Levo Gen 3 Cascade Link 2022+ Levo Long Shock Kit

[westcoastmtbr]

Just to add my thoughts to this discussion I fitted the long-shock link and I'm very happy with it. It's on a 2022 Levo Gen-3 Pro S4. I fitted the alloy version of the long-shock link along with a Rockshox Vivid Ulitimate Coil with HBO. I'm 105kg (yes, I know a fat bastard) and live in the Alps so I'm generally climbing technical single-track or blasting down pretty steep and rocky stuff. I have gone with a 550lb spring which seems close enough for now but I bought a 600 in case it was too soft.

I had previously fitted a Vorsprung coil kit and extended the travel to 170mm on the Fox 38 forks. I had always found them to be harsh and very hard to set up, even with a 170 airspring and, whilst they were much better with the coil, they were not as good as I'd hoped. I solved this by fitting a slightly higher rated spring, 55lb/in instead of the 50lb/in I had originally put in and by changing the bath oil to 5wt Fox Teflon from the original recommendation of 0w30 Rockshox and by not using any grease on the bushes, I'm now just relying on the oil splashing about. I also didn't fit the shrink-wrap to the spring as I didn't think a big lump of plastic sitting halfway up it would improve small-bump compliance and it didn't look like it would rattle in a fork as big as the 38 either. I was right on both counts.

With coils all round and a 170/165mm travel setup instead of the stock 160/150mm the ride of the bike is transformed at both ends without, it seems to me, negatively impacting stability or geometry. I can go at least 20% faster on the really bumpy, flat-out stuff, and the improvements in small-bump performance on the flats and climbs coupled with the much better mid-stroke support on single track makes it really very impressive. The bike is finally 'nice', not 'ok'. The rear end is way better than the stock link and Fox X2. The sag was around 28% when I fitted the coil, although it's hard to get a really accurate measurement, and no clearance issues, at least not on my bike. I more go on feel and may experiment with the 600lb spring to see what that feels like but for now the 550 is fine. It pedals very nicely, doesn't bob much and sits up nicely when going uphill. Downhill it just soaks it all up in a controlled and tidy way, like a downhill bike does - you just point it and let the machine soak up the punishment and think about your lines and braking, not hanging on to an out of control bucking bronco. The front end with the Vorsprung coil, lighter oil and no shrink wrap is finally nice, not harsh and constantly bashing my hands. I can probably tune it all a bit better but I found the Rockshox to be pretty good with middle settings, just a little up from middle for rebound. The HBO is on one click for now, I'll see if I need to wind it up for the bike park in summer. For now on alpine single-track and fast, choppy descents and steeps I'm very pleased and the combination of the coil fork and coil rear with revised linkage seems to be very harmonious.

So all in all very positive. Upgrading both front and rear was not cheap, close to 1500 euros and a bit of time to set it all up but, in my opinion, this turns the bike into the weapon it should always have been, not the poorly sprung, harsh pogo-stick it came as when I bought it. The Fox X2 had always leaked and whilst it was very reactive, it would never really sit at the right sag when climbing, even with two tokens, and it always seemed to chew through 60% of the travel just with the weight shift due to the climb - or maybe that is somewhat the link/coil combo that has improved this? The two conversions have added probably 1.5kg to the bike but at a porky 105kg I can always go on a diet if this bothers me and not drinking beer is a lot cheaper than trick components! For an e-bike, it really isn't an issue and coming from dirt-bikes that weigh 105kg (and that's for a light two-stroke, more like 125kg for a four-stroke), 23-24kg is still very light to ride and weight does tend to make the suspension work well if you're not too bothered about doing tail-whips in the air. My days of tail whips, rather like my days of elegant dancing, are now sadly long gone...!

This has been my experience, anyway. I hope it's useful to some others who might be thinking about this conversion...

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Excellent write up. Looking at doing a very similar set up. Have the Cascade Long Kit, and agree it will ride much better with 170 up front.

 

[rydeezie]

still having fun with this bike.....

 

[fj80psi]

Update: cascade + 40 = so plush and fast View attachment 119360

Hello, most will say that this is too much. I am wondering what your experience has been? Please share other than the weight what the positives and negatives have been and what you are riding. I am so tempted to try this. I live in Nor Ca as well and ride every terrain. I enjoy all day shuttles and simple cross country. I am just wondering if it feels like a slug at times or if you steepen the Head Angle based on your type of ride on a given day? I am 180 38 now trying a Live Valve rear shock. (there was clearance issues btw).

