One of the most recognizable forks available at the moment is the Cannondale Lefty. Cannondale Lefty suspension forks were originally developed from the Headshok range of forks and are known for their smooth travel and unusual style. Uniquely, Lefty forks only use one side which means they are lighter than other forks with similar specifications. The Cannondale website claims that this can make a difference of up to 2 pounds – a major advantage over other forks. The downside to Cannondale Lefty forks is the price – the forks are a lot more expensive than forks which use the traditional two blades.
|
Cannondale Headshok Lefty Stem 130mmUS $49.00 |
Cannondale Headshok SI Lefty stem 100mm used 254mm fattyUS $49.00 |
Cannondale Headshok Lefty StemUS $49.99 |
|
Cannondale SI Lefty Stem Steer 120mm 5 Deg 318with Si headset bearingsUS $50.00 |
Cannondale Lefty Race Retainer Diggler Tool KT002US $50.00 |
Cannondale Lefty Damper Cartridge Oil Cap Wrench KH004US $50.00 |
The Cannondale Lefty fork uses the same technology developed for the Headshok forks. There are 88 bearings inside the forks which allows the travel to be much smoother than others and hence provides a more comfortable ride with less lost energy. The design reason behind the shift to the Lefty style was the fact that more travel was needed and this required the unit to be moved away from the center.
There are a number of different versions of Cannondale Lefty suspension forks. The various models have a variety of travels, spring systems and materials which affect the type of biking that the forks can be used for. As an example, the Lefty Max w/PBR is built for general purpose mountain biking and comes with a 140mm travel and an air spring. The Lefty Speed Carbon, on the other hand, is built for XC racing and hence has a travel of 110mm and DLR damping. Which one is right for you and your bike will depend on what you plan on using the forks for.
One potential disadvantage of buying Cannondale Lefty suspension forks is that replacement parts are generally harder to find. Fox suspension fork parts, for example, are easy to get hold of in comparison. Also, skilled people who are experienced in setting up Lefty forks are more difficult to find. For this reason Cannondale Lefty suspension forks are usually found in high end bikes rather than entry level. There is also the continued problem with Lefty suspension forks limiting the rider’s ability to use anything other than Cannondale parts such as the headset and wheel. If you want to have complete control over the components you use on your bike then the Cannondale Lefty may not be the perfect choice.
Related posts: