void the warranty?
  • 6 0
 Only if they know you were using it. Lol
  • 2 1
 I guess there is not gonna be one for SB6...
  • 1 1
 Are there any RM Slayer links in the future?
  • 1 0
 What would want from a link for a slayer? Current generation slayer has loads of progression.. I dont think theres anything to improve really.
  • 1 0
 @Jukis:

I roll the previous gen, so maybe more travel ????????????????
  • 1 1
 Not carbon fibers..... no thanks.
  • 2 2
 when did 27.5 become smaller wheels
  • 6 0
 27.5 was always a smaller number than 29.
  • 4 0
 @RonSauce: you got me on that one
  • 1 0
 SB140CR
  • 3 4
 Too expensive.
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