Cannondale Bikes - Interbike 2009

Posted: Sep 30, 2009

Cannondale is one of the busiest and most innovative bike companies in our sport today. They are always looking at ways to make things different, never ones to look inside the box, but rather spend all their time out side it making cool products. New for 2010 is the Cannondale RZ One Twenty 1, a 120mm version to last year's very successful RZ 140 platform. The Cannondale Moto Carbon 2 is back for 2010 and has under gone some refinements to further improve its stance among the All Mountain bikes out there.

Full details on both inside,

Cannondale has proven themselves to be one of the most innovative bicycle companies around. Debuting new technology every year has kept them at the forefront of the cycling world and inside we'll have a closer look at a new 120 mm travel platform, the RZ One Twenty. Using 3D forging, a single piece Si stem and steerer unit, and an amazing 3 lb 120 mm travel Lefty fork, the RZ platform continues push the limits.


Watch the video and listen to Cannondale's Doug Dalton explain the new RZ One Twenty

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The RZ One Twenty 1

Cannondale's RZ One Twenty is a bike that a lot of riders will find more than capable enough to tackle their local terrain, as well as a fresh approach to a shorter travel platform. The little brother to the One Forty, the new RZ is a firmer platform and aimed at riders who are looking for a bike with a bit sportier feel to it. While we are used to seeing longer travel bikes boast about stiffness improving qualities, the RZ series has some interesting features that keep the 5" travel frame rigid and precise.

The RZ's entire seat tube, BB shell, and pivot assembly is a single 3D forged structure to ensure perfect alignment and maximum stiffness

Meaty chainstays and captured pivots at the dropout to further enhance rigidity

The RZ One Twenty can brag about having some very neat technology built into it. The heart of the bike is its 3D forged seat tube, pivot points, and BB shell (think along the lines of a high-end seat post being all one piece). Forging ensures that this important piece is perfectly straight and stronger than a welded together unit. Large diameter aluminum pivot hardware and captured dropout pivots help to boost stiffness even more. Although the BB30 bottom bracket system can be found on many other bikes now, Cannondale was the first to use this large diameter spindle and bearing design and it makes another appearance aboard the RZ One Twenty's frame. One of the most unique pieces on the One Twenty is the Si stem and steerer tube combination. Si is an acronym for System Integration and the stem/steerer are just that, a one piece unit that does not rely on bolts or clamps of any kind to hold it together. Lighter, stiffer, and pretty damn neat!

Cannondale are the originators of the BB30 bottom bracket system and it is used here on the RZ One Twenty

RZ One Twenty 1 full specs

Frame and Size	Cannondale RZ One Twenty •Si BB30
Rear Shock	Fox Float RP23
Fork	Lefty Ultra Carbon w/PBR, 120mm
Headset	Cannondale HeadShok Si
Crankarms	FSA Afterburner BB30 w/Carbon Spider, 44/32/22
Bottom Bracket	FSA BB30
Pedals	Crank Brothers Candy
Chain	KMC X9 CP 9-speed
Cassette	SRAM PG-970, 11-34
Rear Derailleur	SRAM X-9
Front Derailleur	SRAM X-7
Shifters	SRAM X-9
Handlebar	FSA XC-282 660mm, 18mm riser, 31.8mm
Stem	Cannondale XC3 Si Stem/Steerer
Grips	Cannondale Morse Alloy Locking grips
Brakes	Avid Elixir CR, 160/160mm
Front Wheel	DT Swiss XCR 1.5 Custom, Lefty SL 24h hub
Rear Wheel	SDT Swiss XCR 1.5 Custom, DT 340 24h
Tires	Schwalbe Racing Ralph EVO Folding, 26 x 2.25"
Saddle	Prologo Vertigo Max, chromoly rails
Seatpost	Cannondale C2 Black, 31.6mm

A Lefty Ultra Carbon w/PBR and 120 mm of travel at the front of the RZ One Twenty 1

Lefty Specs

• 130 mm of travel, 3 lb. weight
• Push button lockout
• Rebound adjust
• Solo air spring w/ self adjusting negative air spring
• Si single piece stem and steerer unit - lighter and stiffer

The Lefty may be different than what you have seen but has been around for a decade now in many travel and damper options

Despite the fact that the proven Lefty fork platform has been in service for many years now, even outlasting any competitor's models, it still has its fair share of doubters simply based on the fact that it is a single sided system. Those riders who would like to learn more about the Lefty fork and why it has been so successful over the years should head over to Cannondale's Why Lefty?' page and familiarize oneself with the internal workings of this misunderstood fork. Remember kids, don't hate, educate!

Have a look at the entire RZ One Twenty lineup!

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Cannondale Moto Carbon 2

Watch the video to learn more about the Moto's Hatchet-Drive suspension and how Cannondale used Carbon fiber on their 6" AM bike

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It must be blast to work in Cannondale's R and D section. The big C always seems like it has something on the go that is pushing the limits, or at least making some of their competitors scratch their heads. I think the Moto ticks both of those boxes off. Not content to slack out an existing bike and bolt on a longer stroke shock, Cannondale developed the 6" travel Moto from scratch for last season. Never one to follow any trends, the Moto has a look that is all its own. Built from carbon fiber, still a rarity in the 6" travel sector, the Moto uses Cannondale's Hatchet-Drive suspension to avoid mounting the shock to the front triangle. Thru-axles front and rear, a full length seat tube, and all-mountain geometry are the other important ingredients that make up the Moto package.

Cannondale Moto Carbon 2

The Moto's Hatchet-Drive suspension

Look closer and you'll find that the Fox shock that handles rear suspension duties is not mounted to the front triangle, but to the black link at the top and the swingarm at the opposite end. This allows the engineers at Cannondale to accomplish two things. First, it lets them build both a lighter and stronger front triangle because it no longer has to be braced to accept any force from the suspension. Second, they have another place to control the rate of the suspension. The Hatchet-Drive is driven via a Cannondale staple, a simple and solid single pivot and a substantial swingarm.

A 12 x 135 mm rear Maxle for stiffness and quick removal

Moto Carbon 2 full specs

Frame and Size	Moto Carbon, 160 mm
Rear Shock	FOX DHX 4.0 Air
Fork	FOX 36 Talas R, 160-130-100 mm
Headset	Moto 1.5" Integrated
Crankarms	Shimano XT, 22/32/44
Bottom Bracket	Shimano Hollowtech II
Pedals	Crank Brothers Smarty
Chain	Shimano 9-speed
Cassette	Shimano XT, 11-34
Rear Derailleur	SRAM X-9
Front Derailleur	Shimano LX
Shifters	SRAM X-9 Trigger
Handlebar	FSA XC-190AOS, 25 mm rise
Stem	Cannondale XC3 1.5", 31.8 mm
Grips	Cannondale GRIND Locking
Brakes	Avid Elixir CR
Front Wheel	DT Swiss E2200
Rear Wheel	DT Swiss E2200
Tires	Continental Mountain King Supersonic, 26 x 2.4"
Saddle	Fi'zi:k Gobi XM w/MG rails
Seatpost	Thomson Elite

The rear shock attaches to the Hatchet-Drive at the top and to the swingarm at the opposite end, not to the front triangle

While there are both carbon and aluminum Motos available, the carbon frame is stunning in person and will be appreciated by any true bike nerd out there. The shapes of the tubes are eye catching, as well as the bits of unpainted carbon. Besides looking great, the carbon also allows Cannondale to build a massively strong frame without the usually equally massive weight penalty. Have a look at the immense head tube and surrounding area as evidence.

The front of the Moto features a massive oversized head tube

Visit Cannondale.com for more info on the RZ One Twenty 1 and the Moto Carbon 2!

Mike Levy