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Lefty forks?

skurfer333

Monkey
Apr 21, 2005
249
0
Raleigh, NC
I'm looking at getting a new cross country/all mountain bike and the cannondale prophet/rush are some of my options. I was considering a Norco Fluid 3 but I noticed that it weighs 34 pounds... no thanks. Does anybody have experience with a lefty? What are your thoughts?
 

peter6061

Turbo Monkey
Nov 19, 2001
1,575
0
Kenmore, WA
I've got an '03 Scalpel w/ a Lefty DLR Ti and an '05 Prophet with a Lefty Carbon Max. The DLR just gave me it's first problem this past weekend going off a drop it wasn't intended for (blown seal). The Carbon Max has been good, but make sure you keep the boot on if you ride creeks and what not.

For the most part, they're smooth as butter and the new SPV damping systems allow them to be plush yet firm. I'm close to getting rid of both of my bikes for a Rush with another Lefty. Already have DH and SS bikes on either side, so I think a Rush will do the trick right in the middle (for me at least).
 

skurfer333

Monkey
Apr 21, 2005
249
0
Raleigh, NC
OGRipper said:
Is a Lefty a fork? :think:
good question.

how laterally stiff are Lefty "forks"? I'm coming from a gold label 80mm with a thru axel so pretty much anything feels like a flex chicken in comparison, but how well do Lefty "forks" compare with typical XC forks?
 

Carbon Fetish

Monkey
May 6, 2002
619
0
Irvine, CA
I bought a Scalpel and ditched the lefty because I would have to either run the Fork Up adaptor or buy a roof rack that didn’t require me to remove the front wheel. Other than that issue, I liked the Lefty. Also If you need to remove the front wheel, you need to remove the front brake caliper.
 

sanjuro

Tube Smuggler
Sep 13, 2004
17,373
0
SF
Carbon Fetish said:
I bought a Scalpel and ditched the lefty because I would have to either run the Fork Up adaptor or buy a roof rack that didn’t require me to remove the front wheel. Other than that issue, I liked the Lefty. Also If you need to remove the front wheel, you need to remove the front brake caliper.
All you need to do is actually remove the lower disc mount bolt and rotate the brake up and away from the rotor. It is a simple operation and does not require you to recenter the caliper.
 

mud'n'sweat

Falcon
Feb 12, 2006
1,250
0
I'm still not completely sold on lefties because I haven't been able to ride one enough to make a full opinion. I can say two positive things about them though.

1. They are relatively easy to work on and repair.

2. With only on stanchion, they have a relatively smooth feel and low amount of stiction.
 

Heath Sherratt

Turbo Monkey
Jun 17, 2004
1,871
0
In a healthy tension
Carbon Fetish said:
I bought a Scalpel and ditched the lefty because I would have to either run the Fork Up adaptor or buy a roof rack that didn’t require me to remove the front wheel. Other than that issue, I liked the Lefty. Also If you need to remove the front wheel, you need to remove the front brake caliper.
Yeah, the best option I have found is the 99 dollar bob ratchet tray for Thule or Yak bars. Better to pay 100 bucks for a better rack than ditch the best fork in the market for more money.
 
skurfer333 said:
I'm looking at getting a new cross country/all mountain bike and the cannondale prophet/rush are some of my options. I was considering a Norco Fluid 3 but I noticed that it weighs 34 pounds... no thanks. Does anybody have experience with a lefty? What are your thoughts?
I bought an '06 Prophet 1000 about a month ago and I couldn't be happier with the bike. My fork is the Lefty Max with SPV and now that I've gottent it dialed in I can't say enough about it.

I was a bit skeptical at first but one of the guys that I ride with has owned a Prophet and a Rush and turned me on to it. With 140mm of travel the Lefty will soak up just about anything that the trail can throw at it and it does so without feeling soft. That allows me to pick a line through, over, or around an obstacle and pedal that line. The rear suspension on the bike is also pretty sweet with SPV and rebound adjustment. I also ride hardtails and wanted to get the benefits of the full suspension without it feeling too soft and I think I've managed to get most of that with my shock. I did fight the rebound just a bit to find the sweet spot but that will happen with just about any suspension so I don't look at that as a real weakness. The Prophet also has a high center of balance with a lot of clearance under the BB but it doesn't feel top heavy.

When I rode it at the shop I compared it to a Rush and Stumpjumper FSR and I immediately knew that the Prophet was the right choice for me. The others felt good but I instantly felt better on the Prophet. I also thought the 1000 had a good mix of components. I didn't want to do the Shimano dual control brake/shifter combo so the SRAM and Juicy 7 package was great. The only things that I didn't like were easy to fix. The Maxxis tires came off after the first ride for a set of Specialized Enduro Pro 2Bliss and the FSA bar was swapped for an Easton CNT lo rise. Other than that the bike is stock and I couldn't be happier.

Hope that helps. If you want anything else feel free to PM questions.

