After many years of popularity, Cannondale has completely revamped its Lefty Fork. The changes aren’t just cosmetic either…
It’s easy to see Cannondale’s claim that its four lots of needle roller bearings on a square section is a pretty stiff and smooth way of making a fork. However, it was rather sensitive to grit and needed to run a rubber boot at all times to protect the tiny rollers hidden in the fork.
To revamp the Lefty, Cannondale wanted ‘to make the most bombproof fork’ and with this new Lefty they have announced the new fork that is lighter, stiffer and stronger.
What Cannondale has done is changed the lower of the Lefty to incorporate a round section at the bottom for the fork, while still keeping the square section roller bearing uppers.The round section is now sealed from the elements and incorporates a bushing, for the first time in the Lefty’s history. (Squares don’t seal well, so it’s never been possible to include one)
There’s a new external sealing system for a much better seal against the elements. In fact, there is now a seal at the bottom of the outer leg, along with a bushing. This is effective enough that it no longer needs its traditional rubber concertina boot.
Lower section is now round rather than square to allow for better external seal, while the upper (hidden) leg is still square section needle bearing assembly. The lower leg is hard anodised for durability now that it’s out in the open. There’ll also be a ‘moto inspired’ integrated fork guard (with cable guide) that looks rather cool.
New seal allows a lubricating oil bath. This keeps the needle bearings always lubed. There’s also a clever new ‘Auto reset’ for the needle bearings. One of the Lefty’s issues is that the four roller bearings can become out of sync with each other. There’s now a stop to make sure that the bearings ‘reset’ their position on the fork flats so that all four bearings are balanced and don’t migrate. By bottoming the fork out, the bearings will all reset themselves on the stop. And if you’re not bottoming your fork, then just let the air out and compress the fork to do it.
Internal changes: Cannondale has a patent on closed, cartridge style damping systems. It’s a patent that they don’t enforce (but they want you to know that they have it.) It’s a position that helps them work with other suspension fork companies on a friendly basis. For instance, Cannondale uses a Solo Air system, found in RockShox, so that the negative air pressure is always automatically set. You’ll also see a RockShox remote lever on the bars..
The 2013 production has already started in Bedford PA. in the USA. Expect to see the new Lefty on bikes appearing this summer and aftermarket in the autumn.
Comments (13)
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One of the strengths of the current Lefty is that, short of snapping it, it can be completely rebuilt. Only slight worry with the new one is that the round part of the stanchion might get scratched to death in the mud…
That is one crazy carpet.
Really like that last photo.
Looks like a very slick fork.
Shame they don’t’ make a dummy right-leg 🙂
I’ve never tried one, but as a DUC32 user, I’m obviously not against unusual forks with proprietary hubs!
Anyone ridden one yet and can comment on how it feels?
“with this new Lefty they have announced the new fork that is lighter, stiffer and stronger”
Who’d have thought!?
This just adds to my hankering for a Lefty equipped C.dale 29er hardtail. I presume that their suspension has advanced somewhat since the Fatty I had in a ’94 Super V.
Leku, I was thinking the same; like a granny carpet for the 2000s.
Alejandro, I’ve been looking forward to the article that starts “Big company announces a fork that is heavier, limper and feebler” for a long time.
Screw the fork… I want THAT carpet…
If they can make a single leg fork that does not have play how come they dont try a dropper post, they must be able to do it.
are they still silly prices? iirc leftys were always good value on full bikes but mega bucks aftermarket.
Thought part of the USP of the Lefty was that it didn’t have a round stanchion, and therefore no bushes, so it was virtually stiction free? Add a round section to the leg, and a bush, and what have you got?
OK, it’ll be appreciably less than a fork with 2 legs, and 2 bushes I’m sure, but seems like a backwards step just to remove the boot to me… What was wrong with the boot anyway?
“What was wrong with the boot anyway?” – that last pic 🙂
Having gone through my notes, it seems that it’s only stronger and stiffer, but the same weight, so they’ve missed out on the marketing triptych. 🙂
Advantages of the new fork: The fork still has a square section with lots (though fewer) of roller bearings. The lower bushing now sits in an oil bath – the oil constantly sits around the bushing, rather than other-way-up forks where the oil sits down in the lower. By adding the bushing, the fork gets stiffer as it goes through the travel – and when you’ve worn it out, a new lower collar just screws in, complete with new bushing.