Video: Jerome Clementz Rocks the New 2015 Cannondale Jekyll

Mar 26, 2014
by Cannondale Bikes  
The most successful Enduro platform in the world evolves into an all-new race weapon with the 2015 Jekyll. Working with Enduro World Champion Jerome Clementz, we made his winning bike even winning-er with all-new geometry, SuperMax front suspension, a new Fox DYAD rear shock tune with increased travel, and of course, 27.5" wheels.



You don't have to be Jerome to appreciate its perfect-for -Enduro dual nature - you just have to want the most versatile all-mountain bike out there.

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120 Comments
  • 49 1
 Good god he is fast!
  • 6 1
 Part of me hopes that the footage was sped up so my slow butt won't look so bad
  • 5 1
 Haha ya me too. At least we can all ride like that in our dreams.
  • 9 0
 Hoooolyyyy #&€"#%/#!!

A mini film with riders who compete in the EWS would be awesome. Jerome, Barel, Graves, Maes, Barnes x 2, Moseley, Chausson. Also lots of less known names that's exciting like the Lupato brothers and Ines Thoma. The EWS rounds edits are nice and all but a real film - that would be awesome.
  • 5 6
 The bit at 2:21 is what puts me off the fork. But it seems to work great!
  • 3 1
 sick man im gonna take half of my dorado and throw it on my all mtn bike and call it an enduro bike
  • 3 0
 Sorry I didn't catch it but were they in Finale Ligure? Those trails... damn I want to ride there.
  • 1 0
 He's that fast coz he's chasing the RIGHT side
  • 1 0
 2:21 is normal for any mountain bike, even Enve DH wheels would flex like that in a given situation.

4:44 ---wish this was zoomed out and there was a hi-res picture.
  • 54 15
 Is the weight of a lefty fork really that much better that its worth sacrificing any hope of good looks for?
  • 7 4
 Yes. 100% agree.
  • 28 15
 The lefty brings a lot more than "being lighter" to the table. And any way it looks killer. Lefties are superior in many ways to conventional forks. Lighter, stiffer, smoother, more plush, bottomless feel and easy to service.
  • 16 1
 According to their websites the 29er supermax is 1830g, while the 650b Pike is 1861. So the 650b Carbon Lefty might shave another few grams, but I doubt it would come in much under 1800g. I think that other than that its the torsional stiffness of the Lefty that makes it potentially more advantageous to run, though I'm unsure of how they compare in terms of rebound and friction and whatnot. Other than that, who cares about looks - if you can ride as hard as Jerome who cares how your bike looks.
  • 66 5
 Yeah but what about Righties?
  • 14 3
 Fair enough. If he's getting paid to ride this stuff and it's helping him be the fastest in the world, power to him. I still don't think it looks good haha.
  • 9 2
 I'd like to see a head to head test of the Jeykll an the Tracer! Both seem to be awesome.
  • 10 2
 Try a Lefty before bashing on it! Because it uses needles bearings instead of regular stanchion you actually get to ''roll'' instead of sliding like a normal fork does. The result is butter smooth feeling compared to any of your Fox, RS, Bos, name it... Sure I am sold to Cannondale because the Jekyll and Claymore are seriously killer bikes but I havr to admit a Lefty looks weird.