Mike
 

blue

boob hater
Jan 24, 2004
10,160
2
california
Leftys pwn. Stiffer than anything out there. I'd be happier if they ditched SPV, though.

For those of you worried about wheel issues, you don't have to take off the wheel to change the tire :rolleyes:
 

JRogers

talks too much
Mar 19, 2002
3,785
1
Claremont, CA
I have had an '05 Prophet 1000 for a few months. I wrote up a review a while back if you want to search in the Lounge for it.

The Lefty has treated me well so far, but has had some small issues. The damping performance is very good. Not as plush as some other offerings, but very controlled and smooth feeling. However, there's been a slight knock in the fork and some play at the top of the travel that have not gone away. The shop tried to fix it when I bought it, but that didn't work either. In any case, it's a decent fork.

The Prophet, on the whole, is a really awesome ride. I love the rear suspension, geometry, efficiency, plushness- everything basically. It's not the best climber out there, but it's no slouch either. Great for someone who wants a do-everything trailbike or someone who loves downhills but doesn't want or need a freeride bike. I am very happy overall.

One note, though: I've found that Cannondale's spring settings for the suspension are absurd. I am running a softer fork spring (though I might switch to the one right below the recommended level instead of the current 2 below) and softer rear pressure settings than recommended. If I run the recommended rear setting, the bike seems to get about 10% sag or less.
 

TreeSaw

Mama Monkey
Oct 30, 2003
17,669
1,847
Dancin' over rocks n' roots!
I have a lefty on my jekyll 1000 and I have really liked the fork. It is a bit stiffer than my Psylo Race and I haven't had any troubles with it. I think it responds quite well and is smooth...no problems here and I tend to ride techy trails all the time.
 

batty_110

Chimp
Jun 15, 2006
52
0
Minnesota
Leftys just don't make sense. It can't offer the same stiffness as a regular fork, and with xc, stiffness is a good thing. Check out something like a Trek Fuel EX (i have one and they RULE), or a Gary Fisher Cake. Might be too spendy, but they're what I like
 

peter6061

Turbo Monkey
Nov 19, 2001
1,575
0
Kenmore, WA
I've been in the testing facility at Cannondale and seen what they put these (and everyone else's forks) through. I was actually sad to see all the big downhill forks from other manufactuers that I couldn't afford sitting around in pieces.

That said, these forks are tested to withstand more than the competition and the numbers prove that these forks are, in fact, stiffer. It's no wonder you hear people making statements like,
batty_110 said:
It can't offer the same stiffness as a regular fork
with no data, but you don't see or hear these types of statements coming from other fork makers.
 

sanjuro

Tube Smuggler
Sep 13, 2004
17,373
0
SF
batty_110 said:
Leftys just don't make sense. It can't offer the same stiffness as a regular fork, and with xc, stiffness is a good thing. Check out something like a Trek Fuel EX (i have one and they RULE), or a Gary Fisher Cake. Might be too spendy, but they're what I like
Dude, don't post your ignorance. Bragging about Trek and Gary Fisher XC bikes is not exactly going to fly here. Is it because they have some sophisticated suspension designs?

Why don't you click on this picture of Cedric casing a backflip and tell me how much the wheel deflects with his entire body weight on the fork? Is that stiff enough?
 

batty_110

Chimp
Jun 15, 2006
52
0
Minnesota
Sorry. Jeez. I didn't know it's a flippin' lefty fan dictatorship going here. I'll be on my merry way then. Enjoy Lefty snobland without me. :P Ever think Cedric might have the one that probably costs more than the rest of his bike? And if the lefty design is so practical, why hasn't anybody tried to copy it?
 

sanjuro

Tube Smuggler
Sep 13, 2004
17,373
0
SF
batty_110 said:
Sorry. Jeez. I didn't know it's a flippin' lefty fan dictatorship going here. I'll be on my merry way then. Enjoy Lefty snobland without me. :P Ever think Cedric might have the one that probably costs more than the rest of his bike? And if the lefty design is so practical, why hasn't anybody tried to copy it?
He was riding a carbon fiber fork. I do not know what internals were in there, but carbon is carbon, production or one-off designs. Actually, most one-off designs are typically lighter, not stronger.

And the Lefty is patented.
 

konarider98

Chimp
Mar 14, 2005
36
0
Newburyport Ma.
I checked out a Prophet and a Rush today and I decided to go with the Rush. I'm a big fan of the Lefty.
Nice choice! i have a rush myself. a 3000 with lefty speed carbon. mine has fox terra logic (pro pedal for the front) and i really like it. its light stiff and opens wide up once activated. the reaction time for it to open it instant. ive felt and road alot of the older ones and not liked how they felt. i thnk with my fox internals it feels better than most i have tryed.
 

sanjuro

Tube Smuggler
Sep 13, 2004
17,373
0
SF
I looked thru the 07 catalog, and C/Dale claims their 110mm Lefty Speed Carbon SL is 2.72 lbs. If this is true, :clapping: :clapping: :clapping: