NormanF

A suspension fork is like the shock absorbers on a car... it will smooth out irregularities of the road surface but it won't interfere with the "feel". The idea is that your efforts should go to riding rather than being robbed of energy trying to deal with the effects of vibrations being transmitted through the bike to your body.

Its not going to completely eliminate the problem, just to manage it better than if there was no suspension.

LUW

That's what I'm saying, but our friend up above insists that a Lefty will be just like a rigid fork when locked and will absorb small amplitude modulations as efficiently as it does with big bumps. Of course it's a compromise, but since the system will NOT deliver 100% of both those aspects, and since it has a weight disadvantage, why bother? I'm not against using some sort of suspension (on the contrary), but I don't think a Lefty is the best solution for a gravel bike. Pinarello's take, though for the rear that is admittedly easier to work with, is effective and elegant (mechanically simple = less weight).

ColinL

With 30mm of travel, just how much big bump performance are you expecting? This fork should help on washboard roads and very mild singletrack. That's all it can, and apparently all it was intended to do.

I don't understand why you are trying to make this a black-or-white issue. There many gravel bikes without suspension forks. You own one. Keep riding it.

There are not many gravel bikes with suspension forks. If a person rides one and likes it, that's fine. It doesn't have to be perfect, or 100% as you put it. That's an unattainable goal that serves no purpose other than propping up whatever flimsy point it is that you're trying to make.

LUW

At least my flimsy points are made based on actually riding and living with a bike with a Lefty, and not based on "positive reviews" of electronic rags. But you think it's great? Please, get one! And different from what you say, it is a black and white issue: either it's a good buy, or not. So far I haven't read anything that convinced me that you will get your money's worth.

FrozenK

But you haven't ridden the Lefty on that bike. Just because it shares a similar chasis with the one you had, it doesn't mean it has the same internals.

ColinL

You own a carbon 29er. It was presumably a good buy in your judgment.

Walk into a bike shop. Find a person looking at a base model bike, in the US, this might be $600 compared to >$2000 for any carbon MTB. Ask this person if your bike was a good buy. Ask 5 others. Most will say no, yet you bought it.

Value is not black and white. Obviously.

You don't see any possible value in this bike. Fine. I see potential and I would test ride it. After such a ride, I might buy it. The main reason I would possibly not buy it is that I've already built my own! I already know the value of a suspension fork on gravel roads.

FrozenK

What would keep ME away from this bike are the 650b wheels. They may be the bees knees, but right now the tire selection is very limited in the 35/45 mm range. Well, that and the fact that I'm quite happy with my CX bike for gravel (and road, and cyclocross racing...)

On the other hand, if my shoulders keep getting worse I may be looking for suspension for gravel riding in a few years.

LUW

True. If it's a different version than maybe it will behave differently. As I said, so far I haven't read anything that makes me think it will be worth dropping US$ 2800,00 on the bike, but if this Lefty really delivers effective low amplitude dampening (I can live with the less then solid lock up) I'll reevaluate my position. And I'm also not totally comfortable with the idea of 650B wheels but if the bike delivers that wouldn't be much of an issue.

justin1138

Agreed. I kind of want to test ride one though...

LUW

The flagship:


Just $4,260 . And from what I understood it's a different Lefty, called "Lefty Oliver".

alex jb

Would love to try one, but 4K for a 1X alloy bike?
Delorian anyone?

hefledthescene

figure the price of that crank and fork add a cool $1800 minimum to the total price. Take those away and you're left with what is essentially a CAAD12/SuperSix mix frame...which is a very good thing to me.

I called up my local dealer, asked them if they had a demo available in Ultegra trim. I'll find out tuesday.

It does seem like a hodgepodge of shiny bits but I'll reserve judgement until I ride the thing. I'm coming from a CAAD10, which I found flimsy and not very confidence inspiring...I'll chalk that up to me being 6'3" 265. Something like this would probably fit me better. I'll update if I ride the thing.

UnfilteredDregs

I understand that 650b x 42mm has the same outside circumference as 700c x 23mm...therefore wheelsets should be interchangeable...

