Cannondale Scalpel Review | The 2021 Scalpel Flexes All-New Carbon Muscles

[@JonathanLee7]

This is one of the best MTB reviews I’ve seen. Extremely well done!

[@FlowMountainBikeYouTube]

Thanks Jonathan! [Wil]

[@vlmo]

As I expected, this how a review should be! Best review!

[@FlowMountainBikeYouTube]

Thank you Victor - cheers for watching and for the feedback mate! [Wil]

[@caperider1160]

So far by far the most comprehensive review of this new scalpel 2021! Great job!

[@FlowMountainBikeYouTube]

Cheers mate! We went pretty in-depth with this one, so I'm stoked to hear you dig it! [Wil]

[@TheNationalTrails]

This review covers the necessary tech-related information. Easy to throw shade at the other "reviews."

[@adambarnes7814]

Fantastic, well rounded review. Cheers Will. Keep em coming!

[@FlowMountainBikeYouTube]

Cheers Adam! Thanks for watching mate, and for the feedback - it's very much appreciated! [Wil]

[@lbco5229]

I have the last generation Scalpel2 .. an amazing bike .. I highly recommend it.

[@danielsvk1]

Best review for new Scalpel on the YT. Greet from Slovakia

[@FlowMountainBikeYouTube]

Cheers mate, thanks for watching! [Wil]

[@JMoe27]

This is a great review, I’m surprised how few views it has but I loved it. I have the original 2002 Scalpel team as well as a 2010 and am a big fan of the history reported here and in the written article.

[@FlowMountainBikeYouTube]

Oh no way - an original 2002 Scalpel Team, cool! And thanks for the kind words mate, glad you enjoyed the review! [Wil]

[@fhowland]

Super in depth review- the best on KZbin! Would be curious to hear your thoughts on if it’s an improvement over the previous model.

[@joew7677]

Absolutely brilliant review Will and Flow, Pure class as always!

[@FlowMountainBikeYouTube]

Thanks very much Joe! Appreciate you passing on the feedback mate, and glad you enjoyed the video! [Wil]

[@coolala1098]

thats a very detail review I ever seen... very solid info. best!

[@cove.4]

You are doing the best reviews, hands down!

[@FlowMountainBikeYouTube]

Yiew thanks Caleb! We'll keep doing them if you keep diggin' em! [Wil]

[@hnyremo]

U deliver best bike review. Very detail with demonstration. The best. Love this Scarlpel and Canyon Exceed review. I am a Cannondale fan, i wish to see a review of FSI carbon 1.

[@saffmad6435]

Superbly super details and described everything on point or even more. Best review made!

[@FlowMountainBikeYouTube]

Thanks for the feedback mate, much appreciated! [Wil]

[@spiral99able]

Another fantastic review, thanks Wil .

[@FlowMountainBikeYouTube]

My pleasure mate - thanks for watching, and I'm stoked you enjoyed it! [Wil]

[@massimomusto1975]

I like the well detailed reviews, and Flow standards are in this direction! well done. I also enjoyed the comparison with fox sc.

[@tinoschneider6350]

Honest review, well done!

[@benwildman6164]

Killer review mate. You’re the Tom Selleck of MTB journalism

[@andresmadariaga2126]

Very good and comprehensive review. It's very good insight to have a comparison between Ocho and Fox 32 SC over the same frame. But it's a shame that Cannondale didn't provide you with the top-end model, that is the starting point for bikers to then make a choice based on budget. Again, AWESOME review!

[@sbellidog]

Thanks for putting together this fantastic review.

[@FlowMountainBikeYouTube]

Our pleasure Sergio, glad you enjoyed it and thanks for the positive feedback! [Wil]

[@rafaeldegiacomoaraujo8778]

Fantastic review. Thank you. But we need to talk more about that BB, the AI rear wheel and the issue with the suspension bushings. Is it a PF30, PF30A or PF30A83? And what are the dimensions of the crank? Why was there play? Is this a frame that left the factory is out of spec? Is this happening with other parts of the frame like headset and BB?

