Press Release

Cascade Components Announces 2021 Stumpjumper EVO and Evil Insurgent Links 17

CascadeComponents
3/17/2021 7:27pm

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


Related:
Suspension
Evil
Specialized
Cascade Components
17 comments

View replies to: Cascade Components Announces 2021 Stumpjumper EVO and Evil Insurgent Links

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yetimike2019
3 years ago
I am so tempted, but honestly I can’t imagine the Evo riding much better. I do have to over inflate the rear shock just a bit even with a larger spacer in that dpx2, just to avoid super harsh bottom outs. I’m a big fan of these links after trying one on a Turbo SL.
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Suns_PSD
3 years ago
I too have an Evo and it sure blows through the travel quickly, on the stock air shock and on the EXT shock. I have the Cascade link on the way.
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piggy
3 years ago
I assume these void your warranty... With the leverage risers at play in the Evil linkage, any change would substantially increase force at bottom out and possibly rip the frame apart. I’m curious if Cascade does any mechanical testing of frames to failure with its link installed. Seems doubtful.
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CascadeComponents
3 years ago
The largest forces a frame ever sees are when you slap bottom. The links make it harder to do that so it actually helps your frame hold up if anything. As for force on the frame at full compression when it's not a bottom out event, there is an 8% increase. If you're worried about that then be worried about going from a 600 lb spring to a 650. Rest assured, you're frame won't rip itself apart.
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piggy
3 years ago
do you do mechanical testing? will you buy me a new frame if it does break? The old Evil DH bikes (Undead) had this exact problem at bottom out due to the amplification of forces. There's footage of Brook going big on a jump, bottoming out and there's a loud snap. The amplification of forces of this design are substantial. I'd be less concerned about a Horst link bike though, to be fair.
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CascadeComponents
3 years ago
The old frames broke due to poor design/manufacturing. Factor of safety was much too low. They don't have that issue anymore. If you swap the link on a bike that's going to break anyway it will still break so not really a good example. In fact if you made it less progressive you'd break it even worse when the shock slammed into the bottom out bumper.

Do we do mechanical testing? It would be wasteful to break frames just to do it since all you would learn is that you have to bottom out really hard to break it. You hit the point where all bets are off and many components on the bike might break. It's almost always the rims though. If I'm going to break a frame it might as well be from riding it hard, so we just ride the bikes past their intended use in testing. We are yet to design a link that results in frame or link failure before the wheels blow up.
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stoic_machine
3 years ago
Thanks for taking the time out of your day to answer questions from such a wonderful human... Now let's gat back to what matters.

Norco optic Link? Yes? Lol
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CascadeComponents
3 years ago
No, but we will warranty your brake pads when you have to slow down from escape velocity. We have confirmed that you will reach escape velocity periodically so keeping that speed in check is critical to avoiding the most massive overshoot ever.
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