Cannondale launches Lefty Ocho 120mm fork

Lefty Ocho 120
The new Cannondale Left Ocho 120 fork boosts travel, bulks the outers, and makes adjustments to the internals (Image credit: Cannondale)

Cannondale has launched a Lefty Ocho 120 fork, bumping travel up by 10mm and adding new internal tech to match the trend of increased travel on cross-country bikes. The new fork appeared during a soft launch only in the European Union, however, multiple media outlets have published details. 

The Lefty Ocho 120 is a carbon fork with 120mm of travel, 50mm of offset, and is compatible only with 29er wheels. Cannondale's claimed weight is 1,550 grams, about 60g lighter than the 100mm version. Adjustments on the new fork include rebound, low-speed compression, and a lockout. 

To accommodate the additional travel, and bigger forces that may come when riders use it, Cannondale has beefed up the upper and lower outers of the Ocho 120. According to Bike Radar the upper and lower legs of the fork have added material in order to make the fork stiffer. 

Cannondale also made some slight adjustments to the internal air spring, including a new piston, top-out bumper, main o-ring, and bushing. Ideally, in combination with the stiffer chassis, this will lead to a more responsive trail feel that can tackle more aggressive terrain. 

The fork does have a bar-mounted dropper post remote feature, so riders can alternate into the locked-out setting on long climbs or stretches of pavement. 

As a part of the launch, Cannondale strapped the Lefty Ocho 120 to their Scalpel SE LTD, which it classifies as a trail bike. Currently, the model comes with a regular, non-lefty fork as standard. However, it looks like it may come with a Lefty Ocho 120 in the future. 

It has not been announced when the Lefty Ocho 120 will be launched and available outside of the EU, or how much it will cost, but Bike Perfect will be on the lookout for details. 

Ryan Simonovich

Ryan Simonovich has been riding and racing for nearly a decade. He got his start as a cross-country mountain bike racer in California, where he cultivated his love for riding all types of bikes. Ryan eventually gravitated toward enduro and downhill racing but has also been found in the occasional road and cyclo-cross events. Today, he regularly rides the trails of Durango, Colorado, and is aiming to make a career out of chronicling the sport of cycling. 


Rides: Santa Cruz Hightower, Specialized Tarmac SL4