The wait is over – Cannondale’s Scalpel 1 Lefty, lands soon | Tech overview
News in from Cannondale is their first shipment of the new ‘Scalpel Lefty’ is about to land in SA. The exact date we have been given is ‘late July’. So what’s all the fuss about?
Although it was being race-tested at the highest level for some time, you may recall the new generation Scalpel was only officially launched in March this year. At that time, global and local availability was limited to the RockShox SID equipped, Scalpel 2. That’s a great machine yet there’s many seasoned XC riders around that believe if it doesn’t have a Lefty, it’s not a Cannondale.
For those discerning buyers and Lefty fans, the wait is almost over. From early next month they will be able to experience the new generation Scalpel, with its magical and mystical, 120mm Lefty.
There’s also a bit of fuss about the pricing. With Cannondale’s recently revised pricing structure, the pricepoint on the full-carbon Scalpel 1 Lefty is very impressive. Yes, R160k is a chunk of change, but with a little research you’ll see there’s not many 120mm full carbon, modern geometry, XC race bikes priced quite as low. Certainly not from one of the world’s top-tier brands like Cannondale.
Other than the cranks, the Scalpel 1 Lefty truly is an all-carbon affair, including the DT Swiss wheels, one-piece bar/stem and Lefty. Yup, the Lefty Ocho has a carbon upper leg helping it tip the scales at a mere 1550grams. Looking through the complete spec list of the Scalpel 1 Lefty, there’s a lot of performance orientated bling, and nothing to bin.
Details
| FRAME | Scalpel 120mm, Series 1 Carbon, FlexPivot, UDH |
| FORK | Lefty Ocho 120 Carbon with remote dual lockout |
| SHOCK | RockShox SIDLuxe Select+, 2-Pos mode adjust with remote dual lockout |
| MECH | SRAM XO Eagle AXS Transmission |
| SHIFTER | SRAM AXS T-Type Pod |
| CHAIN | SRAM XO, T-Type |
| CRANK | SRAM XO, T-Type, 34t |
| CASSETTE | SRAM XO Eagle AXS. 10-52t, T-Type |
| BRAKES | SRAM Level Silver Stealth, 4-piston, HS2 rotors |
| WHEELS | DT Swiss XRC 1501 Spline One, carbon, 30mm ID |
| TYRES | 2.4″ Maxxis Rekon Race WT and Aspen WT combo |
| HANDLEBARS | One-piece bar/stem, SystemBar XC-One Flat, 760mm |
| SADDLE | Prologo Dimension NDR |
| SEATPOST | Fox Transfer SL Performance Elite |
In case you missed it, the geometry on the new Scalpel has been modernized with longer reach numbers, more BB drop, a slacker 66.6° head angle and a steeper 75.5° seattube angle. The four-bar link suspension layout features F1-style carbon flexures that puts a little flex into the stays thereby negating the need for two pivots and bearings. This FlexStay innovation also improves small-bump sensitivity which means better climbing traction and generally a smoother ride.
There’s no doubt this is going to be an exceptional XC bike – as will the rest of the Scalpel range that includes the LAB71 all the way through to the Scalpel 4 that lands late July. The new Scalpel has already delivered the goods for Alan Hatherly and Candice Lill, at the World Cups and that’s something else to fuss about! Learn more here cannondale.co.za //
| IMAGE: Cannondale l Michele Mondini (@mmondini_photo) |