Press Release: Cascade Components
We have a couple of new links to announce again! I know everyone is probably getting tired of this, but we’ve got a lot down the line so get used to it.
Transition Sentinel (2020-current)
Our link for the new Sentinel bumps up the progression to 30% from 24% and rear wheel travel is increased by 15 mm. With the Cascade Components link, the travel options become 165 mm with a 205x62.5 mm shock or 155 mm with a 205x57.5 mm shock. At 30% progression, this link works well with both large volume air shocks like the X2 and coils.
What does this translate to on the trail? The biggest change is the bike’s ability to plow and maintain traction when things start getting wild. Because of the increased progression, there is also an increase in pop. This is due to the ramp up increasing mid-stroke support, which provides a better platform to push against going up the lip of a jump or railing a berm. As for pedaling, there is no discernable change. Geometry stays the same as with the stock link so you can expect pedaling related ergonomics to be the same as well.
The Sentinel link is currently available in black and purple
Specs and Details:
• 165 mm of travel with 205x62.5 shock
• 155 mm of travel with 205x57.5 shock
• Progression increased to 30% compared to 24% with stock link
• Sealed Enduro MAX bearings
• Stainless steel spiral retaining rings on each bearing
• CNC’d from 6061-T6 in the USA
• Colors: Black and purple
• Cost: $337 USD.
• 155 mm of travel with 205x57.5 shock
• Progression increased to 30% compared to 24% with stock link
• Sealed Enduro MAX bearings
• Stainless steel spiral retaining rings on each bearing
• CNC’d from 6061-T6 in the USA
• Colors: Black and purple
• Cost: $337 USD.
Santa Cruz Heckler/Heckler MX (2020-current)
The Heckler link brings the performance tweaks behind our other Santa Cruz links to the E-bike lineup. As with our other Santa Cruz links, travel, progression, and chainstay length are all increased. The progression goes up to 35% from 27% while travel is increased by 8 mm and chainstays go up by 5 mm. The 5 mm increase in chainstay length isn’t especially noticeable on the trail, however. So why would you want to throw a link on an E-bike? The added weight can make the bike prone to diving deeper into its travel than desired. The increased ramp up/mid-stroke support helps keep it up in its travel, especially when things get chunky. Small bump sensitivity is increased as well, however with the amount of weight that’s behind the bike this link is more about keeping it composed.
Specs and Details:
• 158 mm of travel for 27.5” Heckler, 148 mm for Heckler MX
• Progression increased to 35% compared to 27% with stock link
• + 5 mm chainstay length
• Sealed Enduro MAX bearings
• CNC’d from 6061-T6 in the USA
• Colors: Black only
• Cost: $331 USD.
• Progression increased to 35% compared to 27% with stock link
• + 5 mm chainstay length
• Sealed Enduro MAX bearings
• CNC’d from 6061-T6 in the USA
• Colors: Black only
• Cost: $331 USD.
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91 Comments
For a CC link equipped V1 sentinel, the difference is very noticeable: you no longer have to choose between super high psi and less small bump sensitivity or "normal" psi and blowing through the travel.
With the stock link I was pushing 265 psi, even with a custom tune. I'm now at 240-245 psi depending on the terrain. I was able to tell something was very different as soon as I sat on the bike with the CC link installed.
I would imagine the difference between a stock V2 sentinel and CC linked V2 sentinel may be less noticeable.
Whether the feeling was better took some testing, but it makes a very noticeable difference to how the bike feels. Similar to others I could drop pressure in the shock for better small bump compliance and still get all the support I want.
I especially like what you have to say about the benefits climbing. I had a tallboy v3 for a few years, and that bike had significantly better climbing manners.
I also have a dpx2 with a slightly longer stroke than the stock shock. (Which also ends up at around 129mm travel) It makes the bike feel more planted, and it handles higher speed chop better. The downside is, it is a little softer feeling in the mid stroke, and loses some crispness under pedaling.
I’m thinking the cascade link might be what I’m looking for. (And selling the extra shock would cover the cost)
I’ve yet to hear a commenter who regrets their purchase!
If you guys need to borrow a bike... Or a test rider...
I have a CC link on my SB150 with an eleven six and the midstroke support and bottom out resistance are much better than the stock link. I didn’t even have to change spring rates. Keep up the great work!????
My friend has a Smuggler and loves it, although I rode it a bit and it didn't feel nearly as playful as I had hoped.
Fast guys will be fast no matter what. My buddy won a DH Cat3 race on his stock Bronson with NO Cascade Link, however, if you are less skilled, and slower than your average club racer, the Cascade Link is a Godsend! The BronsonV3 is way to linear and it blows through it's travel way too easily. Then again, maybe the Cascade Link will help the fast guys too and I think my buddy would be even faster with the Cascade Link.
My Bronson was born wiht the Rockshock Deluxe RCT shock factory, and when she was brand new, I thought she was just the perfect bike, but then I started to take here through the chunky-steeps, and doing bigger air more and that is when I noticed the limitations. When I ran her at 30% in stock form, she was awesomely plush, until it got a little more chunkier, then she bottomed out way too easy, I am talking she bottomed out all the time without much effort.
When running her 25% sag, that stopped the easy bottom outs but then she felt way too sketchy and loose. I then replaced the RCT shock with a Fox X2 with 4 tokens, and that made my Bronson a lot better. Bottom outs where few and far between when sag was set at 30%.
With the Fox X2, I was thinking how much better could the Cascade Link be? At the time, I did NOT see any real world regular people reviews for the Cascade Link for the Bronson, but regardless I decided to take the dive.
First thing I noticed was that it took about 25lbs more air to get 30% sag (with Fox X2). Then the next day when I took her on some shuttle service DH runs, it was truly unbelievable! I could ride the back end and stay on the back on the very steep and loose stuff and she was very controllable. When I muffed a jump and cased hard, the bottom outs were very forgving and controllable. Cascade Components says the Bronson Link makes the bike 160mm travel with the same shock, and I have to say, it feels more than that. Even though it feels like I am sitting lower, I feel like the suspension is bottomless now. Bike feels much more planted through the chunk and more stable too. With a Fox 36 Grip2 at 170mm up front, this thing is a borderline DH bike, and if it was my only choice for a DH bike, I would be ok with it.
As for climbing with the Cascade, the back end feels a little more planted and a little better on climbs, and I think she does standing climbs much better now than before the Cascade Link, I seem to sit deeper in the sag and feels she does NOT bob as much when I am standing and hammering up the hills.
Here are the numbers I got from the Online Geo Calculator with the Cascade Link and bumping up fork to 170mm:
--- 2019 Santa Cruz Bronson with Cascade Link and Fox 36 at 170mm ---
-- HTA: 64.5 Degrees (0.6 Deg Slacker)
-- STA: 74.4 Degrees (0.6 Deg Slacker)
-- Wheelbase: 1200mm (9mm longer)
-- Chainstay: 435mm (5mm longer)
-- BB Height: 340.8mm (0.8 mm higher)
Cascade says:
-- new link bumps travel up 160mm (from 150mm)
-- new link adds 12% more progression
Other Notes:
-- Had to run 25 more psi to get the same sag (~30%)
(now at 190 psi, was at 165).
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