If 2024 had journey, it might be 120mm. Most (if not all) fashionable cross-country bikes are letting their hair down and embracing the shredly facet of racing. Cannondale tip-toed within the XC-plus or downcountry class within the final iteration of the Scalpel with the SE. Providing extra journey and life to the bike, greater than between the tape. The 120mm possibility was so in style amongst the Cannondale crew that it made its approach into the massive present, however with some cross-country race tweaks to make it purely Cannondale.
The brand new Cannondale Scalpel would be the steed on which riders like Mona Mitterwallner will chase down their Olympic desires. The bike that may lead Cannondale Manufacturing facility Racing’s 2024 podium marketing campaign. However, most significantly, it appears to be like like an satisfying and quick bike that we actually wish to experience at our native trails.
Whats new — Cannondale Scalpel
Cannondale’s up to date Scalpel arrived with various updates, so let’s take it piece-by-piece. The ethos for the up to date design is to not redo the platform however to repeatedly refine it.
The primary Scalpel was launched in 2002, and every iteration leaned in additional to the ever-changing cross-country race scene. The newest providing responds to extra technical options, with the flexibility to really feel like an extension of the rider whereas filling the demand for light-weight every part.
Up to date Body with Compatibility
The up to date Scalpel body strikes away from press-fit and goes full BSA threaded. The brand new design retains the identical 55mm chain line because the earlier iteration and provides a UDH hanger for straightforward substitute.
Cannondale additionally contains two water bottle mounts for each dimension, from small to XL. Final model of the Scalpel, Cannondale did away with the Ai-Dished rear wheel and it retains that design change for the 2024 mannequin. Oh – and it’ll suit your 2.4 race tires simply superb.
Extra Journey and Much less Materials
The brand new Scapel boasts 120mm of entrance and rear journey, however the weight doesn’t improve a lot from the earlier model. The design staff credit Cannondale’s FlexPivot know-how, which is almost the identical as that used within the Cannondale Moterra SL e-bike. The body options flexing carbon sections as a substitute of conventional Horst Hyperlink pivots.
The design is a super-light 4-bar linkage.The design is free from the extra weight and upkeep of chain keep pivot bolts and bearings. Plus, it mimics the stiffness and ease of a single pivot.
How does it really feel? Cannondale says, “As a result of FlexPivot stays a real 4-bar system, it retains all of the exact anti-rise/anti-squat tuning traits mountain bikers love and love from the design. Much less transferring components additionally means larger sturdiness and a lifetime assure backs each body.”
We agree, however I’ll look forward to the ultimate verdict till our evaluate mannequin is available in. It seems like a clear design, however 120mm journey may embolden some further sends from the down county people and a few further work for that carbon 4-bar design.
Proportional Response
Because the suspension and really feel are such a personality of the brand new Scalpel, the design staff needed to maintain the texture uniform throughout all the line, no matter dimension. Cannondale customizes suspension kinematics for every body dimension (5 in whole).
Up to date Scalpel Geometry
I’m certain the place that is going. Cannondale slacked out the top tube on the brand new Scalpel to a Slayer approving 66.6 levels. The selection was made to create all-around stability. The brand new head tube angle performs off a steepened 75.5-degree seat tube angle and size-specific chain keep lengths. Cannondale says this mix is tailor-made to be probably the most environment friendly potential, whether or not pointed uphill, downhill, or wherever between.
The brand new Scalpel is offered in 5 small and extra-large fashions.
Lefty Ocho 120mm fork
The Lefty Ocho, 120mm fork, leads the cost on the highest new Scalpel choices. Launched practically over 20 years in the past, its distinctive design stays a favourite for these searching for a mixture of light-weight and efficiency. The Ocho employs an up to date needle-bearing design to attenuate friction, inner rotation, and put on. All of those are to ship easy journey and super-long service intervals. I haven’t ridden an Ocho, however anticipate a full breakdown when our evaluate Scalpel arrives.
SystemBar XC-One Cockpit
To prime off the modernization of the Olympic 12 months Scalpel, Cannondale introduces the SystemBar XC-One Cockpit. It’s light-weight, appears to be like incredible, and, from what we perceive, not a ache to service for cables and hoses.
The brand new SystemBar XC-One Cockpit is 760mm extensive, with a 0 deg rise, 8 deg again sweep, and 5 deg upsweep. The stem 60 or 75mm, and all the unit weighs a claimed 265g. Higher but, we have been informed the 1.5-inch prime and backside headset cups make the cable routing very simple. The inner cable routing on the brand new Scalpel goes by means of the headset. With the 1.5-inch bearing dimension, routing ought to be simpler and faster.
The SystemBar XC-One Bar comes inventory on the Scalpel Carbon Lab 71 and Scalpel Carbon 1. In case you’d wish to improve your experience, the Lefty Ocho 120 and the SystemBar XC-One Bar shall be obtainable for aftermarket sale.
Cannondale 2024 Scalpel Fashions
To higher provide its prospects, Cannondale is providing a mixture of Scalpels, differing from the North American and European markets. The European market will see extra Lefty choices, leaving the North American market with a single Lefty-equipped bike on the highest finish.
What replaces the Lefty? For some, it is going to be the Fox Step-Solid 34; for others, it is going to be the Rock Shox SID, each 120mm. Lefty Ocho 120 shall be obtainable on the Scalpel Carbon Lab 71, Scalpel Carbon 1, and Scalpel Carbon 2 Lefty fashions (Europe solely).
LAB71 Scalpel
The LAB71 mannequin comes with each top-end bell and whistle a cross-country racer might need, together with new DT-1200 wheels. Cannondale went with DT-Swiss for the Scalpel’s bike spec, which additionally means a customized DT-Swiss Lefty-compatible entrance hub.
Scalpel Carbon 1
The Carbon 1 mannequin arrives with top-end gear however swaps out the Lefty Ocho for a Fox Manufacturing facility SC 34 120mm fork, shock, and dropper. The drive prepare is SRAM Transmission XO with DT-Swiss 1501 wheels.
Scalpel Carbon 2
The Scalpel Carbon 2 has SRAM GX Transmission, Hollowgram carbon wheels, and a Rock Shox suspension bundle.
Scalpel Carbon 3
The Scalpel Carbon 3 is the primary Shimano pec’d Scalpel providing within the 2024 lineup. The Carbon 3 arrives with Shimano XT-12 velocity, Stans Crest wheels, and Rock Shox SID suspension.
Scalpel Carbon 4
Scalpel 4 is the entry into the road, however definitely not entry-level. The Carbon 3 arrives with a Shimano Deore drive prepare, Stans No Tubes rims laces to Cannondale hub, and a RockShox SID suspension setup.
Cannondale Scalpel Pricing
- LAB71 Scalpel: $14,000.00, CAD $19,095.00
- Scalpel Carbon 1: $9,500.00, CAD $12,960.00
- Scalpel Carbon 2: $6,500.00, CAD $8,865.00
- Scalpel Carbon 4: $4,000.00,CAD $5,455.00
Availability — Cannondale Scalpel
The Cannondale Scapels are delivery now in inventory at Cannondale sellers.
Keep tuned for a full evaluate as we obtain a demo bike for the upcoming cross-country season.
