Cannondale Scalpel 3 review
Fun, fast and slightly unusual looking
GBP £3,000.00 RRP | USD $4,100.00 Skip to view dealsPublished:
Pivotless suspension isn’t new, but Cannondale’s Scalpel was for a long time the sole survivor – only for Lapierre to launch one for 2013. Originally built with an aluminium chassis and flexy carbon inserts, the new Scalpel is carbon all over – and there’s no alu option. But clever material or not, is the whole pivotless idea just a dead end?
Ride & handling: A precision instrument for dissecting trail sections at silly speed
No two ways about it – the Scalpel is a fast bike. But there’s much more to building an effective mile-muncher than just shedding weight. Where it scores is in offering lower weight than any full-sus rival, plus better comfort and traction than any hardtail.
The lack of pivots and the taut chassis contribute to a feeling that the pedals are directly connected to the rear wheel. The Scalpel surges forward with each stroke. On climbs we found ourselves delaying – or even skipping – downshifts, feeling the rear wheel hugging the trail as we left heavier, longer-travel rivals in our wake. It gives the best of both worlds: hardtail liveliness with a hint of full suss comfort and control.
What it very definitely isn’t is an 80mm full-susser; ride this bike like one and you’ll likely be disappointed. Say what? Well, the way the chainstays flex means there are effectively two springs at work: the stays themselves and the shock. Plus the stays flex midway along, a place you’d never put a pivot.
So it’s a compromise, and one that struggles to deliver the 80mm of promised travel. The shock fidgets around under normal pedalling loads, while the fork is a little stuttery. But funnily enough, each end complements the other. Throw in perfectly balanced weight distribution and a front that simply won’t be thrown off line, and it just works.
Frame & equipment: Fork and shock aren’t class-leading, but no full-susser is lighter
Cannondale claim a frame-and-shock weight of less than 1.6kg. That’s seriously light for a frame offering 80mm of travel.
In part it’s down to the pared-to-the-bone rear end, which relies on the chainstays’ flat mid-sections for vertical movement without lateral flex. Cannondale’s BallisTec carbon construction probably also plays a role – it uses extra fibres in areas that need additional strength. The Scalpel 3’s all-up weight of a hair over 10kg (22.3lb) puts it well ahead of any price-equivalent full susser; you simply can’t buy a lighter bike.

Kit isn’t class-leading, but an SLX and XT-based transmission is great and the Lefty fork is in keeping with the Scalpel’s quirky design; a RockShox Monarch shock holds up the rear. Neither shock nor fork are exceptional, but the Lefty is noticeably stiffer and better-steering than conventional rivals – it can pull to one side when locked out, mind. Wheel removal requires a 5mm Allen key and for the brake calliper to be pivoted out of the way, which is awkward, but the pay-off is limitless mud clearance.
A few years ago Cannondale unwisely tried a 100mm travel Scalpel. In its 80mm form it makes a lot more sense, delivering blistering pace in the hands of skilled riders – though clumsier ones may feel short-changed.
This article was originally published in What Mountain Bike magazine, available on Apple Newsstand and Zinio.
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Product Specifications
Product
Name | Scalpel 3 (12) |
Brand | Cannondale |
Description | S, M, L, XL sizes |
Seatpost | Cannondale C2 |
Front Wheel | DT Swiss XCR 1.7 custom rim, Lefty SL hub, DT Swiss butted spokes |
Tyres | Schwalbe Racing Ralph, 2.1in |
Wheelbase (in) | 43.5 |
Top Tube (in) | 23 |
Seat Tube (in) | 17.25 |
Chainstays (in) | 16.7 |
Bottom Bracket Height (in) | 12.5 |
Weight (lb) | 22.3 |
Weight (kg) | 10.1 |
Stem | Cannondale OPI, 100mm |
Shifters | Shimano SLX |
Seat Angle | 73.5 |
Bottom Bracket | SRAM BB30 |
Standover Height (in) | 30.5 |
Saddle | Fizik Tundra 2 |
Rear Shock | RockShox Monarch RT, air |
Rear Derailleur | Shimano Deore XT |
Head Angle | 69.5 |
Handlebar | Cannondale C2 alu riser, 680mm |
Front Derailleur | SRAM X7 |
Frame Material | BallisTec Hi-MOD carbon |
Fork | Cannondale Lefty Speed PBR, air, 100mm |
Cranks | SRAM S1400, 26/39T |
Cassette | SRAM PG1030 10-speed, 11-36T |
Brakes | Avid Elixir 7 hydraulic discs, 160/160mm rotors |
Rear Wheel | DT Swiss XCR 1.7 custom rim, DT Swiss XCR 1.7 hub, DT Swiss butted spokes |