[@FlowMountainBikeYouTube]

My pleasure Rafael - thanks for watching and for the feedback! You'll find a lot of the answers to your questions, and a load more info about our experience with the Scalpel in the full review: flowmountainbike.com/tests/2021-cannondale-scalpel-carbon-review/ As much as I wanted to cover everything in this video, there is A LOT to talk about with the Scalpel, and already the video was getting quite long :-) I can tell you that the BB is a PF30-83, and that is matched with a Hollowgram crankset with a BB30 spindle. Q-Factor is 179mm for this crankset, and it weighs 535g including the 34T OPI chainring. I think I explained in the video where the play in the suspension was coming from, but if you missed that bit, it's basically due to a slightly undersized (0.02mm or something like that) pivot pin for the lower shock mount. I've been testing this bike for about a month before the launch, and it turns out the pivot pin on our bike is not the same as what production bikes come with. We have a replacement pivot pin on the way (a slightly larger diameter), which is meant to solve the problem. I'll provide an update in the review on the website once that replacement hardware arrives. No - that play isn't happening at the headset or BB. It's specifically occurring at the lower shock mount, and it is purely due to the diameter of the lower pivot pin. Hope that helps explain and answer your questions, though make sure you check out the full review for a full rundown of our experience testing the Scalpel. [Wil]

[@rafaeldegiacomoaraujo8778]

@@FlowMountainBikeKZbin thank you so much for such a complete reply. I think many cannondale customers have suffered from the mixed feeling that the brand brings with innovations and some good bikes. However they have some awful bb tolerances and recurrent issues with headsets and bb bearings. This is exacerbated by the confusing standards of fittings and a relatively poor customer service for such a premium product. I think only time will tell if the issue pivot pin was a tolerance problem or simply a mistake as they said. Once again, thank you for your reply.

[@bendekimpe35]

Great review, professional and well structured. I am doubting buying a new mountainbike between the Cannondale Scalpel HI-mod or the Orbea Oiz. Both of them looks nice, but it seems that the Orbea is acting more nervous. Difficult to choose.

[@ps3narciso]

i had the same dilema. i just ordered the scalpel carbon 2 after i tested it.great bike!

[@bendekimpe35]

@@ps3narciso i have ordered also the scalpel hi-mod, you had the ability to test, during in the pandemic situation no chance at all to test. I am wondering about your experience

[@ps3narciso]

@@bendekimpe35 i tested the carbon 2 version but also scalpel se1. i liked it more the one with the lefty. on the descents it gives you loads of confidence. the other one it felt strange for me or maybe i am not that much into that downcountry thing. with the 100mm version you go fast without realising that you are.it climbs also well, the only con that i can find it’s the way it turns, you have to be direct and precise, more physical.and also the price politics of cannondale it’s something that i don’t approve: in italy we got 2 price increases since the beginning of the year

[@bendekimpe35]

@@ps3narciso i have seen an increasement of 900 euros for my bike in 2021, lucky i have ordered in 2020. Now i am riding specialized epic the same behaviour regarding price level

[@YoramPomer]

Great review. I bought the 2023 Scalpel 2, which seems to be exactly the same as the one you are testing. My question is about fit. My height is the same as yours, but I feel that I would be better off with a L size because I lean to much forward, and on descending it would be hard for me to prevent flipping forward when dropping a 1/2 meter rock. In the video I noticed that your head is also overs the handlebars, so what is your opinion about the size fit? BTW, I replaced the stem to a 90cm with 22% rise, so that it forces me to move my sitting position backwards.

[@lindonandlisa8114]

I'd love to know your opinion we'll I have to choose between a new anthem and the scalpel which one do you reckon I should go for

[@maksimloginov9365]

Coool video ! Very informative. Thanks !

[@FlowMountainBikeYouTube]

My pleasure Maksim, and good to hear you found it useful! [Wil]

[@raleighkellyc9375]

Bravo flow MTB.on ur presentation on the new scaple. However my concern is those flex stays .could you show what they look like with the rubber black covering .I presently own s 2013 carbon one lefty scaple 29er .I want to buy the new scaple but I worry about the rear flex stays how long do they last what about cracking etc pls respond

[@paule5473]

Just fantastic review, thanks a lot! Great that you explain how the changes affect resulting efficiency, which is crucial for racing! However those chainstays... they make me worried! @Flow Mountain Bike, didn't they feel damage-prone for you? Especially in case of some side hits on a rocky terrain. Also that chainstay garage, will it be also the same garage for all the dirt?

