Issue #017, Review - December 30, 2015

Cannondale Jekyll Carbon 1 2015 Review

The enduro bike is more than just a race bike, they are the perfect all round do it all machine and your passport for adventure… So with this is mind we set off with 9 enduro machines for the rugged terrain of the Scottish highlands as it is the perfect playground to test these bikes to their limits! This review was part of our group test, the full article can be found here.

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The Cannondale Jekyll certainly attracts a lot of attention, as running just one fork leg is an instant conversation starter. The Supermax Lefty fork is still unique enough to stop every walker in their tracks, so this is the perfect bike if you enjoy a good yarn with random people. The unique technology continues with the Attitude Adjust, an adjustable suspension system that allows you to reduce the suspension travel for efficient climbing and sprints.

It certainly attracts a lot of attention with it's lefty fork! — It certainly attracts a lot of attention with it’s lefty fork!

The unique Fox Dyad RT2 pull-shock is the heart of the bike; with two high-pressure chambers to charge (you have to use the supplied pump), you can adjust the rebound independently for each of the 95mm or 160mm attitude adjust settings. The initial setup is a little more complex than most bikes, but it comes with easy-to-follow instructions and we found the recommended settings worked well. The 160mm Supermax fork with the enduro damper is Cannondale’s flagship Lefty and looks burly and tough, running on needle bearings for a smooth action.

Climbing over descending was the bike's forty. — Climbing over descending was the bike’s forty.

For 2015 the Jekyll now has a longer top tube (458 mm reach) and steeper seat angle (74.8o) to improve pedalling performance, and the military-inspired Ballistec Hi Mod Carbon frame oozes quality. We loved the smooth lines, and the 15mm thru-axle pivot hardware looks like it will survive some serious abuse. Looking at the build kit on the team-issue bike, there is not much to complain about: the SRAM XX1/XO1 drivetrain and excellent Magura MT7 brakes are accomplished performers. The Schwalbe Hans Dampf tyres are a good fit for a bike with such all-round aspirations, riding well in most conditions. We would like to see wider bars than the 740 mm Cannondale C1 Carbon risers provided, especially on a large bike. The WTB Team Issue i23 rims are solid performers, but the 23mm internal width is now considered skinny by today’s fat trend.

At 12.68kg, the Jekyll was the lightest bike in test.

The Attitude Adjust can be switched on the fly with a bar-mounted lever (not quite as slick as Jerome’s modified grip-shift controller), and when in the 95mm ELEVATE mode the bike becomes a nimble and deft climber, finding far more traction than a platform-assisted or locked-out bike. Living up to its “overmountain” aspirations, the Jekyll punches uphill rapidly, and at 12.68 kg it’s the lightest bike in the test. The words stiff, taut, and light were used frequently and excitedly. The Jekyll is a lively bike and acceleration was blistering when stomping on the pedals, skipping up the hill while the Supermax fork tracked beautifully. The sensible bottom bracket (7 mm drop) allows you to pedal through rough terrain without fear of banging a pedal.

Switching to FLOW mode opens up the full 160mm of travel, slackening out the bike as it drops deeper into its travel. The 670 head angle keeps the front end stable at speed, and the long 1208 mm wheelbase keeps the bike planted. When we engaged FLOW we were hoping for a Jekyll and Hyde moment, but were left a little underwhelmed. We know it can be ridden fast, as proven in the Enduro World Series, but it is not a bike that normal riders can exploit easily on demanding trails. Rather than sitting deep and low into its travel, the Jekyll feels more perched and tall, riding more like a very confident trail bike, and we would have liked to be able to adjust the compression damping on the Lefty. Even though it’s very fast through tight turns and over flowing trails, it takes a good rider to hold the Jekyll at full speed over rocks.

Details

Powerful Deceleration: The Magura MT7 brakes are very impressive, providing massive deceleration and sensitive modulation. Performance was exceptional, but the clunky levers are not well suited to those with smaller hands. — **Powerful Deceleration:** The Magura MT7 brakes are very impressive, providing massive deceleration and sensitive modulation. Performance was exceptional, but the clunky levers are not well suited to those with smaller hands.

Elegant Simplicity:</strong The 160mm Lefty Supermax fork features the new Enduro damper, offering revised high-speed damping for composed big-hit performance. The fork was stiff and accurate, but you do have to remove the brake caliper to take out the front wheel.

Tough Hardware: The clamped 15mm thru-axles in the shock linkage and swingarm pivot frame provide massive torsional stiffness, while double bearing races in the rear dropouts keep the back end tight. Every watt of power from your legs results in forward momentum.

Attitude Adjust: The Fox Dyad 2 allows you to set separate rebound damping for each of the two travel modes. Operated by a bar-mounted lever, the ELEVATE mode provides an efficient climbing platform with 95mm of firm travel. When you hit the descents, the FLOW mode opens up the full 160mm of plush travel. — **Attitude Adjust:** The Fox Dyad 2 allows you to set separate rebound damping for each of the two travel modes. Operated by a bar-mounted lever, the ELEVATE mode provides an efficient climbing platform with 95mm of firm travel. When you hit the descents, the FLOW mode opens up the full 160mm of plush travel.

Military Technology: The Ballistec carbon frame borrows fibres used for military armour, shrugging off rock strikes with ease. Protection is completed with neat rubberised frame guards. The result is a stiff frame that is beautifully finished and can take the knocks. — **Military Technology:** The Ballistec carbon frame borrows fibres used for military armour, shrugging off rock strikes with ease. Protection is completed with neat rubberised frame guards. The result is a stiff frame that is beautifully finished and can take the knocks.

Specification: Cannondale Jekyll Carbon 1 2015

Fork: Lefty Supermax 2.0 Carbon 160mm
Rear Shock: Fox Dyad RT2 160/95mm
Drivetrain: Cannondale SI / SRAM XX1
Brakes: Magura MT7 180/180mm
Seatpost: Rockshox Reverb Stealth
Stem: FSA Gravity Light
Handlebar: Cannondale C1 Carbon 740mm
Tyres: Schwalbe Hans Dampf Trailstar
Wheelsize: 27.5″
Hubs: Lefty / DT Swiss 350
Rims: WTB Team Issue I23
Price: € 7,499

Strengths

Efficient on big rides
Excellent climbing traction

Weaknesses

No fork compression adjustment
Tricky wheel removal

Conclusion

The Jekyll is described by Cannondale as an ‘overmountain’ bike, but we don’t need another category to describe this long-legged trail bike. Once you get over the loss of a limb, the Lefty Supermax is a great performer. The Jekyll is a formidable mountain climber, but when it comes to the descents there was too much Jekyll and not enough Hyde.

For more information on the Cannondale Jekyll visit cannondale.com.

More amazing bikes can be found in our Enduro Bike Group Test 2015.

Words & Photos: Trevor Worsey

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