Cannondale Scalpel Carbon 3

Model Description

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.

What it's for

The thrill of speed. Winning XC and Marathon races. High-speed trail slaying.

HIGHLIGHTS

• 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 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

Hold on tight

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.

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.

FEATURES:

• FlexPivot stays are key to Scalpel’s incredible suspension performance and low weight. These patented carbon sections act as virtual Horst link pivots, creating a true four-bar link suspension that allows our engineers to precisely tailor how the suspension responds to pedaling, braking, and bump forces, without the weight or maintenance of bearings.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.