Cannondale Scalpel SE

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.