[SuperWookie]

For anyone that has a Cascade Link on their Megatower with a Coil shock (especially if you run the longer stroke shock 230x65, so that the link gives you 180mm of travel). I'm just wondering how much it changed the bike? I know what the links supposed to do, but would love to hear from real world people using the link. Especially interested in how much of a difference the extra 20mm of travel makes for the Megatower? A little, moderate, or a huge difference? I'm still on the fence about one of those things and want to hear what people have to say.

Also, have any of you that use the link, went down 25-50lbs in spring weight? To give the bike a more DH bike supple feel? Since it ramps up the progression so much at the end? That's something else I'm really interested in finding out about.

Thanks

 

[Christopher Robin]

I started with the stock link and stock air shock, to Cascade link and stock air shock, to Cascade link and 63mm coil shock. I guess my upgrades were so gradual, nothing felt like a drastic change except when I went to a coil shock.

Cascade recommends going with a stiffer spring when you install their link with a coil shock, but I'd run the stock Santa Cruz recommended rate just in case. For my weight, Cascade recommended going with a 650 but I stayed with 600 and it was fine. Even then, I have a Sprindex spring and lowered the spring rate to 575 and it's still good. No harsh bottoming out.

 

[racerzc]

For anyone that has a Cascade Link on their Megatower with a Coil shock (especially if you run the longer stroke shock 230x65, so that the link gives you 180mm of travel). I'm just wondering how much it changed the bike? I know what the links supposed to do, but would love to hear from real world people using the link. Especially interested in how much of a difference the extra 20mm of travel makes for the Megatower? A little, moderate, or a huge difference? I'm still on the fence about one of those things and want to hear what people have to say.

Also, have any of you that use the link, went down 25-50lbs in spring weight? To give the bike a more DH bike supple feel? Since it ramps up the progression so much at the end? That's something else I'm really interested in finding out about.

Thanks

Hey Wook,

I started out riding a Hightower v2 cascaded @ 160mm-160mm with Fox 36 and a coil. After some time, on occasion, I started riding my Dad's Megatower with a Fox 36 @160-160 in the high/short stay setting. I liked it so much I ordered a Mega frame and built it, ground up, to 170-170 with the Cascade Link. I used the Fox X2 the frame came with for one ride before getting a 230x65mm DHX2 delivered and haven't looked back. I run a Sprindex 540-610lb spring, with it set to 580. (the spring adjustment knob had to be shaved down using a Dremel to absolve clearance issues) I'm 6'3" & weigh about 205-215lb kitted and race 30+expert.

This Megatower is the setup I raced most of this year's California Enduro Series with. It is very stable at high speed, supple through braking bumps and remains supportive through chop at high speed. I haven't had harsh bottom outs from hard landings off jumps/drops and or G-outs. The bike is very long. Switching from the Hightower makes this more apparent, most notable on descending 180 switchbacks and manuals/wheelies. But the positive feedback from the increased wheelbase on steep descents outweighs the negative for me.

After this season I tried bumping the Fox 38 to 180mm and did not care for the outcome at all. I didn't test it much, only riding it once, but I felt it really ruined the bike's ability to climb regardless and abandoned that idea that same afternoon. Instead of fiddling with setting my fork up all over again, I swapped it back to the 170mm air spring. I have ordered the Smashpot kit to see how that compares to my current setup. Can update if interested.

Long story short: I love the 180mm rear travel.
Hope this helps, sorry the reply is a little scatter brained.

-Zac

 

[SuperWookie]

Hey Wook,

I started out riding a Hightower v2 cascaded @ 160mm-160mm with Fox 36 and a coil. After some time, on occasion, I started riding my Dad's Megatower with a Fox 36 @160-160 in the high/short stay setting. I liked it so much I ordered a Mega frame and built it, ground up, to 170-170 with the Cascade Link. I used the Fox X2 the frame came with for one ride before getting a 230x65mm DHX2 delivered and haven't looked back. I run a Sprindex 540-610lb spring, with it set to 580. (the spring adjustment knob had to be shaved down using a Dremel to absolve clearance issues) I'm 6'3" & weigh about 205-215lb kitted and race 30+expert.

This Megatower is the setup I raced most of this year's California Enduro Series with. It is very stable at high speed, supple through braking bumps and remains supportive through chop at high speed. I haven't had harsh bottom outs from hard landings off jumps/drops and or G-outs. The bike is very long. Switching from the Hightower makes this more apparent, most notable on descending 180 switchbacks and manuals/wheelies. But the positive feedback from the increased wheelbase on steep descents outweighs the negative for me.