[@JoeySanchez1575]

Hello Wil, another spectacular review. Thanks for suggesting me this one to help me out decide my next year race xco season bike. When you mentioned that scalpel is less efficient than others, is something that is a disadvantage? Di you mean have more pedal bob, that reflects in loss of power? Does it climbs well with the suspension open? How often and when you need to used the lockout? Thanks again and Im waiting for your reviews on Orbea Oiz and Supercaliber that you mentioned. Jose

[@FlowMountainBikeYouTube]

Thanks Jose, and cheers for watching! Regarding pedal efficiency and the Scalpel's suspension performance; the design doesn't have the same snappiness at the pedals compared to some other XC bikes on the market. You can reduce this by increasing the shock pressure (an extra 10psi is quite noticeable), which helps to firm up the feel at the pedals. However, the active suspension design makes the Scalpel more comfortable and compliant on rough trails. Even while pedalling or under hard braking, the suspension is more free to absorb impacts, and on rough trails that can help your momentum. For me, I preferred setting the suspension on the softer side for maximum traction, and I used the lockout regularly on smooth climbs. However, if you are racing on smoother trails, adding some air pressure is an easy way to improve the pedal efficiency, so it's quite easy to tune. Hope that helps Jose! [Wil]

[@c.martin6326]

best review out there

[@FlowMountainBikeYouTube]

Thanks very much Corey, glad you enjoyed it mate! [Wil]

[@rodriguezahr]

Excellent review, the best I’ve seen so far! I’m considering a new mountain bike and have been riding cannonade / Lefty For a decade now but all are the F SI system not the scalpel. Would like to give it a try and see how it compares to a front suspension system. For the experts like you, when a single suspension system should leave its place to a double suspension bike?

[@muhammadshami7327]

Awesome! From India

[@mattharvey2327]

Hey Will, I always love your reviews even if it’s not I bike I’m into, but I have to know where did you shot this. Not your usual Central vic trails.

[@FlowMountainBikeYouTube]

Yo Matt! Some of the GoPro footage is from Woodend, while the rest of the video was shot earlier this week at Buxton MTB Park. Lovely spot, very lush this time of year, and we thankfully managed to dodge the huge rainstorm that came in later that evening! [Wil]

[@mattharvey2327]

Flow Mountain Bike hey thanks Will. Legend for sharing. Hoping to get to these spots soon.

[@erlendsteren9466]

I am loooking for a smooth gravel bike. Should i Consider this bike? Forest road commuting?

[@sebastianpuka555]

Wonder, how long it will take Lefty Occho to break. Mine PBR went after 10 months

[@downhiller010]

Very well done!

[@hasmukhgowda3814]

Make a review on CANYON LUX CF SLX 0.9 TEAM 2021 please 🥺

[@martin.B777]

Great review!👌🚵‍♂️

[@pedroasmarques]

I'm in doubt between KTM SCARP MASTER 2021 (with carbon wheels update) and CANNONDALE SCALPEL CARBON 2, which one did you choose?

[@mohdizaniabdulmajid843]

Definitely I will go for this scalpel instead of epic.

[@Long-yc1ov]

Good review

[@FlowMountainBikeYouTube]

Thanks mate!

[@massimomusto1975]

Hi, which is the set up of fork and rear ammo you applied? I'm 69kg too

[@brunosilvestre4943]

Hi Flow. It seems that this new frame is not UDH compatible as the new Orbea Oiz and Specialized Epic. Could you please confirm if this frame is or is not UDH compatible? thanks.

[@leduroja1]

This cannondale carbon frame group 1 can be fitted with a fox 36 or 38 fork

[@madderdog214]

Great review but have a question. I bought a scalpel and was working on principle pushing the lever locks out ocho suspension. Reading the ocho manual it says different. Any feedback

[@FlowMountainBikeYouTube]

Hi there Mark! Yep, pushing the lever locks out both the fork and shock. Worth noting is that the suspension doesn’t fully lock - there’s still a few millimetres of squish, and the blowoff circuits mean both the fork and shock will compress if you hit something really hard. Hope that helps! [Wil]

[@lee.j7077]

Why do xc bikes still have a slack seat tube angle 73-74,but trail/enduro are much steeper?

[@FlowMountainBikeYouTube]

Good question Lee! There are a couple of reasons why XC bikes don't need to be as steep in the seat tube angle. For a start, they have less travel in the first place, and therefore less sag. They also tend to pedal more efficiently. So when you're going uphill, the shock doesn't sag into its travel as much, so the seat tube doesn't slacken out as much as it would on a long travel trail/enduro bike. So while the 'static' seat angle is slacker on paper, the 'dynamic' seat angle might not be as different. The other reason comes down to the riding position. Steep seat angles are great for going uphill, but on the flats and more rolling terrain, they can push more of your bodyweight onto the grips, causing more fatigue on your wrists, arms, shoulders and upper back - not good things for a bike that you want to ride big distances on. Lastly, steep seat angles generally require longer reach measurements, so that the cockpit doesn't get too cramped when you have the saddle at full height. However, a longer reach = a longer wheelbase, and there's only so long you want to go on an XC bike, which needs to be sharp and nimble through tight singletrack. Going back to the Scalpel I've been testing, I found the cockpit measurements and seat angle to be spot-on, and I certainly wouldn't want it to be any steeper than it is. Hope that helps explain mate! [Wil]

[@lee.j7077]

Flow Mountain Bike that was a great response and cleared it up for me thanks very much!

[@gaetanflamme381]

Hey! i know you tested both, maybe you can advise me :) I hesitate for my next bike... Scalpel Carbon 2 ? Or Canyon Lux SLX9 ? Do you have a preference?

[@drl232]

Scalpel the best of the best!

[@lfcgatti]

Hi. Great review! Are you sure about the weight of the Wheels? Quite heavy. I though it was 1540 g

[@FlowMountainBikeYouTube]

Oh I'm sure :-) On every test bike I'll strip down the wheels to confirm the weight of the tyres (661g for the Racing Ray & 674g for the Racing Ralph) the cassette (472g) and the weight of the wheels (762g front and 928g rear = 1690g in total, with valves and tape). In the case of our Scalpel Carbon 2, I also took off the Lefty and weighed that (1731g), and I checked the Hollowgram crankset too (535g with arms, BB30 axle & 34T chainring). It is an XC bike after all, so I figured there'd be folks out there who would want to know some of those numbers. Hopefully some find it as useful as I did! [Wil]

[@joshmorris4831]

My local bike shop has one of these and I want it so bad

[@joshmorris4831]

It's the exact same spec as this 😂😂😂

[@cadel89]

Hi Will, I am writing you from Colombia. I have your same height (175cm) and I would like to confirm if you felt comfortable on the size m as the M runs up to 175cm and the size L runs from 1,72 to 1,82mts. Thanks for the advice.

[@mlee6136]

Now how about cannondale fixing the pressfit BB, back to threaded....

[@Montblanc1986]

Fabric multi tool seems like cotton is tougher than I thought

[@rationalrelic]

Great video thank you!

[@FlowMountainBikeYouTube]

Thanks for watching mate, glad you enjoyed it! [Wil]

[@downhiller010]

@Flow Mountain Bikes do you have any info on durability of the HI-MOD version versus this one?

[@FlowMountainBikeYouTube]

According to Cannondale, the stiffness and strength values are the same between the regular carbon frames and the Hi-Mod frames, and the main difference is simply weight. So in theory at least, durability should be similar between the two. Hope that helps! [Wil]

[@downhiller010]

@@FlowMountainBikeKZbin thanks!

[@raleighkellyc9375]

How long do the flex stay last before they fail . bc cannondale is not very good with their customers if their bikes fail.

[@raleighkellyc9375]

What about cracks on the flex stays

[@adambarnes7814]

Hey Wil. What's the deal with anti- squat? I don't understand that stuff. Can you custom tune the shock to increase anti squat if bike doesn't feel responsive enough without engaging lockout? Cheers, Adam

[@FlowMountainBikeYouTube]

Hey Adam! Anti-squat is basically the rear suspension's propensity to stiffen up under pedalling. The more anti-squat there is in the linkage, the more the shock stiffens up when you're on the gas. Too much anti-squat however, means there'll be more feedback through the pedals when you encounter bumps on the trail, reducing the suspension's effectiveness at absorbing those impacts. How much anti-squat a bike has is defined by the arrangement of its linkage and pivot points, and how the rear axle moves relative to the bottom bracket. On the Scalpel, Cannondale's designers gave it a little less anti-squat than what you'd typically find on an XC bike, with the goal of making sure the suspension is active and effective, resulting in more traction and a smoother ride, particularly when you're pedalling over rough trails. I really like the way the suspension performs on this bike, even if it isn't quite as racy and firm as some others. You can certainly firm up the back end by running a higher pressure in the shock, though of course you'll lose some of the suppleness and traction that makes this bike perform so well on technical trails. Hope that helps explain! [Wil]

[@adambarnes7814]

@@FlowMountainBikeKZbin Wil thank you so much for taking the time to reply so thoroughly. I'm just at the trail head so great timing to think about this. Much appreciated 🙏

[@grantperry2005]

Which one do you reckon would be a better race a bike a Giant Anthem advanced pro 29 1 or the Cannondale ?

[@FlowMountainBikeYouTube]

Hey there Grant! That's a great question - both are lightweight XC bikes, and both have a more 'active' approach to rear suspension performance, compared to bikes like the Epic and Supercaliber that are designed to be much firmer most of the time. In direct comparison, I would say that the Scalpel is a better race bike. It has more up-to-date geometry, particularly the slacker and longer front end, though the long offset keeps the steering very sharp and responsive. The Lefty Ocho is also an incredible fork - I've been really impressed by how well it tracks and continues to respond under load. Likewise, the back end offers more lateral rigidity than the Anthem. Other things to factor in is that the Scalpel has a more dropper-friendly seat tube size of 31.6mm (Anthem is 27.2mm), and it will also fit two water bottles inside the mainframe on the M-XL frame sizes. Hope that helps mate, but just shout out if you've got any other questions mate! [Wil]

[@MrFrescocotone]

Do yuu prefer Epic beain or Scalpel and why?

[@bradywhite520]

Just got my scalpel about 2 weeks ago and I've had some problems with the rear shock feeling clanky and very noisy. Did that happen to your bike, any suggestions? Also, I'm having trouble bottoming out this bike even though I am riding less air pressure than recommended for my weight, and I'm definitely putting the bike through its paces on very fast and rough terrain. I'm wondering if it has more volume spacers than I need

[@FlowMountainBikeYouTube]

Hey there Brady! Is the noise from your rear shock the same as what we discussed in the video (14:52)? The lower shock pivot pin on our test bike was slightly undersized, which resulted in a knock that could be felt and heard on the trail. We ended up getting a replacement pivot pin, and you can see the update regarding that in the review: flowmountainbike.com/tests/2021-cannondale-scalpel-carbon-review/ As for bottoming out the shock, it is a progressive design, and I found it difficult to bottom it out too - which I found is a good thing compared to other XC bikes that can really crunch quite hard when you bottom them out. I also found I preferred less air pressure for my weight (180psi instead of 200psi as recommended). Don't worry too much about the figure itself - the main thing you want to do is to make sure you've got around 10-11mm of sag on the shock. [Wil]

[@herculesnel1180]

Please do a S-WORKS EPIC 2020 review.

[@ei08465]

more like 2021 ;)

[@viniciomesenmadrigal7863]

Hello can you compare this bike with the Orbea OIZ M team?

[@FlowMountainBikeYouTube]

Hello there mate! Good news - we've tested the Orbea Oiz M Team, and in the review there's a detailed comparison with the competition, including the Cannondale Scalpel: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gqKwZmich7iEqK8 [Wil]

[@viniciomesenmadrigal7863]

You are the best thanks a lot.

