Help with potential purchase please

[NickTB]

Hello all.

Following on from my previous thread here https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/am-i-looking-for-the-impossible.205267/

I've been offered a Cannondale Badboy Lefty. Now, I've always fancied oe of these but know nobody who has had one.
Can anyone please give me the heads up on the gears? It has Sram i motion 3 with 3 speed hub on handle bar grip.(As per the seller)

Has anyone used this system before? How does it ride? Do I still get the same "pull" if you like?

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance,
Nick

 

[bonsaibilly]

I've no idea I'm afraid but since you specifically referred to your previous thread (which I had also read), I'm bound to comment that most any hybrid with an RRP of that Cannondale will be strong enough to handle anything you want to ask of it. I'm really not understanding why you think any bike might be weak as it would have to pass testing standards to be available for sale.

Personally I think single-pronged forks look completely stupid on a bike but if you like that sort of thing...

bb

 

[Goggs]

I agree. I've never liked the Lefty nor understood the rationale. Still, each to their own.

 

[NickTB]

I like the look of it, and it's a cheap way to try out the feel of it. If I don't like it, I can move it on for the same money. When I said "weak" I meant using a bike like a Cannondale Quick 4 or flat barred road bike. I should ave made myself clear. I like the idea of the lightness and speed of a roadbike with the geometry of a flat barred bike.

 

[bonsaibilly]

I used a Cannondale Quick 3 for a couple of years every day for a range of duties including:

- daily road commute
- canal path/TPT bimbles
- 100 mile weekend road rides
- arsing about in the woods

It never broke and was extremely capable in all duties, and mad wicked fun to ride because it only weighed about 10 kg.

I like the look of it, and it's a cheap way to try out the feel of it. If I don't like it, I can move it on for the same money. When I said "weak" I meant using a bike like a Cannondale Quick 4 or flat barred road bike. I should ave made myself clear. I like the idea of the lightness and speed of a roadbike with the geometry of a flat barred bike.

 

[NickTB]

Excellent. That shows me I can use that kind of bike for exactly the same as you. Arsing about in the woods plus road work too

 

[Pale Rider]

I agree. I've never liked the Lefty nor understood the rationale. Still, each to their own.

The selling point is front suspension at low weight, one leg inevitably being lighter than two.

One leg doing the work of two means that leg requires more maintenance to keep it performing nicely.

The manager of my local bike shop - who likes his Cannondales - has run a lefty bike himself and reckons the downsides outweigh the weight advantage.