After this season I tried bumping the Fox 38 to 180mm and did not care for the outcome at all. I didn't test it much, only riding it once, but I felt it really ruined the bike's ability to climb regardless and abandoned that idea that same afternoon. Instead of fiddling with setting my fork up all over again, I swapped it back to the 170mm air spring. I have ordered the Smashpot kit to see how that compares to my current setup. Can update if interested.

Long story short: I love the 180mm rear travel.
Hope this helps, sorry the reply is a little scatter brained.

-Zac

Thanks for sharing. I appreciate it.

Just wondering if you can talk more about how and why going from 160mm to 180mm of travel made a difference? Can you feel that 20mm? Or is it more of just a better feeling rear end?

The few reviews I've read or watched for the Cascade link on the Megatower make it sound more like you can't really feel the 20mm extra of travel, instead it just makes the rear feel a little better, track the ground better, ramp up better, use the available travel in a better manner (softer in the initial inch or so, then a nice slow but steady increase in platform as it moves through the travel. As opposed to the more harsh feel all the way through the travel with the stock link. But then again, that is usually people using an Air shock, not a coil. I already have a RS SD Ultimate Coil that was tuned for me by Vorsprung. So not sure the Cascade link will make much a difference)? So not sure if dropping $330 for this part is going to give me a noticeable/big boost in performance? Or just small changes?

And then what specifically do you think the Cascade Link does better than the stock link? In your opinion. Talk about those in more detail.

I'm only interested in making my Mega longer, faster, more stable, more balanced and better and going DH and off of jumps. Pedaling and climbing don't matter to me at all. I already switched my Mezzer pro fork from 160 to 180 and it's better. Can't necessarily "feel" the extra 20mm of travel, it's more of a "feeling" of being more plush in the beginning, then slowly ramping up towards firmer as I go through the travel. Not quite as quick to get to the end of travel, and not quite as harsh (not that it was harsh before). Plus it raised the bars a bit (which is great for the steep trails), and slackened the HTA a bit (also great for steep trails). So all of those small changes make a noticeable change overall. Not massive, but I can tell, and it's for the better. Not sure I would have spent $330 to get that change if that's what it cost to do it (love that the Mezzer is SO adjustable without having to buy extra parts).

So I'm wondering if the Cascade Link will do about the same for the back end as my fork did for my front end? Just some small changes that add up to a noticeable, but not ground breaking change in feeling? Or maybe it does make it feel a LOT better? I don't know, there's just not enough info out there and not enough people posting in depth reviews for the link for the Megatower. Also not sure it's worth 330 bucks for the changes it will make?

I'm only going to get it if it is a noticeable change to how the back end feels and performs. And seeing as how the Megatower already has a pretty progressive suspension curve in the 27-31* range depending on the CS length and H or L chip setting, it doesn't seem like it will do much to make a big improvement in that area. Plus, it's only 20mm of travel extra. Which might help, but I still haven't heard or read more than 3 reviews of the Cascade link for the Megatower that make it sound like it's really worth it for that bike. One of the guys on here, said it didn't really make that noticeable of a difference. And then two internet reviews said it was great, but they didn't make it sound like it changed it a lot. More just fine tuned the feel and performance?

 

[racerzc]

Thanks for sharing. I appreciate it.

Just wondering if you can talk more about how and why going from 160mm to 180mm of travel made a difference? Can you feel that 20mm? Or is it more of just a better feeling rear end?

The few reviews I've read or watched for the Cascade link on the Megatower make it sound more like you can't really feel the 20mm extra of travel, instead it just makes the rear feel a little better, track the ground better, ramp up better, use the available travel in a better manner (softer in the initial inch or so, then a nice slow but steady increase in platform as it moves through the travel. As opposed to the more harsh feel all the way through the travel with the stock link. But then again, that is usually people using an Air shock, not a coil. I already have a RS SD Ultimate Coil that was tuned for me by Vorsprung. So not sure the Cascade link will make much a difference)? So not sure if dropping $330 for this part is going to give me a noticeable/big boost in performance? Or just small changes?

And then what specifically do you think the Cascade Link does better than the stock link? In your opinion. Talk about those in more detail.

I'm only interested in making my Mega longer, faster, more stable, more balanced and better and going DH and off of jumps. Pedaling and climbing don't matter to me at all. I already switched my Mezzer pro fork from 160 to 180 and it's better. Can't necessarily "feel" the extra 20mm of travel, it's more of a "feeling" of being more plush in the beginning, then slowly ramping up towards firmer as I go through the travel. Not quite as quick to get to the end of travel, and not quite as harsh (not that it was harsh before). Plus it raised the bars a bit (which is great for the steep trails), and slackened the HTA a bit (also great for steep trails). So all of those small changes make a noticeable change overall. Not massive, but I can tell, and it's for the better. Not sure I would have spent $330 to get that change if that's what it cost to do it (love that the Mezzer is SO adjustable without having to buy extra parts).

