REVIEWS DEALS BIKESHOPS TRAILS

Hail to the Lefty

1670 Views 14 Replies 12 Participants Last post by lonbalz, Aug 16, 2006

Lev

Discussion Starter · Jul 14, 2006

Well folks, I think there was something in the air yesterday at the Wiss. I got to the trails last night some time around 6, and began my solo ride from the Main St. side of Forbidden. As my ride progressed, I became privy to the fact that about 90% of the riders I encountered on the trails yesterday, were rocking the C-dale Lefty. From single speeders, to the down right full suspension superfluous setup, the smell of Lefty was in the air. In fact, I must have spotted a dozen Lefty's out at the Wiss last night.

What is it about the ubiquity of Lefty in the illadelph, and further beyond for that matter? Could it be possible that the C-dale proprietary design has finally caught on to something bigger and better than the dual stanchion status quo? Is the modern day fork progressing to a one legged stiffy of a ride? Is bicycle evolution taking place right before our eyes?

Or does this all stem from the fact that C-dale is right here in our very own state? I for one am a proud Lefty rider. I'm curious who else here has felt the Lefty movement take place, and if you're in favor, say Ayy!! Otherwise, just keep dreaming what your riding experience could truly be, and if you get a chance, ask someone at the Wiss because they're all over the place. Be good

Peace all,
Lev :thumbsup:

1 - 15 of 15 Posts

Francine

· #2 · Jul 15, 2006

Lefty fever

Here is mine

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madmavic

· #3 · Jul 15, 2006

thats a dope bike

Lotus

· #4 · Jul 19, 2006

Good and bad of a lefty?

Lev said:
Well folks, I think there was something in the air yesterday at the Wiss. I got to the trails last night some time around 6, and began my solo ride from the Main St. side of Forbidden. As my ride progressed, I became privy to the fact that about 90% of the riders I encountered on the trails yesterday, were rocking the C-dale Lefty. From single speeders, to the down right full suspension superfluous setup, the smell of Lefty was in the air. In fact, I must have spotted a dozen Lefty's out at the Wiss last night.

What are the plusses/minuses of having a lefty?

PCinSC

· #5 · Jul 19, 2006

Lotus said:
What are the plusses/minuses of having a lefty?

Yeah, and what does one of those cost aftermarket? Thanks.

Patrick

Lev

Discussion Starter · #6 · Jul 19, 2006

PCinSC said:
Yeah, and what does one of those cost aftermarket? Thanks.

Patrick

Unrivaled strength to weight ratio. The Lefty is strong as sh*T and lighter than most forks that are in the same class. Also, the stanchion moves on needle bearings, which prevent stiction on your turns. What that means is you get plush movement no matter what you're doing.

As for the after market price, I'm pretty sure C-dale only sells them as full packages on their bikes. With that said, Lefty's show up from time to time on Ebay and MTBR. You might want to post in C-dale forum for more info on that. They can get a little pricey from what I remember

PCinSC

· #7 · Jul 19, 2006

Lev said:
With that said, Lefty's show up from time to time on Ebay and MTBR. You might want to post in C-dale forum for more info on that. They can get a little pricey from what I remember

Cool, I'll poke around over there. Thanks for the info. :thumbsup:

Patrick

dwnhlldav

· #8 · Jul 19, 2006

Are they building them with 1 1/8" steere tubes now?

I haven't worked in a cdale selling shop in about 3 or 4 years. I rocked the first generation lefty on a superV and the seconde generation on a Jekyl. I love that fork. Sweet, sweet IF.

davis

· #9 · Jul 26, 2006

Lev said:
Or does this all stem from the fact that C-dale is right here in our very own state?

That's what I'd lean towards for an explanation. Grew up in PA, saw them all the time in Central PA. Now I live in Pocahontas County, WV and rarely see a lefty in the Monongahela National Forest. When I do spot one, I look like a psychic when I ask, "Where in PA are you from?"

Just another worthless opinion.

Raymo853

· #10 · Jul 26, 2006

I like the way the lefty rides, but will never buy one because it does not track straight. Any time you take your hands off the bars to switch bottle, take a jacket off, answer thje phone, adjust you "shorts" and so on there the bike will not go straight. For an endurance type person like me that always covers some road/fire road sections, that is a deal killer.

dwnhlldav

· #11 · Jul 26, 2006

I never had any problems going sans hands.

Grasschopper

· #12 · Jul 26, 2006

Raymo853 said:
I like the way the lefty rides, but will never buy one because it does not track straight. Any time you take your hands off the bars to switch bottle, take a jacket off, answer thje phone, adjust you "shorts" and so on there the bike will not go straight. For an endurance type person like me that always covers some road/fire road sections, that is a deal killer.

Yea I agree with the other guy...I just got a Rush 800 with the Lefty and rode it for quite a while no hands last night. Not an issue at all.

Poorly adjusted hub or bent axle maybe gave you a bad expierence?

Sourdough

· #13 · Aug 15, 2006

2

Conversion kits available for 1 1/8" steerer

dwnhlldav said:
Are they building them with 1 1/8" steere tubes now?

I haven't worked in a cdale selling shop in about 3 or 4 years. I rocked the first generation lefty on a superV and the seconde generation on a Jekyl. I love that fork. Sweet, sweet IF.

I spent last winter scheming to put a lefty on my non-cdale bike. It all came together when I learned about a specialty machine shop making conversion steerers. They do great work and can "bundle" the lefty with the custom steerer.

Check it out - email [email protected], they were great to work with and I couldn't be more satisfied.

I've posted a couple of pics from project.321. The one shot of my installation was to big to go.

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gobriango

· #14 · Aug 16, 2006

I absolutely love my Lefty. I originally hated the look and design and was dreading having to use one when I started riding for the SoBe Cannondale team. Then I actually rode it and completely fell in love with it. Best damn fork Ive ever used.
I do get a drift to the right though on all 3 models that I used. Doesnt affect my riding at all though, only riding no hands.

lonbalz

· #15 · Aug 16, 2006

The drifting is all in yer heads....just kidding. I've heard of this and when I ride without hands on smooth pavement, I never notice it. Wonder if it's in the wheels or wheelbuild. Could possibly be in the dish of the front wheel. Don't know though. I do know that I'll always use my lefty 140 MAX over anything else unless I want more travel, then I'll go to a conventional fork. The thing is just so smooth and laterally and torseinally(sp) stiff compared to other forks.

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