CannondaleScalpel SE
Origin
The Scalpel SE was introduced for model year 2021 as the down-country / trail-leaning sibling of the pure-XC Scalpel. It took the same Flexpivot chainstay rear suspension — which uses a flexing carbon stay instead of a pivot near the rear axle to save weight and stiffness — and bumped travel from 100mm to 120mm front and rear, slackened the head angle to 66.6 degrees, added a dropper post and burlier tyres. The 2024 redesign brought the Scalpel SE onto a unified platform with the XC Scalpel, sharing the same frame mould but with longer-stroke shock, beefier fork and trail-oriented build kit. It's manufactured in Cannondale's Asian carbon facilities and sold globally. The SE name (Special Edition) became the brand's signature category for the 'down-country' segment that exploded post-2020, when XC racers wanted bikes capable of harder descending.
Specifications
- Frame
- BallisTec Carbon full-suspension, Proportional Response tuned with FlexPivot flexing carbon chainstay (no rear-axle pivot). Series 1 frame ~1980 g, Lab71 Hi-MOD ~1780 g
- Weight
- kg
- Drivetrain
- 1x12. SE 2: SRAM SX Eagle / Shimano SLX; SE 1: Shimano XT (32T ring, 10-51 cassette); LTD: SRAM GX/X0 Eagle Transmission; Ultimate: SRAM XX SL AXS Transmission
- Brakes
- Hydraulic disc, 180 mm front / 160 mm rear rotors. SE 2: Shimano MT500/MT520; SE 1: Shimano XT
- Wheels
- 29" wheels, tubeless-ready alloy rims with Boost hubs; carbon wheels on Ultimate/LTD trims
The verdict
- Exceptional pedalling efficiency and climbing — keeps the XC Scalpel's race DNA
- Smooth, sensitive FlexPivot suspension tracks well over roots and chatter with surprising comfort
- Nimble, playful handling on flowing trails — easy to hop and pop between features
- Powerful, well-modulated braking (180/160 mm) for the category
- FlexPivot flexing carbon chainstay saves weight while mimicking a Horst-link action
- Finds its limits faster than rivals on steep or technically demanding descents
- Tall bottom bracket and short-ish reach leave the rider feeling perched and the cockpit cramped when standing, eroding downhill confidence
- Maxxis Ardent Race / Recon Race tyres roll fast but offer limited grip in the wet or loose
- Cannondale DownLow dropper is slow and takes noticeable effort to actuate
- Less slack and shorter than competing down-country bikes (Specialized Epic EVO, Trek Top Fuel); marketing as 'trail' blurs its true XC-plus positioning
Who it’s for
Where to buy Cannondale Scalpel SE in Estonia
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