So I'm wondering if the Cascade Link will do about the same for the back end as my fork did for my front end? Just some small changes that add up to a noticeable, but not ground breaking change in feeling? Or maybe it does make it feel a LOT better? I don't know, there's just not enough info out there and not enough people posting in depth reviews for the link for the Megatower. Also not sure it's worth 330 bucks for the changes it will make?

I'm only going to get it if it is a noticeable change to how the back end feels and performs. And seeing as how the Megatower already has a pretty progressive suspension curve in the 27-31* range depending on the CS length and H or L chip setting, it doesn't seem like it will do much to make a big improvement in that area. Plus, it's only 20mm of travel extra. Which might help, but I still haven't heard or read more than 3 reviews of the Cascade link for the Megatower that make it sound like it's really worth it for that bike. One of the guys on here, said it didn't really make that noticeable of a difference. And then two internet reviews said it was great, but they didn't make it sound like it changed it a lot. More just fine tuned the feel and performance?

It’s like ordering a beer at the bar and the bartender includes a shot with it. You may not of needed it, but at the end of the night you’re happy how you go home feeling.

The addition of the link & +20mm did slightly increase the planted feel on downhills, as well as it’s stability. The difference in shock responsiveness wasn’t a major difference.

The raised bar height and slacker rake when I swapped to 180mm up front caused it sit to high entering corners. Making it push too much. I can see using 180 if I rode park/steeps only.

Because you're aiming to improve the bike’s downhill performance I would still pull the trigger. You never know what kind of rider the review is coming from, they might not be as picky as you when it comes to suspension performance. The amount of reviews on the Hightower link being detrimental to the bike’s climbing ability almost steered me away. But I tried it out anyways and that link ended up being a night a day difference in changing the bike’s downhill attributes, yet it retained enough of the ability to climb.

cheers Wook!

 

[JK-47]

I'll chime in here regarding the Cascade link too. I started with an X2 on my 2021 Megatower and never could get it to feel right for my 225lb weight. The X2 was maxed out to Fox's 300psi spec with no room to go higher, I tried lower pressure and various dampening settings over a few months, but it always felt like it couldn't handle the steep rocky SoCal trails I rode. It would skip and sometimes buck after repeated high speed hits.

My Megatower is set in high and short with a 170mm Lyrik Ultimate

I finally decided to try a coil, so I picked up a DHX2 230x60, as well as 600, and 650 springs. Nobody had the spacer to bring the DHX2 to the stock 57.5 stroke, so I started with the 650lb spring and had roughly 27% sag with one turn on the preload. Huge difference in the way the bike ate up the downhill chunk, and barely a hit in the uphill pedal when the climb switch is on. I was always leery that I didn't have the the stock stroke and wanted to try the 600lb spring, but was worried about bottoming out if I had 30% sag and possible frame damage...

A few weeks ago I finally decided to get the Cascade link and so far with a few good rides in between the rain we've had here, it is quite good. I'm currently sitting at roughly 30% sag with 1.5 turns of preload on the 650lb spring. Softer off the top, and ramps up really nicely and predictably at the end. It makes going down faster noticeably easier than before, but going up a little tougher as well (almost like lowering my tire pressure 2psi). It feels almost like a completely different bike compared to the way it was with X2 shock, much more plush and comfortable.

It's not quite a fair comparison with the DHX2 pre-Cascade link because I never set the sag to 30% with the 600lb spring due to the 60mm stroke.

As it sits now I have 170mm F/R and plan on buying a Mezzer at 180mm in the near future to try out. I'll use the Lyrik on a hard tail build in the coming months if the Mezzer works out at 180/170mm, which I'm sure it will.

 

[racerzc]

The X2 was maxed out to Fox's 300psi spec with no room to go higher, I tried lower pressure and various dampening settings over a few months, but it always felt like it couldn't handle the steep rocky SoCal trails I rode. It would skip and sometimes buck after repeated high speed hits.

I’ll second that, I had 300psi in my x2 and still couldn’t get 30% sag.

909 for life! @JK-47

 

[regiobike]

Thanks for sharing. I appreciate it.

Just wondering if you can talk more about how and why going from 160mm to 180mm of travel made a difference? Can you feel that 20mm? Or is it more of just a better feeling rear end?

