Bicycle Mechanics - Cannondale lefty shock

How strong are they?

Read a few reviews/websites and have given them very good rateings over other shocks for stenght.

I might be purchasing a F2000 which comes with one and I just want to know how it will hold up for doing freeride/5-8' drops

I thought all of them had been recalled for safety reasons. Mechanically, I think a head shock with conventional dual fork makes more sense.

They look weak but are apparently quite rigid...The problem lies in the fact that you need a PHD to service them. In the video Disorder 2, Fat Tire Fury, theres a guy doing huge dirt jumps on one, so I would trust it to hold up

Runge....first ask yourself....."do i want to buy a bike (the F2000) thats not even strong enough to ride to my mailbox, for the purpose of hucking some 8 footers"? Then answer "no" I need a stronger bike, because otherwise I will be raplacing frames every day or so. Then look into more durable frames, hardtails maybe a 24, Planet X, Balfa, Clifcat.......etc, or FS maybe a kona, rocky, specialized.....list goes on and on. Hope I could help before you hurt yourself too badly!!

Originally posted by KleinMp99
Runge....first ask yourself....."do i want to buy a bike (the F2000) thats not even strong enough to ride to my mailbox, for the purpose of hucking some 8 footers"? Then answer "no" I need a stronger bike, because otherwise I will be raplacing frames every day or so. Then look into more durable frames, hardtails maybe a 24, Planet X, Balfa, Clifcat.......etc, or FS maybe a kona, rocky, specialized.....list goes on and on. Hope I could help before you hurt yourself too badly!!

how isn't it strong? I have read many reviews and gone though many pictures of people on the bike and none of them have broken the frame/or said the frame was weak.

well if your going to be doing drops and shiz like that, then the frame will break......so throw press the erase button in your mind for the thought of getting the F2000.

Runge, you'll want full suspension if you're doing big drops. I've seen pics of guys doing big stuff on Cannondales myself, but those guys are getting paid plus they don't have to buy their bikes. Cannondale bikes( besides the Gemini) are build to be lightweight XC machines. They have thin walls and large diameter tubes and every little bit of weight that can be shaved off is shaved off. I would strongly recommend looking at Konas, Rocky Mountains, Specialized Bighits or Giant AC bikes.

Originally posted by fubar5
Runge, you'll want full suspension if you're doing big drops. I've seen pics of guys doing big stuff on Cannondales myself, but those guys are getting paid plus they don't have to buy their bikes. Cannondale bikes( besides the Gemini) are build to be lightweight XC machines. They have thin walls and large diameter tubes and every little bit of weight that can be shaved off is shaved off. I would strongly recommend looking at Konas, Rocky Mountains, Specialized Bighits or Giant AC bikes.

How about Kona Stinky Dee-Lux with Fox Vanilla RL?

Originally posted by Runge


How about Kona Stinky Dee-Lux with Fox Vanilla RL?


Yeah I think that will work....:) KevinG has a Kona Stinky and he has done 8 foot drops on it.

I have a F2000SX and the Lefty is super stiff and strong! It'll handle small to medium size rocks without a problem. I will add that this is my XC bike and No, I don't do drops with it! I have another bike for stuff like that!

The F2000 is intended as a lightweight XC bike! It'll handle the abuse of everyday singletrack riding, but is not designed for Freeriding (i.e. drops, gap jumps, urban assault!)

If you're not super hardcore, it'll be a great bike!

L8R:beer:

Originally posted by fubar5
Runge, you'll want full suspension if you're doing big drops.

You dont need a full suspension bike to do big drops!!!!.......anyway Runge...how old are you? Have you done jumps and big drops before?

Originally posted by KleinMp99


You dont need a full suspension bike to do big drops!!!!.......anyway Runge...how old are you? Have you done jumps and big drops before?

16 going on 17.

biggest jump so far has been 6-7 feet onto flat hardlanding. Will be doing more when the 1.5feet of snow we got in the last week melts. Other drops are biking full out then hitting some rock drops(around 3-6feet) and just going forward a long distance. Usually landing on a rocky flat or hill.

for jumps. right now there aren't many jumps around my area. for now that is.

ok, then yea it sounds like u need a new bike.:D