[@tjj5337]

What is the weight?

[@avyua]

what is its maximum system weight?

[@caperider1160]

Lightest full suspension frame compared to other brands 2020 models. We should wait to see when others bring out their 2021 models. Cannondale's claim for the most aerodynamic road frame for systemsix only lasted a few days until Specialized announced their new Venge and claimed the most aerodynamic on the market. Well for us the consumers.... no way to test and verify any of these anyway though 😝

[@alexkompos1735]

Where was this filmed?

[@molomolmolo]

Hi, could you tell me if the M size fits you perfect with your 175 cm tall?

[@FlowMountainBikeYouTube]

Certainly does mate! No issues with the sizing on the Medium size Scalpel for me at 175cm tall. [Wil]

[@molomolmolo]

@@FlowMountainBikeKZbin thanks a lot

[@matts5581]

The fox 32 step cast is lighter yes, but flimsy in comparison!

[@serikbikefitter]

haha, had the same issue on my scalpel crb3 2021, and, firstly, I had no idea what was a reason)

[@FuriousTimberWolve]

@Flow Mountain Bike what is the rider height ? :-)

[@FlowMountainBikeYouTube]

I'm 175cm tall and testing a Medium size in the Scalpel! [Wil]

[@dar-kos]

Like new bike, maybe ill purchase after two years of testing. Never purchase bike while it's new and might have some issues.

[@sapnupuas712]

how much about this bick?

[@horizonxx_1]

Throwing some shade

[@shawn.bourke.3]

Why not apply Lefty to the rear? that'd save some weight. Chainstay and seatstay on the right only (Righty). Would have to re-engineer rear brake design. I'm not drunk, just bored.

[@FlowMountainBikeYouTube]

That would look mad! I'm sure Cannondale has prototyped this idea with a crazy concept bike in the past at some point? I'm guessing it would be waaay too heavy and waaay too complicated for a mountain bike. Have you seen English Cycles' Project Right bike? That thing is a singlespeed road bike, but it is bloody beautiful; www.englishcycles.com/custombikes/project-right/ [Wil]

[@shawn.bourke.3]

@@FlowMountainBikeKZbin oh sick I'm glad someone has done it, i'll have to see if there's a full suss version, I bet incorporating a shock would be a pretty big hurdle. Might have to whip out the ol' microsoft paint and have a play: Lefty LINKAGE fork, asym frame wrapping around shock flowing into Righty rear.. hub rear brake? what a monstrosity. oh and cheers for your Norco Sight review just picked up an A1

[@ericpmoss]

@@FlowMountainBikeKZbin Check out the videos about the Millyard Racing MR002, which does just this, and thus has no exposed rear derailleur to break off, can be shifted under full load, no load, or pedaling backward, and 100% encases the chain, which is always clean and lubed. Amazing stuff made in a guy's garage. kzbin.info/www/bejne/iWScoIWVbLuqnJo

[@taymeekoopthanaroj1632]

Everything functions properly kzbin.infoUgkxHL1v1R3NE5x4KiYfyt8dnQmyNYz7qi5L Nothing was damaged in the box aside from a decal on the fork. The decal was missing a piece of a corner but I ended up peeling them off anyways. Assembly is easy BUT make sure you tune up the derailleurs. Both the front and rear need adjusting. I'd advise going to a bike shop but I opted out and put in 10+ hours with the help of KZbin. Ended up fraying a shifter cable but all in all I learned from the experience. The Brakes work well but the front caliper needs adjusting or at least mine did because the rotor was rubbing against the pads. Make sure you swap out the seat, grips, and pedals. For the short run you'll be fine though. I've read that this bike isn't built yet for hard trails but I just need it for the city. PA has some of the worst roads and being in a mountain this was a great choice. Worth the investment!

[@icemann1977]

im not sure that Flex stay is that strong. but we just need to wait and see what the real world riders will experience in using this bike.

[@eliasvankan9772]

But what is the weight in numbers

[@FlowMountainBikeYouTube]

What weight are you after Elias? Most should be listed in the review. [Wil]

[@escorihuela]

What about size?, I'm 167cm 69kg, suppose to be S, what about you and the M size!. Thanks.