The few reviews I've read or watched for the Cascade link on the Megatower make it sound more like you can't really feel the 20mm extra of travel, instead it just makes the rear feel a little better, track the ground better, ramp up better, use the available travel in a better manner (softer in the initial inch or so, then a nice slow but steady increase in platform as it moves through the travel. As opposed to the more harsh feel all the way through the travel with the stock link. But then again, that is usually people using an Air shock, not a coil. I already have a RS SD Ultimate Coil that was tuned for me by Vorsprung. So not sure the Cascade link will make much a difference)? So not sure if dropping $330 for this part is going to give me a noticeable/big boost in performance? Or just small changes?

And then what specifically do you think the Cascade Link does better than the stock link? In your opinion. Talk about those in more detail.

I'm only interested in making my Mega longer, faster, more stable, more balanced and better and going DH and off of jumps. Pedaling and climbing don't matter to me at all. I already switched my Mezzer pro fork from 160 to 180 and it's better. Can't necessarily "feel" the extra 20mm of travel, it's more of a "feeling" of being more plush in the beginning, then slowly ramping up towards firmer as I go through the travel. Not quite as quick to get to the end of travel, and not quite as harsh (not that it was harsh before). Plus it raised the bars a bit (which is great for the steep trails), and slackened the HTA a bit (also great for steep trails). So all of those small changes make a noticeable change overall. Not massive, but I can tell, and it's for the better. Not sure I would have spent $330 to get that change if that's what it cost to do it (love that the Mezzer is SO adjustable without having to buy extra parts).

So I'm wondering if the Cascade Link will do about the same for the back end as my fork did for my front end? Just some small changes that add up to a noticeable, but not ground breaking change in feeling? Or maybe it does make it feel a LOT better? I don't know, there's just not enough info out there and not enough people posting in depth reviews for the link for the Megatower. Also not sure it's worth 330 bucks for the changes it will make?

I'm only going to get it if it is a noticeable change to how the back end feels and performs. And seeing as how the Megatower already has a pretty progressive suspension curve in the 27-31* range depending on the CS length and H or L chip setting, it doesn't seem like it will do much to make a big improvement in that area. Plus, it's only 20mm of travel extra. Which might help, but I still haven't heard or read more than 3 reviews of the Cascade link for the Megatower that make it sound like it's really worth it for that bike. One of the guys on here, said it didn't really make that noticeable of a difference. And then two internet reviews said it was great, but they didn't make it sound like it changed it a lot. More just fine tuned the feel and performance?

From what i remember... i have the cascade link for about 2 years... was one of the first ones to get it, YES IT DOES make a lot of difference on the bike. I Tried:

180mm fox 38 front
170mm Fox 38 front
160mm Fox 38 Front

X2(didnt like it)
DHX2 2020 230x57.5
DHX2 2020 230x60
DHX2 2020 230x62.5

Then 2021 DHX2 in all configurations 57.5, 60, 62.5 and 65mm

After a year i decided to stay in 170mm front with my fox 38, 3 tokes, on the Rear DHX2 with 650lbs sls spring, im a heavy rider, about 105kg with all my gear. I think the 170mm in the front and 60mm on the rear are well balanced travel, believe me im crazy when is about to try, test and takes notes on suspension setup area.
What i like of the cascade is how planted the bike feels, also there is a huge difference on how "puppy" feels when you are going down really fast and in technical sectios you can predict how the bike will perform. Is important to know how you make the setups on the Grip 2 and dhx2 to have the max fun on the cascade. For me is one of the best investment on my bike:
Fox 38 170mm front
Fox DHX2 2021 230x60mm
Fox Transfer 2021
Tag Metals 800mm and 40mm rise
I9 stem
XT 4 pistons brakes
XT 1x12 group
I9 Hydra hubs with stance flow ex3 wheels

For me, go for it.

 

[regiobike]

Here is the bike, the x2 is now on My son status

Enviado desde mi SM-A525M mediante Tapatalk

 

[SuperWookie]

From what i remember... i have the cascade link for about 2 years... was one of the first ones to get it, YES IT DOES make a lot of difference on the bike. I Tried:

180mm fox 38 front
170mm Fox 38 front
160mm Fox 38 Front

X2(didnt like it)
DHX2 2020 230x57.5
DHX2 2020 230x60
DHX2 2020 230x62.5

Then 2021 DHX2 in all configurations 57.5, 60, 62.5 and 65mm

After a year i decided to stay in 170mm front with my fox 38, 3 tokes, on the Rear DHX2 with 650lbs sls spring, im a heavy rider, about 105kg with all my gear. I think the 170mm in the front and 60mm on the rear are well balanced travel, believe me im crazy when is about to try, test and takes notes on suspension setup area.
What i like of the cascade is how planted the bike feels, also there is a huge difference on how "puppy" feels when you are going down really fast and in technical sectios you can predict how the bike will perform. Is important to know how you make the setups on the Grip 2 and dhx2 to have the max fun on the cascade. For me is one of the best investment on my bike:
Fox 38 170mm front
Fox DHX2 2021 230x60mm
Fox Transfer 2021
Tag Metals 800mm and 40mm rise
I9 stem
XT 4 pistons brakes
XT 1x12 group
I9 Hydra hubs with stance flow ex3 wheels

For me, go for it.