 

[rzr]

well... BB looks like ~4cm higher than normal (let's say 2.5-3cm higher under dynamic sag?), that's a lot.....

 

[rydeezie]

Hello, most will say that this is too much. I am wondering what your experience has been? Please share other than the weight what the positives and negatives have been and what you are riding. I am so tempted to try this. I live in Nor Ca as well and ride every terrain. I enjoy all day shuttles and simple cross country. I am just wondering if it feels like a slug at times or if you steepen the Head Angle based on your type of ride on a given day? I am 180 38 now trying a Live Valve rear shock. (there was clearance issues btw).

Hello,

i agree it’s too much for short, flowy local rides. I ride my SL for those and the Levo for chunky, steep, drops and longer rides. And if I didn’t have an SL, I would still go with a 40 for my Levo for any type of ride. It feels like a slug when the motor cuts off because the ride feel makes you want to go faster. It’s too smooth

i tried the 40 set up last year and year before and loved it. Had to move the 40 to my DH bike during bike park season so i had the 38 on my Levo. I kept switching forks when my DH bike is not in use. I like the 40 set up so much i bought a dedicated fork for my Levo. Since i have a Levo SL as my lighter set up, I didn’t mind making my Levo as my heavy bike.

i came from a Kenevo with a fox 40 which i rode for 3+ years and despite the Levo not meant for this set up, the Levo has better handling with the 40 than my Kenevo. Geometry specs will be way off I’m sure but the feel of the bike now is way better. It has it’s pros and cons. Cons being a heavier bike, loading on rack or tailgate, uphill switchbacks are tricky, not using all the travel on some rides…..and i think thats it. Pros are arm pump is non existent, no chatter, very comfortable, still feels nimble for an ebike and easy to maneuver on fast tight trails, still can jump, no problem with steep uphill, plows through chunky terrain, grips, feels more stable and planted. For me, i have a better riding position during pedaling and downhill.

The set up is not for everyone. Overkill for normal trail riding. I had the opportunity to try the 38 with 160mm, 170mm and 180mm and the 203mm 40. For my bike and my use, the 40 is the way to go

 

[fj80psi]

Hello,

i agree it’s too much for short, flowy local rides. I ride my SL for those and the Levo for chunky, steep, drops and longer rides. And if I didn’t have an SL, I would still go with a 40 for my Levo for any type of ride. It feels like a slug when the motor cuts off because the ride feel makes you want to go faster. It’s too smooth

i tried the 40 set up last year and year before and loved it. Had to move the 40 to my DH bike during bike park season so i had the 38 on my Levo. I kept switching forks when my DH bike is not in use. I like the 40 set up so much i bought a dedicated fork for my Levo. Since i have a Levo SL as my lighter set up, I didn’t mind making my Levo as my heavy bike.

i came from a Kenevo with a fox 40 which i rode for 3+ years and despite the Levo not meant for this set up, the Levo has better handling with the 40 than my Kenevo. Geometry specs will be way off I’m sure but the feel of the bike now is way better. It has it’s pros and cons. Cons being a heavier bike, loading on rack or tailgate, uphill switchbacks are tricky, not using all the travel on some rides…..and i think thats it. Pros are arm pump is non existent, no chatter, very comfortable, still feels nimble for an ebike and easy to maneuver on fast tight trails, still can jump, no problem with steep uphill, plows through chunky terrain, grips, feels more stable and planted. For me, i have a better riding position during pedaling and downhill.

The set up is not for everyone. Overkill for normal trail riding. I had the opportunity to try the 38 with 160mm, 170mm and 180mm and the 203mm 40. For my bike and my use, the 40 is the way to go

Thanks a lot! That’s just what I was expecting. My Levo is just over 47.5 lbs and don’t think the extra weight will bother me that much. I do trail ride but, DH and rough tech trails are my go to. Cheers!

 

[rzr]

It depends where is that weight, when I ride twisty trails (not easy/fast flow) I can feel slight difference between 700 and 500Wh battery (and it's around .7kg difference?)