Lefty's

[wendfan]

What is the "better" Lefty on the market - DLR, Terralogic, manitou inner components, fox inner components, carbon, aluminium? I followed a couple of Lefty topics lately on the Hub and realised some hubbers have serious Lefty knowledge.  

[MintSauce]

Don't know much but it's pretty simple.....to put it briefly:

 

DLR is the basic aluminium version. The Carbon is quite a bit lighter.

 

Terralogic is Fox's system that stays locked out until it hits a bump.

 

I think the none Fox forks all run Manitou's SPV system but I could be wrong?

 

There's also a Max version which has 140mm travel as opposed to the standard 110mm....Max is also available in ali and carbon.

 

I'm sure somebody more knowledgable like GoLefty will respond as well and give you some more/better info

 

 

 

 

 

[Azonic]

Buying a lefty?

 

I put a regular Rock Shox SID Race Carbon in my Scalpel using a Cane Creek reducer headset.

 

[Green Mamba]

Stay away from the Carbon Lefty's that came in early in 2006. Serious (I mean SERIOUS) design flaws that Cannondale is not prepared to fix. I have replaced mine with the Terralogic version and no further problems (touch wood). I still have the old one but would not even offer it to anyone (BTW I saw someone offering a similar one on the web a couple of weeks ago).

 

I also seriously considered going with Az's solution of fitting a standard shock through the Cane Creek reducer, but then you have to buy a new hub as well.

 

Bottom line: Bad idea to select a bike if you do not have the option of fitting a different shock when you have problems (especially if it is fitted to a bike in the upper proce bracket). I guess this holds true for all components.

 

[GoLefty!!]

OK some BS being spued again.

 

But first lets talk Lefty.

The design has been around since 1999. The first generation was available with;

 

Aluminium or Carbon construction and with either DLR or ELO internals

ELO = Electronic Lock Out

DLR = Damped(oil)  Lockout Rebound

M = coil sprung and elastomer damped

DL = Coil sprung oil damped.

 

Then came the titanium lower end, still the DLR and ELO were at the top of the pile.

 

When the Prophet was launched the Lefty Max made an appearance. This had a Manitou damping cartridge.

 

>>FWD to 2006. The design flaw in question occured  when Cannondale Changed to the new DLR2 cartridge.  The problem was that the floating piston that separated oil and air had only 1 O-ring and it was too short so it would turn in the tube and air would leak into the oil. This was fixed after the first batch. Very simple fix. The solution is the fitment of a new piston which is longer and has two O-rings. This part is available and is easily fitted by a Lefty mechanic. If I could find my manual I would give you the part number. So the fella who claimed the agents are not interested in fixing it is speaking under correction.

Perhaps his LBS was too lazy to replace the parts and wanted to sell him what they call "A Proper fork" . Of course the fact that they made an extra 50% off him did not factor into their prejudice.......

 

Problem is that the LBS who service Lefty's can't be arsed to do a proper job of it.

 

My 2006 DLR2 has the new piston and it has been as reliable as my old Carbon DLR Ti. The distributors do have parts and they will replace it for you if you have the problem. Give them a call and send it to them yourself. Forget your LBS unless it's William's Bike Shop in Somerset West. He'll sort it out.

 

Current Lefty's still use the DLR2 cartridge.

These are the;

Lefty Carbon SL

Lefty Carbon Speed DLR2

Lefty Speed DLR2

 

The New Lefty Carbon Fox RLC uses a Titanium coil spring and a FOX RLC cartridge and replaces the Lefty Carbon Fox Terralogic. It, like Fox Terralogic forks, is problematic. It needs clean oil to work 100% which is why I prefer the DLR2. It's easy to tune, easy to service and it's first rate.

 

Lefty Max has been dropped and will be replaced by a new 130-140mm travel Lefty when the new trail bike is launched in March.....Nearly here...

 

 

Anything else you need to know, PM me.

 

I've worked on Headshok Fatty's and Lefty's. They are dead simple forks internally and can be tuned by changing the shims. Been a while since I worked on one but the only constraint is access to the proper tools.

 

Suspend your Prejudice

GoLefty

GoLefty!!2008-02-01 02:43:43

[GoLefty!!]

oh yes to answer the question; "Which is the better Lefty..?"

 

Well how long a is a piece of string dude?

 

What kind of riding do you want to do?

 

For racing = LEfty Carbon SL

For Trail/Marathon, occasional race =  Lefty CarbonSpeed DLR2 or FoX RLC

For Trail and on a budget = LEfty Speed DLR2

For Trail/ Freeride light = Lefty Carbon (yet to named)

There is rumour of a 160mm Lefty but not sure if it is  going to happen since Lefty's are expensive and that market is small.

 

there you have it in a nutshell

[Dicky DQ]

OK I have never used a Lefty. However out of the 3 myes that I know using Lefty's only one was happy and even the it took 3 rebuilds.

 

Last year one of them even took a spare one to the Epic as there was no faith..............

 

Maybe things are better now.............

[GoLefty!!]

Things were always good. I have used Lefty's since 2003.

 

ELO had issues with the battery no lasting.

Terralogic had issues with dirty oil as all Terralogic forks have.

 

Beyond that there ma have been the odd fork here and there that was assembled on a friday afternoon late.

 

A lot of "unhappiness" with Lefty's, I have found, is that the owner can;t stand being teased by his mates via the std Lefty jokes and then tries to find soemthing wrong so that someone will give him a fork to make the teasing go away.

Lefty's are not for those with weak character

 

Also to fix a problem Lefty is easy, really easy. It should not be a problem for too long if the LBS does the job properly.

[Andrem]

 

I concur! Lefty's are smoother than any other shock I've felt.

I've had Fox, RockShox, Manitou and others over the last couple of years but none have come close to the silky take and rebound of a properly setup Lefty.

 

In JHB you have to go to West Rand Cycles to get it serviced best, but on two Lefty's and two normal Headshok SI (central shock with two stiff arms, like a road bike) I've had good service and lovely rides over the years.

 

My experience of Fox is that the silky smoothness doesn't last, but its probably just my experience. Fox is well marketed and probably has good backup too.

 

If you look at the trouble that Cannondale goes to with their frames (compared to just about anyone else) you can be sure that the same trouble goes into their shocks.

 

My advice: go Lefty! over Fox, Manitou, etc.

Andrem2008-02-04 23:04:26

[Green Mamba]

GoLefty, you are blinded by your support for Lefty's.

 

My DLR had exactly the problem as you describe; a single O-ring was replaced by the dual O-ring system after the first race in which the shock deflated. Since then I had to return it ate least 5 times (3 times directly to the importer) and the problem still remains. Somewhere along the line they even replaced the complete inner of the shock; still no joy.

 

I am not pre-judiced, only a realist. The shock has been with the ditributor for 3 months now without any sign of a replacement or fix.

 

I am doing the Sani2C and would not dare attempting it on a Lefty without a second one to back me up with. If I cannot sort out the problem, I would be forced to use my hard tail with a standard Fox fork.

 

BTW, I know of at least 2 other people in my training group who expereinced the same problem and frustration at the lack of support they received from Cannondale. Also, I spoke to 2 other cyclists who opted to replace the Lefty's with standard forks simply out of frustration.

 

Count yourself lucky that you have not had to rely on Cannondale's support in SA.

 

I speak out of experience!

 

[MintSauce]

If you look at the trouble that Cannondale goes to with their frames (compared to just about anyone else)

 

Please elaborate....?

 

 

 

[GoLefty!!]

GoLefty' date=' you are blinded by your support for Lefty's.

My DLR had exactly the problem as you describe; a single O-ring was replaced by the dual O-ring system after the first race in which the shock deflated. Since then I had to return it ate least 5 times (3 times directly to the importer) and the problem still remains. Somewhere along the line they even replaced the complete inner of the shock; still no joy.

I am not pre-judiced, only a realist. The shock has been with the ditributor for 3 months now without any sign of a replacement or fix.

I am doing the Sani2C and would not dare attempting it on a Lefty without a second one to back me up with. If I cannot sort out the problem, I would be forced to use my hard tail with a standard Fox fork.

BTW, I know of at least 2 other people in my training group who expereinced the same problem and frustration at the lack of support they received from Cannondale. Also, I spoke to 2 other cyclists who opted to replace the Lefty's with standard forks simply out of frustration.

Count yourself lucky that you have not had to rely on Cannondale's support in SA.

I speak out of experience!
[/quote']

 

Which Lefty do you have? I assume a DLR2, Carbon Speed.

 

If the cartridge has been replaced and you still had a problem then somewhere some user or fixer issue has crept in. There is a solution to this issue. I would offer to sort it out for you myself but alas my tools were nicked last year during a break in at my house and I have not replaced them. No need to either cos CCS or Rafiek service my Lefty and either does a brilliant job.

 

I feel for you in this matter because I get nothing but the best support from the agents. They have serviced my Lefty, they have tuned the Lefty by changing, shims, negative spring changes, oil changes, CCS does a great job.

 

A real pity. PM me