It is depending on your frame and the amount of travel you can have. If it is a normal Cannondale HT frame, a Lefty DLR is most probably your only choice, due to the fork length. Then you have three choices for your wallet: OPI, Carbon and SL Carbon 
the Lefty to look for.....
Im wondering which lefty was the most trouble free. Im not concerned about weight, i just want to buy the most reliable lefty (used).....at least as reliable as my old headshok super fatty DL. I mostly ride XC with a touch of AM.....so I'm wondering which is The Lefty to look for?.....
anyone?
anyone?
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if my memory is correct the f-series bikes can take forks with ac heights up to 500mm - which is what the 130mm lefty max pbr 09 is. So if that is correct it should go on just fine. I'm not sure if it is a great idea though as the handling might not be what you are after due to the slacker head angle and higher bb.
A lefty speed carbon sl is by far the best speed lefty i have tried and i would personally invest the extra cash to get one. It is really quite amazing. With all the racers wanting the sl2 opi or newer it shouldn't be that expensive either. The opi version is just lighter. My current 2010 lefty max pbr (alloy) is the best max i have tried by far and i must say that i love it. It is really just about perfect and i could not recommend it enough .- even if it can't hold its air for that many days in a row (easily fixed by a service i know - jst haven't gotten around to it yet).
to the last poster - if you've commuted daily and competed with the lefty for six years and it have seen only a service then either you have gotten a Willy Wonka golden lefty or it is in dire need of a service. Leftys are a bit high maintenance so it sounds a bit too ggood to be true sadly
happy trails
A lefty speed carbon sl is by far the best speed lefty i have tried and i would personally invest the extra cash to get one. It is really quite amazing. With all the racers wanting the sl2 opi or newer it shouldn't be that expensive either. The opi version is just lighter. My current 2010 lefty max pbr (alloy) is the best max i have tried by far and i must say that i love it. It is really just about perfect and i could not recommend it enough .- even if it can't hold its air for that many days in a row (easily fixed by a service i know - jst haven't gotten around to it yet).
to the last poster - if you've commuted daily and competed with the lefty for six years and it have seen only a service then either you have gotten a Willy Wonka golden lefty or it is in dire need of a service. Leftys are a bit high maintenance so it sounds a bit too ggood to be true sadly
happy trails
Thanks for the reality check, you're right, it is hard to believe. But I checked back to my service and receipts records--which I meticulously keep for my own benefit-- and I was wrong. My lefty is seven years old now with only one service, not six.klinkekule said:if my memory is correct the f-series bikes can take forks with ac heights up to 500mm - which is what the 130mm lefty max pbr 09 is. So if that is correct it should go on just fine. I'm not sure if it is a great idea though as the handling might not be what you are after due to the slacker head angle and higher bb.
A lefty speed carbon sl is by far the best speed lefty i have tried and i would personally invest the extra cash to get one. It is really quite amazing. With all the racers wanting the sl2 opi or newer it shouldn't be that expensive either. The opi version is just lighter. My current 2010 lefty max pbr (alloy) is the best max i have tried by far and i must say that i love it. It is really just about perfect and i could not recommend it enough .- even if it can't hold its air for that many days in a row (easily fixed by a service i know - jst haven't gotten around to it yet).
to the last poster - if you've commuted daily and competed with the lefty for six years and it have seen only a service then either you have gotten a Willy Wonka golden lefty or it is in dire need of a service. Leftys are a bit high maintenance so it sounds a bit too ggood to be true sadly
happy trails
Honestly, why whould I make such an outstanding claim up? You don't even know who I am, I have nothing to gain by lying about such a thing.
I'm certain the fork may be due for another soon, but until it demonstrates any issues why "fix" it?
Also, I'm pretty sure that a frame designed for 80-100mm front travel will not be compatible for anything more. As the frame geometry moves through longer fork travel, rider postioning will become distorted, thus distorting steering tracking, not to mention force points effecting the frame. Several years ago I tried a 120mm on a 80-100mm-designed XC bike and it didn't work. I asked the online tech at Kona and he explained it along the lines that bike frames are designed around a designated fork travel length.
Lefties will work ok without too much maintenance. It will however degrade during the years. For commute in dry conditions (assumption), you may not expose your fork to high loads and contamination that will accellerate the degradation. The needle bearings probably need a reset, as well as a good lubrication job. (Mine ('00 DLR) was said to be a bit corroded on the races, but I didn't mind for my use (sent it to Eighty aid).) The air filter probably needs a good wash/replacement. Lefties will last long without too much maintenance, but they will function much better with And since degradation sometimes is gradual, you may adapt to the quirks that develop. My .02$.
Even though the AC is specified to be for a certain length, it is not necessarily good for the BB height with more travel (on the same AC). Max forks are longer than 500mm, I am sure of.
And since degradation sometimes is gradual, you may adapt to the quirks that develop. My .02$.Even though the AC is specified to be for a certain length, it is not necessarily good for the BB height with more travel (on the same AC). Max forks are longer than 500mm, I am sure of.
my bad, my intention was not to give the impression that i thought you were lying - far from it. It just sounded so perfect that i was finding it hard to believe. Sounds like your riding conditions and the lefty are a perfect match. Lucky youSpinny said:
Let's hope it stays that way for 7 more years. I was just implying that it prob needed a service right about now, though if it feels as good as a brand new one - then yes, you are correct - why bother Frames are designed around a specific ac height yes, but Cannondale state that the f-series can take an ac height up to 500mm. A 140lefty max has an ac of 510mm. I'm not saying it would be a great idea though - i think a lefty speed sounds just about perfect. 110mm of travel is preferable to 80mm - though if you are on a budget remember to factor in a new front hub or a new front wheel as well as possibly a new stem.
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