LEFTY

According to the director and manager of Lefty, Drew Hannah, this is the greatest innovation of Cannondale since its inception. Fans of mountain bike says Murray Washburn divided into two broad categories: those that have led Lefty and those who have not ever driven. The Lefty technology celebrates 16 years of life. Passed through several stages of improvement to come in today where riding a Lefty bicycle is a life time experience.

 

Cannondale has always claimed that Lefty is lighter, stiffer and stronger than any other fork of the market thanks to the design of double inverted crown, which requires (40mm stud on top, and 32mm at the bottom) of the suspension, with two clamps in top to connect to the backbone.


 

This essentially is the external form of Lefty. Two tubes with a larger cross-section (top) and the second with less (below) that in the upper part there are two clamps to fasten on the frame while the lower part has a pin which enters the wheel and which restrains - locks. It consists of four bearings (elastomers onto the bearing needle bearing forms) that roll between the two uprights (top and bottom). According to the company this design makes it smoother than the other posts. The first Lefty built had some leakage problems especially on wet roadways were several problems. Cannondale new models like to be lighter, harder, improved 

strength and without leaks which did so with the 2013 models.

Their construction is changed based on the new technology that Cannondale calls Sealed Hybrid Needle Technology. The construction is carried out by special machines closed type which are operated by computers known CNC resulting in better quality and lack of solder so maximum strength and rigidity of the whole. The form of cylindrical tubes made ​​from square was and was achieved and proper seal. Removed longer the bubble and the air filter in place were one bearing a seal as in ordinary posts. Since one of the main drawbacks of this system was the most specialized service that was set with all these and more need for service is at long intervals, even while the company has added the automatic Reset.

Inside there is a hanging slide bearings beige which helps with rigidity. According to the above, the friction within the body of the hanger is in frictional ¼ conventional suspension which is achieved by using a bushing instead of four in a typical fork. This translates into more direct response from the park position, which means faster, supple.
The weight of the suspension ranges from Lefty 1250gr - 1445 (Speed ​​Carbon - XLR). With these data is the lightest suspension market.

With the hybrid design Bearing, new Lefty is stiffer laterally (side-to- side and front - back). The torque is the same as the previous models, and Cannondale states that the tests carried out under Lefty appears to be substantially rigid relative to the other posts at all points of its travel. This translates in driving accuracy, which fills the rider more confidence. Do not forget the territories to which this technology is called upon to act.

 

The rider bicycle with suspension Lefty has better directivity on his bike, low weight which in each case can be up to 300gr. has torsional rigidity, which is in accordance with the test results in a much better spot than conventional mounts. Another advantage of this technology is that due to better stiffness presented in conjunction with technology OPI, succeeds where the bike and rider move in soils with high inclination not blocked while conventional suspension consisting of two shock when bicycle gets large gradients than those that run parallel to each other, and move in the vertical axis as if to cut in the middle of the suspension and because the two tubes , and accept different forces to each other when the inclination of the suspension grown stop - locks , so the rider receives strong loads and pressures. So Lefty technology allows the wheel to move with greater ease deleting paths with a steeper slope than the common mounts.


Lefty models that came into production in 2013 are the following:

1.- LEFTY CARBON bikes available for $ 29 with the 90mm stroke 100mm, also available with 26 bikes route the 100mm-120mm 130mm. The "lock" in LEFTY CARBON is hydraulic (XLR). This model uses a carbon tube with connector clamps Aluminium, and thus saves 100g over aluminum models.

2.- LEFTY OPI ALLOY available with the same data indicated LEFTY Carbon. The locking of the suspension is either hydraulically (XLR) or mechanical (PBR).

3.- The SUPERMAX CARBON which is available in 29 bikes . The blocking is done in an analogous manner.


Lefty summarizing we can say is the best package on the market for suspension. But because of a Patent Cannondale bikes found only in this company, while lately the COMPANY has manufactured such a post (Universal) which can be used by any other bike on the market.