[Shadow4eva]

Anyone on a F-Si or Scalpel with the Lefty Ocho and ridden it for a while now? I can't seem to find long term reviews for the fork.

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[Quentin]

I have 261 miles on my Ocho (2019 F-Si Carbon 2 purchases in April 2020). I love the performance. Haven’t had it long enough to judge durability, though.


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[Shadow4eva]

I have 261 miles on my Ocho (2019 F-Si Carbon 2 purchases in April 2020). I love the performance. Haven't had it long enough to judge durability, though.

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Thanks! I heard from a friend that it has fore-aft flex when braking from high speeds to (on any terrain) due to the weaker rigidity from the single crown versus previous iterations of the lefty - do you feel this?

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[Quentin]

Thanks! I heard from a friend that it has fore-aft flex when braking from high speeds to (on any terrain) due to the weaker rigidity from the single crown versus previous iterations of the lefty - do you feel this?

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I'd find it surprising that the fork would noticeably flex before the tire lost traction while braking.

For context: Rubber to concrete coefficient of friction is 0.3 static. That means on my road bike, at 155lbs, on flat land, the maximum force between the road and tire while threshold braking is 46lbs. Applying 46lbs of force to the front of the fork would be unlikely to flex noticeably at all. A mountain bike would be applying even lower forces in that direction due to a lower coefficient of friction between dirt and the MTB tire.

Side to side flexing or vertically flexing when all 155lbs of me and 21lbs of the bike is being applied normally seems very likely, though.

My guess is your friend is feeling something different in the suspension or geometry related kinematics that makes him feel like he's getting flex. I'm guessing he didn't compare the forks back to back on the same bike.

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[Shadow4eva]

My guess is your friend is feeling something different in the suspension or geometry related kinematics that makes him feel like he's getting flex. I'm guessing he didn't compare the forks back to back on the same bike.

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You may be right - his previous bike was the original Scalpel 29, unsure of the model year, but I seem to recall that he had the Lefty Hybrid (first gen non-booted) on it. He got that bike second hand around last year if I'm not mistaken, it then broke earlier this year due to frame fatigue, and he bought the Scalpel-Si 2020 that came with the Ocho.
Regardless, thank you for the input!

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[MendonCycleSmith]

Make sure you have a solid savings balance for the leg replacements that are inevitable, and embrace the fact that you bought a durable good that's designed to be the opposite.

Sad, unfortunate, but true.

 

[Shadow4eva]

Make sure you have a solid savings balance for the leg replacements that are inevitable, and embrace the fact that you bought a durable good that's designed to be the opposite.

Sad, unfortunate, but true.

I was anticipating your comment, lol..
With the kind of riding I do, I think the fork should be able to last.

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[cdalemaniac]

I was anticipating your comment, lol..
With the kind of riding I do, I think the fork should be able to last.

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Since the Lefty Ocho has only been out for like what, 2 years- it'll be hard to find long term durability reviews. Any "prediction" of how it will do is purely speculation with nothing to back up those comments.

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[cdalemaniac]

Make sure you have a solid savings balance for the leg replacements that are inevitable, and embrace the fact that you bought a durable good that's designed to be the opposite.

Sad, unfortunate, but true.

Instead of trolling, maybe look for threads where you can be helpful answering technical questions instead, no? Oh, I forgot....you don't like to share "secrets" right? Kinda what cdale did to you with the new Lefties?! Sucks being left out of the loop, heh?!

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[Shadow4eva]

Since the Lefty Ocho has only been out for like what, 2 years- it'll be hard to find long term durability reviews. Any "prediction" of how it will do is purely speculation with nothing to back up those comments.

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Exactly, hence the "I think", which is obviously just my opinion.

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[cdalemaniac]

Exactly, hence the "I think", which is obviously just my opinion.

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I quoted the wrong comment. It was directed toward MCS with all of his negative comments. [emoji482]
I also "think"with the kind of riding I do personally, and with how meticulous I am when it comes to maintenance, it should be fine for a few years before any major repairs are needed. [emoji51]

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[lactatofilo]

Cannondale had the idea of selling the ocho as an aftermarket fork, in fact they were thinking about selling lots of them (heard from a c´dale rep). Do you see lots of them outside? Guess why...
Not trolling at all, but all I heard and read about ocho´s are bad things, and I had big expectations on this fork.
It is not even as light as previous models
Hope it helps

 

[cdalemaniac]

Cannondale had the idea of selling the ocho as an aftermarket fork, in fact they were thinking about selling lots of them (heard from a c´dale rep). Do you see lots of them outside? Guess why...
Not trolling at all, but all I heard and read about ocho´s are bad things, and I had big expectations on this fork.
It is not even as light as previous models
Hope it helps

Links? Even if I google "lefty ocho problems" or "issues" the only thing that pops up are mtbr links to threads of our resident new age lefty trolls. A few links about lefty ocho's leaking due to a known production error and that's it. Don't see anything else. So, can you elaborate? Curious to see and read through them.....

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[aussie_yeti]

I've had an Ocho for two years. It initially leaked oil due to the well known production error. It was fixed (one week turn around) under warranty and has been perfect since. Independent testing puts it highest stiffness to weight of any of the leading XC forks. On the trail I enjoy how precise it is and how responsive it is to small bumps. I just received another one on my new bike. It weighs 1422 grams with steerer cup for a large frame with 15mm spacers under the stem. I think it is the best performing XC fork. It is 100grams heavier than the new SID SL though. There are three reasons people don't buy them aftermarket
1 - Cost
2 - Requirement for a new wheel/hub
3 - Service centre availability
I'm glad it came on my bike. But if it didn't I probably wouldn't be bothered changing from a SID SL or 32 Stepcast.