[@FlowMountainBikeYouTube]

Good question! I’m 175cm tall and have been testing a Medium. At your height of 167cm, the Small is likely going to give you a more comfortable reach. If you went for the Medium, you might find the cockpit to be too tall - especially for an XC race bike. [Wil]

[@matejkainz]

@@FlowMountainBikeKZbin The best review, ever! Now my 5 seconds: I'm 179 with long legs and arms. Should I go with L or M? I was on M sized Cannondales all my life, last one the 2015 F-Si, but with 100 stem... Large Scalpel would fit me for racing marathons and trail riding, what do you think?

[@FlowMountainBikeYouTube]

@@matejkainz - Thanks mate! At your height, the Large will definitely suit you best mate. If you've got long limbs, the Medium size will be too cramped in the cockpit, and you might not be able to get the seatpost high enough for your legs. Hope that helps! [Wil]

[@TrailheadPL]

What's the weight of the bike?

[@FlowMountainBikeYouTube]

Yo Michael! It’s mentioned in both the video and in the full review on flowmountainbike.com, but if you missed it, the weight is 11.06kg for our Medium test bike. [Wil]

[@jansvoboda6279]

Nice bike, but good luck if you need support from Cannondale. Have been riding Cannondales since 1999. Now have a 2018 Scalpel Carbon 3. Rear hub failed in March. Have been trying to get parts support from Cannondale since. No response, and when they did response the information was wrong. Sad state of once iconic US bike company.

[@LRS7B]

*Sweet Moustache !!*

[@apaixonadopelanatureza2180]

Like 891👍🏻🚴‍♂️🚴‍♂️

[@leduroja1]

The 2021 Cannondale Scalpel

[@v0ldy54]

Seems like an absolutely fantastic bike but I'm wondering... why did they make it SO UGLY? I mean, just look at the old model at 1:40, it looks so much better, it's like they didn't even try to design a nice paint scheme for the 2021 model and just sprayed some colored bits here and there.

[@jonienglish3231]

I like the OLDER GREEN COLOR !!!!!!!!!!!!

[@FlowMountainBikeYouTube]

That green was pretty hot eh? I actually love the fade paint job that Cannondale has given the new Scalpel - feels like a nice homage to the original 2001 version. I do think it needs a big wraparound 'Cannondale' logo on the downtube though! [Wil]

[@turner02]

AI offset is 6mm. Not 3mm. Why did you get this wrong?

[@FlowMountainBikeYouTube]

Hello there! The A.I offset is indeed 3mm on the new Scalpel. You might be thinking of the old Scalpel? That bike did have a 6mm A.I offset. The reason for this is that the new frame moves from a 142x12mm hub to a Boost 148x12mm rear hub. Because a standard Boost setup offsets the drivetrain by 3mm already, the A.I offset only needs to offset a further 3mm to make it 6mm in total. In doing so, Cannondale has maintained the 55mm chainline (like the old Scalpel), which gives more clearance around the chainring. However, it means that the new frame is now compatible with a 29er Boost rear wheel - though you will need to re-dish the rim back to the non-drive side by 3mm to keep everything in-line. I did mention that in the video, and there's also more info about how the A.I offset works in the full review if you get the chance to check it out: flowmountainbike.com/tests/2021-cannondale-scalpel-carbon-review/ Hope that helps explain! [Wil]

[@adingreyling5407]

oooo you got told :D

[@turner02]

@@FlowMountainBikeKZbin No, it's 6mm

[@65010]

Beware: Read Cannondale’s fine print in their Limited Warranty Policy. They may use it against you for their best interest. My $5000.000 carbon fiber frame Jekyll broke after six years of use. Cannondale never made a finding that it was due to use or abuse. A hairline crack formed at a weak point in the frame. The bike was sold to me with a lifetime warranty on the frame. The best offer Cannondale gave me, under their lifetime warranty, was 20% off of retail - yes, that is right 20% off of retail. I fought them on it over a two month period and lost. So, I am now stuck with a 34lb paperweight. Cannondale has what I feel is the worse warranty in the bike business. If you do purchase a Cannondale bike and something goes wrong, know that they probably will not work with you at any level in your best interest. In my opinion, they do do not value you as a customer, they only value your money. This has been my experience.

