If you’re looking for something a bit more aggressive or a ladies’ version of the Habit, keep an eye out for the 2016 Bible of Bike Tests. When things do get scary, think outside the box: Look for the smoothest lines and put the bike’s snappy handling and quick acceleration to use. The Habit is like a featherweight in a heavyweight match, ready to dodge and dip and strike lethally when the moment is right. The Habit Carbon 1 is a great option for cross-country riders looking for something with more confidence than their spindly race whips, or for aggressive riders looking for something quick and nimble for less-demanding terrain. SRAM’s Guide RSC brakes are always a welcome sight, with their consistent power and modulation, and the 150 millimeters of travel on the RockShox Reverb Stealth dropper post was much appreciated on the steeps. Beyond that, the Habit’s build is dialed, including Cannondale’s stiff and light new CZero carbon hoops and spiderless HollowGram Si cranks. Both the Lefty and the RockShox Monarch rear shock can be locked out simultaneously via the bar-mounted Xloc remote, but the bike pedals so efficiently that I never felt the need to lock out the suspension. Kudos to Cannondale for sticking to its asymmetric and inverted guns, though. When it comes to absorbing hits, though, the rear suspension isn’t the plushest around–even when sagged to 25 or 30 percent.Ĭannondale re-tuned the Lefty to keep it riding higher in its travel, but the lightweight fork didn’t match the consistent small-bump compliance or bottomless feel of a Pike or Fox’s new 34. The lightweight frame and pedaling-friendly linkage is complemented by the bike’s short 429-millimeter chainstays, allowing it to be easily flicked in and out of corners and snapped from line to line. The lightweight frame and efficient linkage-driven single-pivot suspension, which relies on vertical flex built into the seatstays, accelerates in a way that makes you want to burn matches. On subsequent rides, I approached the green machine like I would a cross-country bike and soon felt more in tune with its intentions. But on my first ride, the carbon-framed Habit felt overwhelmed when the speeds picked up and the terrain got chunkier. A 68-degree head angle, 120 millimeters of front and rear suspension, 760-millimeter-wide bars and a 60-mil stem are all indicative of a bike meant to descend nearly as well as it climbs. Here are Jon’s final thoughts after testing the Habit.Ĭannondale bills the Habit as “the one bike to do it all well,” but it’s actually a cross-country bike in a trail bike’s gorilla suit. Comes with external rebound adjustment and a firm threshold wich offers great efficiency for climbing and the Solo Air Spring( self adjusting negativ spring).CANNONDALE HABIT CARBON 1 | $7,460 | CANNONDALE.COMįor more tech details and photos, read this post. All the rock shox hydro and cable remote lock outs pull /push just barely enough cable or fluid to unlock the system. The damper durability also improved due to alloy oil cap with glides bearings and urethan u-ring. It works fine on the lefty because if you remove the xloc fitting from the fork it allows you to over fill the system, then bleed of excess.

Further it has a opi (one piece integrated) alloy spindle + steering outertube. Mainly the user/maintanence interface has improved. That means also that you have a auto reseting Needlebearing and a easier set up. Now completely sealed against the elements( e.g. The best of both worlds- needle bearing combined with Glide Bearing and wiper seal. The Lefty XLR is a new designed fork 2013 and comes with the Sealed Hybrid Bearing Technology. This hydraulic system keeps a smooth and consis- tent feel while being matchmaker compatible makes the cockpit clean and lightweight. Sram’s innovative xloc handlebar mounted lever into the PBR Damper gives the ability to switch between active and lockout mode with a single push of the button. The Lefty XLR 29er (HYDRAULIC REMOTE LOCK OUT)

Lefty xloc remote