Cannondale Topstone Carbon 2 Lefty (2022)

Cannondale Topstone Carbon 2 Lefty - The full suspension among the gravel bikes

The Topstone Carbon 2 with Lefty suspension fork is probably the most consistent gravel bike on the market. Cannondale combines here its innovative carbon frame with KingPin suspension with the in-house suspension fork. With 30 millimeters of travel, the Lefty Oliver was developed specifically for gravel bikes. Because you do not need more stroke on gravel and forest trails. Their typical single-arm design makes the Topstone Carbon 2 unmistakable. But that's not all: to make the off-road performance perfect, this Topstone variant comes with 44 tires and a lowerable seatpost. With this ensemble you overtake every mountain biker on the flow trail. Another special feature: the Topstone Carbon models can be equipped in no time with the intelligent SmartSense system, a novel light and sensor technology. It consists of front and rear lights and a rear-facing radar that informs you of approaching vehicles and activates the warning light. Or you can activate the brake light function. SmartSense is controlled via the Cannondale app. The Topstone Carbon is also well equipped for your bikepacking adventures: The frame offers mounting points for three water bottles as well as for a top tube bag.

Carbon frame with unique KingPin suspension

The rear triangle is flexibly mounted on the seat tube with the help of a thru axle. In addition, there are flexible zones on the top tube and seat tube. This allows the rear triangle to yield vertically up to 30 millimeters to absorb shocks and vibrations. That means more control, more comfort, more traction. Carbon layup and tube diameter are adjusted for each frame size to provide the right amount of stiffness and flex for each rider type. Internal cable guides protect against dirt and emphasize the clean design. Also in terms of equipment, the Topstone Lefty is somewhat different from the "mainstream". In addition to the telescopic seatpost and the strikingly wide tires, the Shimano GRX 800 Gravel group comes here in the 1 x 11 version. So if you were previously on the road with 2-speed cranks, certainly a small change. Typical Shimano: The hydraulic disc brakes are extremely service-friendly. The lightweight wheelset is of course prepared for tubeless operation.