Cannondale Scalpel Carbon 3

Hold on Tight

Thrill ride. With the most advanced XC suspension and geometry, and rowdy-ready spec, the new Scalpel redefines cross-country speed – again. Fast, light, and capable on XC courses or technical trails, the Scalpel 3 is built to fly. The frameset is made of our advanced Series 1 carbon construction. Then it gets built up with a Shimano XT/Deore 12-speed drivetrain, remote-actuated RockShox SID Select suspension both front and rear, and Stan’s NoTubes Crest MK4 rims for excellent speed and control. The thrill of speed, winning XC and Marathon races, high-speed trail slaying.

Travel Advisory
Not just more travel – better travel. Thanks to the magic of our FlexPivot kinematics and Proportional Response suspension, Scalpel’s 120mm of travel delivers unreal traction, more control, and a hell of a lot more fun – with all the efficiency and responsiveness you’d expect from a World Cup race rig.

Devilishly Fast
Speed starts with the geometry, and Scalpel’s got the hole shot. It has a slack 66.6º head tube angle, a steeper 75.5º seat tube angle, and chainstays that get longer as the frames get bigger to keep the rider more balanced between the wheels. The result? More power and traction on the climbs, more pinpoint control in the corners, and a whole new level of confidence at speed.

The Beauty of Speed
This ain’t no fashion statement. This is pure, purposeful design. Every element of the Scalpel’s form is driven by function above all – kinematics, weight, stiffness, and capability. Features drive the shape, instead of the shape constraining the features. And fast looks good.

Flex Pivot
The key to Scalpel’s incredible suspension performance and light weight. These patented carbon plates create virtual Horst link pivots, while being stiffer and lighter than bearings. Incredibly durable. Incredibly flexible. And completely maintenance-free.

Proportional Response Suspension
How a suspension system responds to inputs is heavily influenced by the rider’s center of gravity, yet most designs on the market use the exact same suspension layout across all the sizes. With Proportional Response, we customize the kinematics by size to deliver the absolute best traction, braking, and pedaling performance.

Fly Low
The cat’s out of the bag: A dropper post’s ability to instantly raise or lower a bike’s saddle for technical sections or steep descents is a secret to speed that XC riders can’t ignore anymore. It’s why you’ll find them on any Scalpel – so you can command any terrain, and fast.

Connected
An integrated wheel sensor delivers precise speed, route, and distance info, registers your bike, keeps you on top of maintenance, and much more, all through the free Cannondale App.

Geometric Advantage
Full size-specific customization keeps you balanced in the sweet spot. A wicked slack 66.6º head tube angle delivers confidence at speed. Steeper 75.5º seat tube angle and longer reach keeps you in the perfect position for power and traction on the climbs.

Re-Tiring Convention
More travel and more capable geometry meant re-thinking tires, too. The 2.4-inch tires on the new Scalpel are higher in volume than conventionally narrower XC tires, meaning more traction and more control, even in the rough stuff.

Features

• Superlight premium Series 1 Carbon frame with FlexPivot, 120mm travel, and Proportional Response-Tuned Suspension and Geometry
• Lightweight RockShox SID Select 120mm fork and SIDLuxe Select+ rear shock, with a TwistLoc Ultimate remote lockout.
• Shimano’s race-ready XT/Deore M6100 12-speed group.
• Powerful, controllable Shimano Deore M6100 hydraulic disc brakes
• Stan’s tubeless-ready Crest Mk4 rims with Maxxis Rekon Race and Aspen WT 2.4” tires
• Cannondale’s DownLow dropper seatpost

Tech Specs

Frameset

• Frame: Scalpel, Series 1 Carbon construction, 120mm travel, Proportional Response Suspension and Geometry, FlexPivot Chainstay, full internal cable routing, 73mm BSA, 1.5" headtube with 1-1/8" upper reducer/internal cable guide, 148x12mm thru axle, 55mm chainline, UDH, post-mount disc – 160mm native
• Fork: RockShox SID Select, 120mm, DebonAir, 15x110mm thru-axle, tapered steerer, 44mm offset, TwistLoc Ultimate remote dual lockout
• Headset: Acros ICR
• Rear Shock: RockShox SIDLuxe Select+, 2-Pos mode adjust, adjustable rebound, 190x45, TwistLoc Ultimate remote dual lockout

Drivetrain

• Rear Derailleur: Shimano XT
• Shifters: Shimano Deore M6100, 12-speed
• Chain: Shimano SLX M7100, 12-speed
• Crank: Cannondale 1, BB30a, OPI SpideRing, 32T, Ai Offset
• Rear Cogs: Shimano Deore M6100, 10-51, 12-speed
• Bottom Bracket: Shimano BSA 73mm

Brakes

• Brakes: Shimano Deore M6100, 180/160mm RT54 rotors
• Brake Levers: Shimano Deore M6100

Wheels

• Rims: Stan's NoTubes Crest MK4, 28h, tubeless ready
• Spokes: DT Swiss Competition Race
• Tire Size: 2.4
• Wheel Size: 29
• Hubs: (F) Formula CL-811, 15x110mm thru-axle / (R) Shimano MT510B, 12x148mm thru-axle
• Tires: (F) Maxxis Rekon Race WT, 29x2.4", EXO Protection, tubeless ready / (R) Maxxis Aspen WT, 29x2.4", EXO Protection, tubeless ready

Components

• Handlebar: Cannondale 2 Flat, butted 2014 Alloy, 31.8mm, 3° rise, 8° sweep, 760mm
• Stem: Cannondale C1 Conceal, Alloy, 31.8, -6°
• Grips: RockShox Smooth Silicone
• Saddle: Prologo Dimension NDR, STN rails
• Seatpost: Cannondale DownLow Dropper, internal routing, 31.6, 125mm (S), 150mm (M-XL)

Connectivity

• Wheel Sensor: Cannondale Wheel Sensor

Producer's note: Please note that, based on component availability and other factors, specifications are subject to change without notice.