Cascade Components Announces 2021 Stumpjumper EVO & Evil Insurgent Links
Press Release: Cascade Components
Here we are again with two new links. One for something new and one for something that has been around for a bit. Both of which build off a link we already have in our lineup.
2021 Stumpjumper EVO Link
For the newest rendition of the EVO, Specialized pushed the kinematics from the previous iteration. Some of you might wonder ‘if the new EVO has surprising similar kinematics in terms of progression and travel compared to your link for the previous Stumpjumper so why do a link for this one?’ The answer is that we are always going to be pushing the envelope whenever we think it’s possible to create a benefit for riders who are asking a lot of their frame. Our link for the new Stumpjumper EVO increases the progression to 26% from 19% with the stock link and increases travel to 158 mm.
What does this extra progression and travel mean in terms of ride? The answer is the usual. Bottom out resistance is increased, which will help those who are pinning it and going big. Mid-stroke support is also increased, which can help with composure in corners, g-outs, and poppier lips. We have found this makes it easier to attain a suspension set up that doesn’t blow through its travel while also having excellent small bump sensitivity. No over-springing or excessive damping necessary.
Specs and Details:
• 158 mm of travel
• Progression increased to 26% compared to 19% with stock link
• Sealed Enduro MAX bearings
• CNC’d from 6061-T6 in the USA
• Colors: Black, silver, orange
• Cost: $235 USD.
Evil Insurgent Link
As with the Stumpy EVO link, our link for the Insurgent and Insurgent LB increases the amount of progression as well as travel. The progression goes up to 33% from 21% and the travel goes to 155 mm. This nets you the same bottom out resistance, small bump, and mid-stroke support changes that our Offering link provides. Notably, the link also makes the suspension progressive over the entirety of its travel, as it no longer has the flat portion of the leverage curve that spans the last half of travel with the stock link.
Specs and Details:
• 155 mm of travel
• Progression increased to 33% compared to 21% with stock link
• Sealed Enduro MAX bearings
• CNC’d from 6061-T6 in the USA
• Colors: Black, silver, orange
• Cost: $249 USD.
2021 Stumpjumper link part way through machining for those of you that like looking at shiny metal things
Author Info:
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These links do NOT void transition warranties if you keep the stock shock length.
As an aside, I get why making links for the newest and sexiest bikes is appealing, but have you looked into making links for slightly older bikes to bring them in line with more modern geometry? I reckon there's a fair few people that would pay a fair bit to modernise their bikes, and get a few more years of use out of them. Thinking in particular bikes that you can't fit an angleset to (integrated headset). Good for the current market, as well as the planet!
Nice thing about that Evo is it is so adjustable, that you can add the ~8mm back in, slack the head angle to correct and maintain bottom out clearance if that’s what you want.
While technically this extra length does change the angle between the seat stay and chain stay, I imagine Cascade is safe in saying there is no geometry change because that change in angle works out to sub half mm changes in the axle location.
I asked them last summer if they would make one for the V2 and they said they had no plans of doing one. I was hoping for a little more progression but no dice.
For real though theyre a rider owned brand making products in the US. Direct your ire elsewhere
You would think that manufacturers that sell their frames for thousands of dollars could figure suspension kinematics out, yet here we are in 2021, where some enduro bike frames that are regarded very high end still cant natively run coil shocks with good performance.
As if dropping 3000-4000$ on a frame and shock hadnt reached high enough stupid expensive levels yet, youre looking at another ~300$ for an aftermarkt link and 100-150$ for a progressive spring.
This isnt the end of the story though. Cascade did the best thing they could, but even they are bound to the laws of physics.
You cant generate progression out of thin air, so the result is a very high leverare ratio. Thats not a problem for light riders, but heavy and fast riders that prefer stiffer susupension will quickly run into the limits of spring rates and shock pressures.
Conclusion: Cascade does a great job at fixing shitty linkages, but you cant fix everything.
why does more progression require a stiffer spring? I recently switched to a coil on the stock linkage, 450lb was recommended to me by evil and I found it too harsh (I'm 160lb), so I went down to 400 and it is a bit better. But your site recommendation for my weight is a 525, which strikes me as a bit heavy?
Actually makes sense for owners starving for an update I suppose.
What does this tell us?
...Specialized realized their oversight in the 2018-2020 SJ Evo's rear triangle and fixed it promptly with the new 2021 re design. And I'm wondering if all the reviews that i've seen of the new 2021 EVO being compared to the previous gen 2018-2020 EVO were feeling that improvement in bottom out resistance and traction from a more progressive rear triangle...something to chew on.
Your point is still valid though, many manufacturers are increasing progressivity of their bikes and I have been questioning when enough is enough. The travel increase can be a nice benefit though.
www.pinkbike.com/photo/20271021