Mr. Cyclosaurus beat me to it:

LUW

Yeah, you'll basically get a 29" wheel, so that wouldn't be a problem.
The real problem though is the price.

Number400

I demoed the Ultegra model over the holiday and really enjoyed it. I am stuck somewhere between the X and XL though and am getting a fit on the Guru with both specs to see what works best for me.

My basic review:
Noisy tire ride
Awesome wheelies and stoppies
Stiff and responsive on the road with amazing cornering. You can just chuck it right in and it is so planted, very inspiring.
Brakes were really, really nice. Very controllable. This was my first ride on hydro's, more used to mechanical disks on the tandem.
Stock seat was not to my liking

It was really nice being able to fly right off the road over the grass and a few dirt trails then pop back out on the road. I cannot even convey the difference on how nice the wide tires and a little suspension felt on everything compared to my cyclocross bike. Barely a vibration as I floated over ruts and roots.

As far as performance, for the Strava folks, I was able to get a short climbing road KOM that I could not quite get before as well as my second fastest time ever on a climb segment that I have done many, many times before on my race bike.

For the off roaders, I would certainly not consider it a mountain rig but it handles dirt, gravel, grass, curbs, nasty roads, bumpy sidewalks, etc... very well. For my needs, it is a dream. Selling my road and cyclocross bikes to consolidate.

NormanF

Good review!

As all-around bike, its an excellent, though pricey choice.

I agree it not meant for technical singletrack but one would ride a 29er over that terrain.

Cannondale Slate for everything else and between.

98koukile

Rode one today as my LBS was the first in the area to get one. The owner has been riding the hell out of it so that should tell you something when he has a lot to choose from. He said the local C'dale rep has been taking down his Strava PR's one by one that he set on his cyclocross bike. Many of the assumptions made earlier in this thread are way out in left field compared to reality with this bike. The lefty is an awesome addition, the weight may be of concern to some, but the performance more than makes up for it. Between the fat tires (same diameter as my supersix with thin tires) and the fork this bike rolls over everything very nicely. When lockout is on you can really stand on the pedals with no discernible bobbing. With the small travel it really doesn't get crazy anyways but there's benefit to turning it off. I really liked it but like many others the price is scaring me away. I would have no problem getting rid of both of my road bikes and keeping this and my AM bike in the stable.

fopianki

At 62 I have a full hip replacement, just had major reconstruction on my right foot and 6...yes 6...rotator cuff surgeries. I loved how it "babied" my shoulders. I still love long rides but I can't run ultras or do triathlons. Unless someone has a suggestion for a better option that can allow me to ride long distance with jarring my shoulders, I'm in! The warranty is up folks!

Gus90

Funny thing about the Slate, someone did this years ago with a Cannondale Bad Boy...



And posted it in this very forum back in February 2012 (more pictures in the link below)...

https://www.bikeforums.net/hybrid-bic...l#post13829401

I have a 2010 Bad Boy that I'm running 700x38 Serfas Vida tires on which is about as big as I can fit due to the rear bottom stays. I have a second set of 26 inch wheels that I put on which almost turns it into a mountain bike (the headshock is limited in it's travel so not much use there for the ruff stuff, had I done what this person did to his bad boy, it'd practically be an F-SI).

ColinL

^^ Lots of people have put a lefty on a drop-bar bike. Years ago, Cannondale also made a gravel bike with a 50mm headshok, and I built one last year: https://www.bikeforums.net/recreation...l#post18039762

Kerry Adams

the outer diameter of the 650 + the 42 is equivalent to a 700 x 25.

Banzai

I LOVE the design. I don't love the very proprietary parts associated with the Lefty, the PITA wheel removal, inability to mount fenders, expensive repairs, etc., etc.

But otherwise, I really love the idea of this bike.

And the lefty (or righty) design has been proven on aircraft nose gear for years.

ColinL

Ted King (former UCI pro domestique) won the Dirty Kanza 200 on a Cannondale Slate.
Ted King: The Kanza Questions | Velocio

ColinL

Another story about it:
Ted King?s Cannondale Slate gravel racer - BikeRadar

LUW

Wowzers, and all that on a 44t chain ring!