Take a look inside a Lefty fork here www.google.ca/search?q=lefty+fork+needle+bearing&espv=210&es_sm=93&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=VzIzU9CBMqqGyQH_6ID4Dw&ved=0CAgQ_AUoAQ&biw=1242&bih=616#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=c7GjxY5Qt6LohM%253A%3B-B33Ti2zPE8frM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.infinitecycles.com%252Fwp%252Fuploads%252Fmedia%252F2011%252F09%252Fmigration-diagram.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.infinitecycles.com%252F2011%252F09%252Fdo-you-have-migrated-bearings-in-your-cannondale-lefty%252F%3B513%3B711
  • 13 0
 He doesn't race Lefty, he only helps develop and test them. He's sponsored by RS. That bike looks killer IMO...
  • 10 11
 How it can be stiffer than conventional forks? How one tube can beat the stiffnes of the two? I can't imagine that. Maybe the Lefty itself is more rigid but as a whole package with hub and wheel this can't be true. I've just seen in this video how front wheel was crazily moving from side to side O.O
  • 3 1
 @backdoor - you would have a brake cable flapping around Smile
  • 2 9
flag Extremmist (Mar 26, 2014 at 14:37) (Below Threshold)
 Anyone who had a chance to ride a Lefty; doesn't it pull your bike towards one side if the left side of the bike is heavier than the right one?
Let's say if you're not holding the handlebars, won't your bike start turning?
  • 4 11
flag freeride-forever (Mar 26, 2014 at 14:45) (Below Threshold)
 Yeah that Lefty is abomination. Such is Cannondale. Abominations are what they do. Faster flat tire changes? SFW? The thing that gets me is that, it works. It's an inverted fork with only one leg that actually does the job & they've had this thing around for years. Yet at the same time, you have all these peeps trying to say that inverted forks are too flexible when they have 2 legs? I wonder why they didn't make the Lefty out of a conventional fork.
  • 1 0
 His muckynutz benderfender won't be getting much advertisement with one of those forks on. lol
  • 5 0
 Leftys look great IMO. I have ridden many over the years and have had 0% problems with minimal maintenance.
  • 3 2
 I also have to re-iterate a previous posters comment - lefites are not "new" or "unusual" technology in of themselves, they are the standard in every car, truck etc. on the road. Sure the automotive application is different in many ways, but the principle of the technology is the same.
I haven't heard about too many engine powered lefty (and righty) vehicles (even off roaders) snapping their suspension (except in extreme cases) or complaining about lack of torsional stiffness or insufficient travel.
  • 3 6
 Would have favorited the video if it weren't for the lefty fork.
  • 4 0
 The only thing I'm thinking about the lefty is, I bet Cannondale could make one hell of a good dropper seatpost. No really, think about it. Dropper post fail All The Time and a lefty is really just a big inverted dropper post. Well, sort of. At any rate I'm sure they are much more reliable than RS, LEV, CrankBros...
  • 3 0
 Hope he still has the RIGHT to choose what's best for him.
  • 3 0
 @ Extremmist - No not at all. The only lefty set up's that pull are due to poor cable run. A tidy up of the cables solves the issues.

@ GawiQ - Watch any video of someone ragging a trail bike like Jerome does and you see the front wheel all over the show.

@ zer0c00l44 - Admittedly I Haven't been into the current iterations of the Lefty's, but the older versions were not "easy" to service. Not compared to a standard fork anyways. However if everything was roached, they were completely re-buildable. Replace the races and the needle bearings and all the uppy downy bits were good to go again for a fraction of the cost of a CSU and bushings
  • 4 0
 At least changing a front tire is a lot easier.
  • 3 2
 @ratedgg13 what are you saying about automotive applications being the same? o_0. Automotive shocks are nothing like a lefty, not event in concept they are anything alike.
  • 3 0
 @ juanpkumicho
ORLY
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MacPherson_strut
  • 1 1
 When are we inventing a righty? or a non inverted lefty? With all the differences in cycling standards, why not a right side up righty fork and really throw the cycling community a curve ball! Then theres so many options "Pick a fork direction and side and be a dick about it"
  • 1 0
 Slackboy, I meant to add once you get your head around the servicing of a lefty then it is easy as is any thing. And yes you are correct maintenance is at a fraction of the cost, more often than not resetting the needle bearings and a bit of grease is all that is needed to get it back to buttery smooth, if indeed it needs it on the first place. The fork is ingenious and amazingly good but the look of it is to its detriment and its a real shame. I personally think they look sweet.
  • 1 0
 I like the looks of it to, its difrent and interesting... and about its weight, and that qestion: why only on one side... well, the non carbon wersion is not that lighter than RS Pike for example... so imagine two of those stanchions = double weight? Shure it would be stiffer, but too heavy. That bearing technology isnt that light, takes its costs, but has allot of benefits.
  • 1 1
 I loved my jekyll but with next year they should get rid of the lefty and Chang to a 1 1/8 tapered steer tube
  • 1 0
 @smeagul
Please, go to a junk yard and pick a McPherson strut with your hands, it has nothing to do with the lefty. I won't spend time stating the differences, but to me it is obvious that the only thing the have in common is that they are both dampers, and use oil and seals.
  • 18 4
 i think it would be awesome if he raced with a cannondale supermax fork - imagine being able to say (as a company) that your top contender frame AND fork reached the top of the podium (assuming of course he keeps winning) - something that no other bicycle company is doing
  • 8 0
 Thought he was just testing on the SuperMax but contractually obligated to run the Pike 'cause of sponsorship.
  • 9 0
 yes, thats what jerome said in the video too...
  • 3 0
 What I want to know is if and when the new Supermax will be available for non-dale riders. I loved my old Max TPC but maxing at 140mm meant it went when I replaced the Prophet with a 160mm frame, a longer Lefty is way overdue.
  • 2 4
 It's such a waste ! They just have to put two undersized leftys legs together to make the best fork ever !!!
  • 11 0
 I am s0o tired hearing people whine about the looks of a lefty. Are you a real mountain biker or just a poser who wants to show off their bike in the parking lot? Lefty's are extremely stiff and reliable. I currently have an old lefty max 140 and a brand new pike RCT3 160 and the lefty is stiffer than the pike and tracks better as well, although the damping is sub-par to the pike. I have not ridden these new lefty's, but if they improved the damping then these are probably serious forks. But, we will have to hearing whining from those clowns who would rather have a bike that looks sexy to them as opposed to one that rides the best.
  • 11 0
 I LOVE this. Already want one. I've got the 2012 Jekyll (Ai) and it rides great. Also glad that they've kept the DYAD as it's brilliant. Hmmm... Money.
  • 12 1
 It's far too early to be talking 2015 Eurgh
  • 9 2
 Say what you will IMO this bike is hawt as hell. Even with the leftie, which i still think is not even that ugly.
  • 5 0
 So…all the the peeps saying "26 for life", backing up their argument by the 1st and 2nd place in the EWS, what does that say?
I guess Jerome was riding 26" because Cannondale didn't make one, not because he preferred it.
  • 3 1
 Or...it makes a small enough difference, even a the absolute top level, that the fastest riders were able to win regardless. With this in mind, is it really worth making all the 26" wheels and frames out there obsolete for a couple seconds' better stravduro times on peoples' Saturday ride?
  • 3 0
 Just when I thought the lefty bitching was going to take over the 275 bitching....
  • 3 0
 I Will Be Getting this Bike. Some cool stuff: lefty max 160 mm (been riding the 130....sooo smooth), crossmax lefty hub-leads one to assume crossmaxs will be OEM on the 1 probably. Oh, and that DYAD works as advertised. Can't wait!
  • 3 0
 Really glad to see Cannondale stepping up their bikes. I had 2 Claymore then now I am on a carbon Jekyll and damn these bikes are the best I ever had! Stiffer than pretty much anything else, super light but yet super strong (believe me I smashed my first Claymore on many rocks). The Dyad shock is really a great tool, you switch the bike from xc style to dh feel in half a second. Only thing I have to say is that the Dyad shock comes out of the box with shitty seals and parts inside but after a 150$ rebuild I never had any more issues with it.
  • 5 0
 I have always like Cannondale because they dont follow what every one else is doing, they are going there own way in style! Keep it up
  • 3 0
 No. I'm not a fan of canondale, but I want one of these so bad! If I could have two bikes it would be that and a custom Evil Undead. And by the way did you see how fast he shreds? DAAAAYM!
  • 2 0
 Canondale closed down their only remaining warehouse in America. Dorel only managed roughly one third of their profits from the previous year 11 mil 2013 and 29.1 mil in 2012. Things might get a little rough for Canondale, Shwinn, Mongoose, Gt, Caloi, and Sugoi. I know I wont be supporting the big name brand that's carried in big box stores ie. sports check. It takes away from the indipendant retaillers and from some of the smaller bike companies.
  • 2 1
 They still have a warehouse in St-Laurent Qc...
  • 2 0
 Quebec is part of the us?
  • 2 1
 Criss de chaudron America c'est pas juste ton pays de dompe de gros sale...
  • 4 0
 Here's 2 quick videos everyone should watch before they slate a lefty.

youtu.be/_WlRqcAQr2w

youtu.be/dA-W1IMuh6Q

Yes, now you all want a lefty......
  • 2 0
 First - a "fork" with only one leg is a strut. Second - I wonder if all the MX riders got all pissed off and angry when Yamaha introduced the "monoshock" rear back in 1975. How many motorcycles now run two shocks on the back, one for each side of the axle? (hint - none) Third - the Lefty still freaks me out visually, even if it might be great.
  • 2 1
 Still looks horrible...

For the price of a Lefty, I will have a normal fork and go and pay a beer to my non Cannondale friends (anyone else around who believes they are like a religious cult, once they go for these kind of bike???)
  • 6 1
 Waiting for the Cannondale hate to start and all the bad puns
  • 2 1
 and a new "debate" about wheels...
  • 1 1
 wait. lefty?!
  • 6 2
 Crack n fail?
  • 9 0
 Well if this doesn't work, hopefully one day they'll get it Righty!
  • 5 0
 all I got to say: awesome
  • 3 2
 Having owned a Lefty, sold a Lefty, and moved back to a traditional fork, my questions with the "why" are still relevant, 8 years later. The 160mm Supermax weighs 4.03lbs with all of its carbon fiber goodness. The RS Pike 160mm weighs 4.1lbs. Any benefits of stiffness are outweighed by all the special items needed to run the Lefty. Headset, steerer, stem, and hub are all things that you can really only get from your local Cannondale dealer or online.

The only advantage I (still) see to the Lefty is the ability to run 26, 275, 29, 29+ or fat wheels with special crowns (no possible on carbon models.)

That being said, they are a wonder of engineering and despite all the hate if someone paid me to ride one...I would in a heartbeat.
  • 4 0
 Lefty advantages : smoother, bottomless feel, easier to service, replacement parts are cheaper, less friction, more torsional rigidity, stiffer stem/fork combo... I am pretty sure I miss some.


Still look ugly and weird but definetly more advanced than most forks out there.
  • 5 4
 Every fork on the market has a "bottomless feel". There is no way it's torsionaly more rigid than a conventional fork!
  • 1 1
 Try one you will see what bottomless feel is all about! By the way it is really more rigid in torsion because there is only one leg. Pich the wheel between your leg and try to twist it then compare to a Fox or Rs and you will be surprised.
  • 1 0
 Anyone remember Cannondales "pre-lefty" headshock? I had a buddy who rode a Cannondale hardtail with one when I was in highschool - still one of the best performing "forks" I've had the pleasure to ride. I lusted over that bike so hard at the time, I can only imagine how amazing riding with a lefty is with all the performance upgrades over the headshock...
  • 1 0
 Yep. I remember. They were amazing and super light for the era.
  • 3 0
 One word for those who doubt lefties: linear. Regular forks have a push and pull that doesn't exist in lefties. I don't ride one, but its a better design.
  • 4 0
 The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll`s front wheel
  • 2 0
 He's not fluent, but his English is waaaaaay better than that of all the other French guys. Hearing Thirion or Bruni speak English just makes me cringe.
  • 2 0
 I agree, but if you knew how we try to teach us English in France, you could understand, the only way to speak well is to learn by yourself
  • 1 0
 Barel's English isn't bad. Or Nico. I spoke with all three at EWS Winter Park last year.
  • 1 0
 The guy is just sic to watch his bike setup is amazing not talking this bike, I reckon his knowledge style on any bike would be sic, just a rock star, esp of MTB, can't wait for rd 1 EWS, hand me the chilli for Chille!
  • 1 0
 the problem with this bike is not the lefty. it is the pull shock. the last pull shock on scotts sucked balls. I hope they improved it seeing as it is the same engineer working on it.
  • 4 1
 Lefty forks and pull shocks. cannondale are certainly different.
  • 3 0
 ...and winning
  • 2 1
 Those pull shocks are the worst. Never had to send so many other shocks out for repair like we do those. Worst idea ever.
  • 4 1
 Don't hate Cannondale, but not a supporter of Dorel which owns them.
  • 2 0
 Cannondale hate is born in bike workshop cannondale owners they are customers of 'special care they are querulous
  • 2 0
 A lot of cannondale hate comes from the backshop ahaha. The proprietary parts are not always the best to work on but that can be said for a lot of other bike companies. Rebuilding leftys is soooo much fun....
  • 3 0
 He is supersonic! Jerome PLEASE race a DH round this year!
  • 3 0
 How would this fellow do in a World Cup DH?
  • 2 0
 oh sheet lefty's are about to be popular again. New AM setup, 27.5 wheels and a fork only on the left side
  • 3 0
 I love my Jekyll!! Cannondale nailed it, even with 26"wheelz
  • 1 0
 if it´s worth the change coming from a pike and being jerome. i asume the rest of mortals can deal with it
  • 2 1
 I wish they would have said if he got faster or not. I tend to think not or they would have said so.
  • 2 0
 hes sponsored by sram and doesn't even use Rockshox what up with that
  • 1 1
 He races and rides the Pike. He just helps with the testing and development on the Super Max.
  • 1 0
 He still uses the fox dyad though which is kinda strange
  • 1 0
 The nice thing about the Lefty is no one noticed or bitched about the wheel size change to 650B
  • 1 0
 yes yes yes ! just ripppen with that bike, looks awesome. the lefty does make that 27.5 look 29"+
  • 1 1
 that lefty look dangerous!!!!!!!! wouldent go near a lefty, but otherwise sick vid!!!
  • 2 1
 I'll test this one soon, I will see if this is a real revolution this 650b
  • 1 0
 I wonder if you can run the new lefty fork in an x44 headtube?
  • 2 2
 He's really fast! Love how the Jekyll looks but that ugly cable routing through the downtube... Frown
  • 2 1
 Good video and nice bike.
  • 2 1
 who´s thinking of buying a 2014 (new??) cannondale?
  • 1 1
 no internal routing on that thing. the lefty just looks strange with that much travel haha
  • 1 2
 Shi!! Just because it's "Winning-er" doesn't make it more "Eunduro-er".... Dayem you Cannondale!!! You fail me yet again!!! SMH! But that dude Jerome sure is enduro!
  • 1 0
 looks like a 27,5 specific lefty got robbed
  • 6 7
 He should ride a Pike! This Lefty fork looks incredible ugly to me... The rest of the bike is very nice!
  • 4 2
 He has to as he is obliged to due to his sponsorship, this was just testing the new Lefty.
  • 3 2
 So enduro!
  • 1 1
 I prolly wouldn't buy it, but i wouldn't mind havin it
  • 1 1
 Its still a lefty... and a cannondale
  • 4 6
 Hmm Lefty look flexy to me, If Cannondale thought they could win anything on it they'd run it, Rockshox sponsorship or not.
  • 7 0
 Go ride one. Flexy is one thing a Lefty fork is not!
  • 2 0
 the overmtn team is going to run the Lefty, Weir etc..maybe not JC tho
  • 3 5
 The lefty fork maybe safe but doesn't even look safe let alone look good..
  • 3 4
 no thanks
  • 2 5
 Lefties haven't died yet huh?
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