 

[Baltazar]

Cannondale had the idea of selling the ocho as an aftermarket fork, in fact they were thinking about selling lots of them (heard from a c´dale rep). Do you see lots of them outside? Guess why...
Not trolling at all, but all I heard and read about ocho´s are bad things, and I had big expectations on this fork.
It is not even as light as previous models
Hope it helps

Considering the price and that you have to buy a new wheel or rebuild the one you have. THERE you probebly have the biggest reason that lefty ocho isn't widley spread on other bikes. Also that people dont know ot fits or even can be bought sepertly considering that it isn't on sale om alot of stores

So saying that its becouse its a bad fork, thats why, to be thats bullshit. Half of my friends here didnt even know about lefty before they did se it on my bike.

No fork today is as light as they were 15 years ago. Thats becouse today weight isn't everything

 

[jschoef]

I have 2 for my Scalpel. I ride a lot and hard. I put on about 3000 miles per year or 200 hours from March-November. It has a 100 hour maintenance interval and almost like clock work, the wiper seal fails at 100 hours which requires it to be sent back to Cannondale(leaks grease on stanchion). This is why I have 2...so when I send one back, I put my spare on.

It rides great but that wiper seal is very weak. Everything else about it has not failed or needed to be rebuilt yet.

 

[Shadow4eva]

I quoted the wrong comment. It was directed toward MCS with all of his negative comments. [emoji482]
I also "think"with the kind of riding I do personally, and with how meticulous I am when it comes to maintenance, it should be fine for a few years before any major repairs are needed. [emoji51]

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Ah, I see [emoji28]

Cannondale had the idea of selling the ocho as an aftermarket fork, in fact they were thinking about selling lots of them (heard from a c´dale rep). Do you see lots of them outside? Guess why...
Not trolling at all, but all I heard and read about ocho´s are bad things, and I had big expectations on this fork.
It is not even as light as previous models
Hope it helps

I've had an Ocho for two years. It initially leaked oil due to the well known production error. It was fixed (one week turn around) under warranty and has been perfect since. Independent testing puts it highest stiffness to weight of any of the leading XC forks. On the trail I enjoy how precise it is and how responsive it is to small bumps. I just received another one on my new bike. It weighs 1422 grams with steerer cup for a large frame with 15mm spacers under the stem. I think it is the best performing XC fork. It is 100grams heavier than the new SID SL though. There are three reasons people don't buy them aftermarket
1 - Cost
2 - Requirement for a new wheel/hub
3 - Service centre availability
I'm glad it came on my bike. But if it didn't I probably wouldn't be bothered changing from a SID SL or 32 Stepcast.

Thanks guys for the input. I've used the Lefty Hybrid and Lefty 2.0 in the past, so I have a pretty good understanding what I'm diving into.

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[cdalemaniac]

I have 2 for my Scalpel. I ride a lot and hard. I put on about 3000 miles per year or 200 hours from March-November. It has a 100 hour maintenance interval and almost like clock work, the wiper seal fails at 100 hours which requires it to be sent back to Cannondale(leaks grease on stanchion). This is why I have 2...so when I send one back, I put my spare on.

It rides great but that wiper seal is very weak. Everything else about it has not failed or needed to be rebuilt yet.

Wiper seals fail on "normal" forks too, but most folks probably keep riding it anyways. On upside down forks it creates a mess. All the Lefties with worn lowers were probably ridden with leaking seal. Worn hard anodizing is proof of that. The same folks then go online to tell the world how bad the fork is.
If everyone would do it like you do and get the wiper seal replaced at the very first sign of failure, we wouldn't have folks talking all that bs about how the lefty lowers need replacing annually.
Maybe there will be an aftermarket in the future for improved lefty wiper seals.
The only thing I agree with some of the constant negative posts is the fact that cannondale does not release any maintenance info, or parts for the general public.
I have all the tools to take the Ocho apart, and would love to replace the lower wiper seal myself on regular basis instead of sending it in.

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[jschoef]

Agreed. I want to fix it instead of sending it out. I had to buy a 2nd Lefty because I cannot maintain it. Just like Apple devices, we should have the "Right to Repair.

Also, my 2.0 sucked in comparison but I never blew a a wiper seal. I still have my wife and best friend on the 2.0 going on 3 years now...no blown wiper seal.

Wiper seals fail on "normal" forks too, but most folks probably keep riding it anyways. On upside down forks it creates a mess. All the Lefties with worn lowers were probably ridden with leaking seal. Worn hard anodizing is proof of that. The same folks then go online to tell the world how bad the fork is.
If everyone would do it like you do and get the wiper seal replaced at the very first sign of failure, we wouldn't have folks talking all that bs about how the lefty lowers need replacing annually.
Maybe there will be an aftermarket in the future for improved lefty wiper seals.
The only thing I agree with some of the constant negative posts is the fact that cannondale does not release any maintenance info, or parts for the general public.
I have all the tools to take the Ocho apart, and would love to replace the lower wiper seal myself on regular basis instead of sending it in.

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[cdalemaniac]

Seems like SKF makes an aftermarket seal already! If it's readily available, servicing Ochos shouldn't be that bad after all. [emoji51]

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