[@JohnSmith-qv6hp]

Giant bikes warranty is outstandingly good I wouldn't put this here if it wasn't buy giant with confidence

[@JohnSmith-qv6hp]

V

[@matejkainz]

That'o odd... I found crack on my old alu scalpel (Team 2005) back in 2013 and Cannondale got me a brand new Carbon Scalpel Team 2013 model. No big questions asked... :)

[@65010]

@@matejkainz I suppose Cannondale has changed it's approach to Lifetime warranty since 2013; try getting you that Scalpel replaced under warranty today and you might have a different experience. I was not looking for a free bike under the warranty - I would have paid a wholesale price for the bike - for which they would have made money on the deal. But, no they best offer they gave was 20% off retail. It really sucked. My bike had a hairline crack in a thin part of the frame - it did not form from user abuse.

[@jackpreston768]

Gday will

[@FlowMountainBikeYouTube]

G'day Jack!

[@justinwbohner]

Lots of talking about frame weight. How about you cut out 60 sec of jibba jabba and throw that frame onto a scale? That would be useful information. 1690g for a carbon race wheelset is shockingly heavy. My set for an RS1 with srams heavy front hub is 1320g, and that's with a 23mm rear, 30mm front rim. Yes, internal widths. If I had put some effort into making it light it would have been in the low 1200s, but I had an extra XTR hub so I used it.

[@walterdenotter4719]

The weight of 1690 grams isnt correct. The correct weight for aset of hollowgram 25 superlight weels is 1480 grams

[@degtyarevracing6426]

На русский язык переведите пожалуйста 🙏

[@myrants5836]

The one side of the fork has fell off!!

[@josecorrea9256]

A bike é legal👏👏,mas essa pintura... Parece trabalho de preguiçoso😒

[@JohnSmith-qv6hp]

Carbon over rated my unamed dual mtb t800 carbon seat t utube cracked where seat post ended above the rocker arm on seat tube after 7 years light use

[@nogoe89]

Torture it, ride in any weather and condition. Let us know how long you can go without creaking noise of the BB30, the spindle or the tiny mechanics of the rear suspension. I am really thinking about a buy, but not if it is as annoying as my 2012 Scalpel. You always have some annoying noises on that... Frustrating

[@Sfumature94]

Pakistan prize

[@wjeurs]

Cannondales shouldnt be allowed to have non-lefty-forks

[@primoholzfeller8844]

Nice try cannondale but whyte 120 destroys you!

[@FlowMountainBikeYouTube]

Mmm, they are very different bikes really. The Scalpel is a purebred 100mm travel XC race bike, whereas the Whyte S-120 is a burly trail bike. Maybe the Scalpel SE is more comparable, but even then I think the execution is different between the two bikes, with the Whyte having a chunkier chassis and vastly slacker and longer geometry. I haven't ridden the Scalpel SE yet, but I'm toying with the idea of fitting a 120mm fork to the Scalpel Carbon 2 I have here, and potentially a longer 190x45mm shock to pump up the rear travel too. Could be an interesting experiment for sure! [Wil]

[@primoholzfeller8844]

@@FlowMountainBikeKZbin yet both bikes are 120. I bet majority of users would choose burlier bike!

[@esdubya]

Couldn’t be less interested in dumb fragile XC bikes that hairless dentist ride! But I was riveted listening to Wills review hands down the best reviews in the business! Please get back to reviewing proper bikes bro!

[@FlowMountainBikeYouTube]

Glad you enjoyed the video cobbs! Oh, and dumb fragile XC bikes are ace by the way :-) Definitely a lot more fun than they used to be! [Wil]

[@esdubya]

Flow Mountain Bike It seems, that’s one of the many things I learned from you review!

[@theshadow8008]

Another rip off....

[@theshadow8008]

@Pete is never wrong gutted!!!

[@theshadow8008]

@Pete is never wrong better than dumb.

[@JohnSmith-qv6hp]

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