[Closed] I've fallen for the Cannondale Lefty

Yep. I once almost bought myself a 2008 Cannondale Taurine Lefty.

Looking back, I can see why...

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I had one, and it was ace. Wish I'd never sold it, tbh...

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Yep same here, never ridden one but for some reason really want one. Too expensive for me though.

They stir me in strange ways also :-/

They really are flippin' nice. I would happily have one if the 29er versions didn't get as heavy as "normal" forks and pick up too many manufacturing issues that seem to be making them a pain to live with for most people. Once that settles I may well need to revisit my Lefty Love.

Got these kicking around if anyone wants them in unfasionable 26/ possibly 650B flavour... 😀

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I was the same.....then i got one and it broke, then the replacement broke, then i sold it and got a reliable rockshox sid instead, easy to service, marginally heavier and less likely to break

DanW, can you email me about the frameand fork?

breninbeenerATgmailDOTcom

Thanks

DanW - that era of Scalpels still give me funny feelings in my head. Such a good bike.

I've owned several over the years..

Lefty DLR, carbon ELO, Max 140, another DLR, and probably a couple more.

I am a bit of a cannondaleophile though.

(oh and I also had a USE SUB for a short time....)

They look great, have limited hub choice, need an adapter to true and build the wheels, cant use roofbars easily, or get them in the back of small hatchbacks..need specialist tools to get into, and are a pain to service the bearings...

servicing the damper though is easy as it comes (once you have the right tools to get it out) and they ride really nicely. different, but nice.

They're odd feeling if you're used to normal forks. kinda like changing from rockshox to fox. Feel similar, but do the same job slightly differently.

Leftys are stiffer than most and you notice. I suppose now there are an increasing number of 34mm+ stanctioned forks out there it'll be less noticable, but for the weight, they are great forks.

Those bikes are lovely!

Sounds like there are some reliability issues with the 29er version. Anyone had a wonderful experience with one?

Sounds like there are some reliability issues with [s]the 29er [/s][i]some specific [/i]versions.

Most of the older 29er models are just the 26 chassis but with the travel reduced.

Have had (and still have) several over the last 10 years, have had one 'failure' and that was on a 2006 model SPV damped Max, and the failure was an o-ring.

I've not had any experience with any of the more recent hybrid models though so can't comment on them.

I had one and was lovely. The bike was a F3000SL. An ex-team bike. Stupidly light and fast but also uncomfortably stiff.

The fork was a Carbon lefty with electronic lock out. I must have got through a battery a week locking that bad-boy at every opportunity. The fork was stunning. Really spectacular performance and did well in S. Devon sandstone mud aka grinding paste.

I miss that bike!

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DanW - that era of Scalpels still give me funny feelings in my head. Such a good bike.

Indeed! Thing of beauty 8)

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Still uncertain about drop bars and suspension...if you're on the hoods (which you would be) and going downhill, even hanging back, the chance of going over the bars has got to be quite high.

I've been teasing myself with Cannondale's F-SI offerings.

But that scalpel is a lovely looking bike! Am I right in thinking the scalpel is an XC focused FS?

I have a trigger carbon with the supermax lefty fork, its great, stiff, plush & gives you attention whore points! But mine did have problems after about 4 rides, internal problems meant it had to go back to TF tunned to have air seal & air piston replaced. This was on top of the frame failing when the seat stays sheared at the flex point.. But all was handled under warranty. Not sure I would get another, but as long as the current one remains reliable, I think I'll be keeping it.

As someone with an eye on engineering it's the internals that win my respect. Square section tube with needle-roller bearings. Far better solution than those crappy bushes.

But that scalpel is a lovely looking bike! Am I right in thinking the scalpel is an XC focused FS?

Very much XC - there are no lower pivots, the chainstays flex to give the travel 🙂 Rode unbelievably well.

DanW,

I'd be interested in getting some details about that Scalpel...

My email is in my profile.

Have had a f29 with the new style lefty for 2 yrs and 4000km should probably service it but it still works fine. Got a trigger with the lefty max aswell now love leftys.

Another lefty aspirant here.

When I had my Niner nicked I spent an agonising day choosing between this and the ST4.
[url= https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3124/3163800194_88d607a8c3_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3124/3163800194_88d607a8c3_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/5Pzizd ]2009 Cannondale 29er 1[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/chowyunslim/ ]Larry Woo[/url], on Flickr

(The ST4, while ace, is now long dead. That would still be going)

Still uncertain about drop bars and suspension...if you're on the hoods (which you would be) and going downhill, even hanging back, the chance of going over the bars has got to be quite high.

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Wrong on at least one count...
Disclaimer - IANT

yep - f29er xc racing and general mooching around on.

the fork is a peach!

I've been using my Trigger 29er 1 for around 18months now and not had any problems. I have a 2015 Jekyll with a Lefty and even a rigid Lefty on my BadBoy.
They just seem to work for me.

I was gonna say, I normally decend in the drops on my cross bike.

But I do worry about going over the bars, it's never happened though.

I had one on a carbon Flash 29er. Didn't get on with either in the end. Sold both within a year.

The fork was stiff and direct and while I loved it for a bit but there were too many things I didn't like about the whole package. Maybe, with a different frame, I'd have stuck with it but it was such a faff....

DanW
Another one here with interest in your lefty primarily but maybe the whole lot
email in profile

Ta

More info on the Scalpel and Lefty [url= http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/fs-cannondale-scalpel-large-1570g-lefty-xlr-carbon-1270g#post-7463251 ]here[/url]. Any questions just let me know. Ta!

I have a Flash with a carbon SL Lefty fork, after the first couple of rides you don't even think about the performance.
It just works time and time again. So impressive.
Have ridden (and continue to ride) SIDs also ...

I'd love one of these
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Yes, love mine. Best bike I've ever owned.