The Cannondale Topstone Lefty
Cannondale has announced a new ‘full suspension’ Topstone Carbon Lefty, And what a stunner it is!
Cannondale are looking at the best of both worlds and I think this idea will be something that many more brands will look to accomplish!
The original Topstone was launched featuring ‘KingPin suspension’. In essence it’s a axel that pivots at the point where the seat tube and seat stays meet offering 30mm of flex. Well now they have taken it a step further by bolting a Lefty Oliver fork at the front end, Creating a full suspension gravel smasher!
The Lefty fork is nothing new to Cannondale’s range and in my opinion does create its own limitations. The brand has long specced single-sided forks on its XC bikes. But for me it gives you one less fork to strap something too if you go bike packing.
It’s not the first time Cannondale have used the Lefty fork with drop bars, oh no! Remember the Slate? Before gravel became the new cool, Cannondale used a similar for on their “all road” bike. It didn’t quite grab the headlines as the Topstone has now but a good idea none the less.
What is the point? I hear you ask. Well, I get it. People used to say dropper seatposts were pointless. I think there will be more of these bikes to come as Gravel riding gets more popular and people push the limits. maybe one day you will see gravel trail bikes with 150mm travel?
The Oliver comes with a lockout so it can be super efficient on the road and when you are ready to release the fury you can open it right up!!
As per usual Cannondale have cracked the weight game. It has a claimed weight of only 1340g. It will take a 47mm tyre on a 650b wheel and 45 on 700c. If you want to upgrade your wheels. Stans No Tubes in the UK offer Lefty hub option you just need to speak to your local bike shop.
The Carbon Lefty models come with 650b wheels, there is a 700c equipped model that ships with a normal rigid fork. Either way, all the models use Cannondale’s Ballistec carbon fibre and each size has a specific layup depending on size, ensuring, Cannondale say, an equal feel across all bikes. Without this approach, size smalls or extra large bikes can be particularly harsh or suffer from increase flex.
In total there will be four models, two with a Lefty fork and two with a rigid one. Prices start at £3999 for a Topstone Neo Carbon 4 equipped with a Shimano GRX equipped bike and top out at £7999 for a Topstone Neo Carbon 1 Lefty which comes with a SRAM Eagle eTap AXS bits. In the middle sit a GRX 800 equipped bike at £5499 and a GRX 600 equipped bike with a Lefty fork for £4999.