Thanks for your input, I appreciate it!

 

[big.griff1]

Searched the forum and didn’t find my answer. Anyone running a 213mm BikeYoke Revive in a XL Megatower? Looking at BikeYoke’s numbers, it appears that it will be very close for me. All depending on how far it will go into the frame without compromising function

 

[minimusprime]

Searched the forum and didn’t find my answer. Anyone running a 213mm BikeYoke Revive in a XL Megatower? Looking at BikeYoke’s numbers, it appears that it will be very close for me. All depending on how far it will go into the frame without compromising function

Not a huge help to you, but I run a oneup 210 in my xl megatower. My saddle height is roughly 31.5" and I have the one up post as far down in the frame as it will go, before the oneup actuator ceases to function. This puts me at about 1.25" from the top of the seat post collar, to the oneup seatpost bushing.

 

[big.griff1]

Not a huge help to you, but I run a oneup 210 in my xl megatower. My saddle height is roughly 31.5" and I have the one up post as far down in the frame as it will go, before the oneup actuator ceases to function. This puts me at about 1.25" from the top of the seat post collar, to the oneup seatpost bushing.
View attachment 1964210

Sounds good, thanks!! I rolled the dice and ordered the Revive, it’s going to be close for me.

 

[ryanmj]

Not a huge help to you, but I run a oneup 210 in my xl megatower. My saddle height is roughly 31.5" and I have the one up post as far down in the frame as it will go, before the oneup actuator ceases to function. This puts me at about 1.25" from the top of the seat post collar, to the oneup seatpost bushing.
View attachment 1964210

I have the same 210 dropper on my XL frame and can get it down to .5” from seatpost top to collar.

 

[minimusprime]

I have the same 210 dropper on my XL frame and can get it down to .5” from seatpost top to collar.

yeah, I have one of the first few frames that were available on announcement/release day. I have a hunch that they changed the mold or seat post reeming/finishing after these issues started to come up and changed how the internal sleeve/routing for the dropper post entered the frame. I have a feeling that I could lower the seat post further, if I used teflon tape to have the lower actuator clocked differently in relation to the seat direction so that it worked well with the internal sleeving.

 

[rogerkamp8817]

Hi - any tips for tweaks to make after installing a Cascade link with the factory Fox X2 57.5mm shock? I am running about 225 psi in the shock to get , weigh 160 lbs loaded, and basically using the same shock settings as the factory sheet (stock link). I'm not sure if the tendency after installing the Cascade link is to slow or speed up compression/rebound... thanks in advance

 

[regiobike]

Hi - any tips for tweaks to make after installing a Cascade link with the factory Fox X2 57.5mm shock? I am running about 225 psi in the shock to get , weigh 160 lbs loaded, and basically using the same shock settings as the factory sheet (stock link). I'm not sure if the tendency after installing the Cascade link is to slow or speed up compression/rebound... thanks in advance

Slow the high speed rebound and star from there. The low speed rebound will be almost the same.

Enviado desde mi SM-A525M mediante Tapatalk

 

[Darksoul]

My Mega guys this is my Dream Bike...
@Phillip_Saxsa_Darksoul follow me in Instagram
and if you want to see real action from this machine come to my YT channel
@Darksoul Channel
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLGbq_a3gkKyUVuwYhDVPqw

 

[PJJ205]

Anyone happen to have a photo of the supplied 1.5mm black spacers for the long chainstay flip chip configuration?

Side note: apparently Galfer floating 203mm rotors are too close for comfort in the long setting... some of my rivets rub the supplied brake adapter mount because the shape of it sticks out further than the frames brake mount. Looks like my birthday ride this weekend is out the window.

EDIT: Never mind, found it.

 

[racerzc]

Side note: apparently Galfer floating 203mm rotors are too close for comfort in the long setting... some of my rivets rub the supplied brake adapter mount because the shape of it sticks out further than the frames brake mount.

take a belt sander to the side of the bracket that faces your rotor. same situation happened with the floating 203mm Hope rotors.

edit: Although I have the Magura caliper bracket, it has a flat surface throughout. Making it easier to sand down evenly.