My son is now after me to get him an '07 Cannondale Taurine... just the frame & lefty fork with front wheel. Yes, this is the same kid who just got the Salsa Moto Rapido this spring - which he will definately outgrow before next season (he's starting in on me early). Aside from re-thinking my "no caffine, it will stunt your growth" stance... I can probably get what he wants for about $1500 (trade-in price).

What's the big deal about this Taurine? THAT's my question!

LOL, are you sure he's going to need a new frame? He's only grown about 6" this season.

The bike is hot.......too bad it's a Cannondale.

Cannondale's all new entry to the XC hardtail range is the Taurine Carbon SI. The Taurine's co-cured high modulus unidirectional carbon fibre framest is over 20% lighter and stiffer than the Optimo aluminium frame, whilst maintaining Cannondale's heritage in styling, aesthetics and quality throughout. The co-cure manufacturing process provides maximum performance in all areas of the frame, be it strength, stiffness or comfort and is especially suited to conventional double diamond frame designs using simpler tube junctions. Hourglass shaped head tube with integrated HeadShok headset reduce weight at the front. The tapered, oversized top tube increase frontal stiffness and tracking whilst a massively oversized PowerPyramid downtube provides pedaling efficiency currently unmatched in the industry today.

Race ready XC geometry with additional stand over clearance keep the Taurine fast through tight single track and balanced on steep climbs and technical descents. Hour glass carbon chainstays provide exceptional lateral stiffness with vertical compliancy for comfort and to eliminate trail vibrations. To further aid comfort, new chainstays are featured with a Scalpel inspired cross section. The stays flatten in their vertical cross section, whilst widening across their horizontal plane. The stays shape not only promotes comfort as well as sprinting and climbing efficiency, but also has clearance for 2.4" tyres. System Integration and standard 73mm bottom bracket options are available throughout the SRAM and Shimano equipped 4 bike range.



Frames are available in S, M, L and X, all come with life time warranty and no rider weight limit.



*info and pic stolen from Singletrack.com.

So, in English, it's hot? It probably won't make him ride better, but it may just get him to do his chores, huh?

That sounds like a pretty good summary to me.

How old is your son?

buy it man! your son needs it! he wants it!

I know how he feels my dad wont buy me a new bike ether. says i need a job. ha

edit: the cannondale's fork idea is stupid

The Lefty is bloody amazing, what are you talking about?

People b!tch and moan about them not being durable, but yet Cedric Gracia used to run one and airplanes run them, which is where Cannondale got the idea. I've been wanting to pick one up for my Devinci.


Seriously, what better way to make the fork lighter then to remove half of it?

Agreed, leftys are awesome. I tried one at the LBS and it was so sweet. I thought it would be really awkward but I had no problems with balance and the performance matched and in some cases bettered my Z1, but it was also really soft. A little tuning and that thing would be "off the hizzy!"

Lucky you. Currently, I'm bugging my parents for a .243 FR frame and a host of parts. I've sort of convinced them that once we get back from Whistler, I'm going to do all the chores (mine and my sisters) and other work around the house and I'll probobly get it in a few weeks. That and the headset is all I really need, all my other upgrades can come after that.

Look on the bright side,at least he's not talking about more body armor and trying to come up with the cash for a Demo.Thats the rumblings around here.
That kid needs that bike. He could be seeing a doctor for years if you don't help him out. Go ahead and get it.Save him the trauma of being made fun of at school.

Shhhh....... Don't tell anyone but his mom (the one posting) is a she. Now anyone else want a mom that cool??? I do, just haven't been able to convince her to adopt me yet. I think I'm starting to wear her down though. We are in negotiations about the house and farm work at the moment.

Lowcel know's I'm holding out for a 4WD tractor.....

Anyway, to make a long story short: The kid had a scalpel lefty, which he outgrew. Sold the frame, fork& front wheel to pay for a Moto Rapido frame & fork (medium), but the 14 yr old punk keeps growing... after 2 months on the Salsa rig, it already looks small, so I know a large frame is in the near future.

And he IS wearing me down on this... He's chopping firewood like a maniac & made almost $500 yesterday delivering the wood he spent last spring chopping. Although his wood money was supposed to be slated for a car, he's offering it up for the Taurine - so perhaps we'll split it!

At least he's willing to work for it. Most kids just want (expect) things to he handed to them. You've got yourself a good kid. I know everyone at the races like / respect him. He's as mature as anyone else there (more mature than a few).

Offer to pay half, up to a certain amount. Make him put some equity into it.

what will he be doing with that nice bike? sounds like he has had some nice ones before that he grew out of. every kid deserves a sweet bike.

I still dont like the idea of the lefty

sorry miss

As the StepFather of a 13.5 y.o. I am envious that your boy is so motivated that he is willing to do chores to help out. My stepson is soooooo unmotivated for anything, the only chores he does are when he gets in trouble. Don't get me wrong, he's a good kid, he just has no motivation.

Well, my kid truely MISSES his lefty! He will sell the frame/fork & front wheel, and transfer the rest of the components to the new bike..... selling the scalpel paid for the salsa, and hopefully repeating this action will cover a good portion of the next bike... whatever it might be....

I forgot to mention that I had a Lefty. Never had one problem with it. Great Strut (not fork). That was before the Manitou internals. The newer ones are better than ever. I would have no hesitation in riding one again.

I know I have a gem! Don't think for a minute that there isn't a lot of nagging involved, though!! Hopefully, your son will find his niche & that will launch him!

He's a good kid, enjoys doing a little bit of everything. He rollerblades, rides, plays b-ball...etc. But he's not "hooked" on any one thing. That's not bad, it's just NOT the way I was, so I've always got to take a step back and remember to let him live HIS life.

When I was his age, I was INTO BMX. Completely and uterly. I was also INTO windsurfing. If I wasn't on my bike, I was on my board. I started working at age 12 to help pay for my hobbies. Heck, my first "real" job was at a bike shop.

I still say you and he better be working on those sponsorship proposals, ap. If he's set on C'dale, check out their sponsorship page. It's always a long shot, but worth a try. Mom shouldn't have to be the only 'sponsor'

Hey "D" - the regional C'dale guy will arrange for the trade-in price on the frame - without the trade-in, so that's a start! He kind of performed the same type of deal when I got the 1st C'dale a few years back.

Sounds like you're workin' it. What a good Mom you are

Yeah, that's why I can't understand why Lowcel won't give me a tractor to adopt him....

The nerve . . . .

4WD tractor WOULD be sweet; my fantasy, though, is a Toro Dingo or a Kanga for trailbuilding on my property