Edichek

Hi to all,

I've been eying Cannondale Bad Boy 1 City Bike for a while. It has a very peculiar fork. I've never seen another bike with a fork like this. Why would they build'm like this? Is there any advantage in a fork with this configuration or is this just an effort to look original? BTW, this model is considered by "experts" as one of the best hybrid bikes available. Thanks

dedhed

https://www.mbr.co.uk/news/cannondal...plained-330076

tyrion

A single leg "fork" allegedly has better strength/weight characteristics than a traditional fork. The downside is you have to use a wheel with a special hub.

Edichek

totally counterintuitive, but who am I to argue with experts. On the intuitive level, if this configuration were really superior to the conventional fork, wouldn't more manufacturers use it... Anyways, there's this Bad Boy 1 bike is available for sale locally, used of course, and I thought I would ask the esteemed public...Thanks to all who responded...

Darth Lefty 

Way, way back when mountain bikes first grew suspension, Cannondale's entry was in the steerer and called Head Shok. The travel grew until it couldn't be done within that height, so they invented the Lefty fork which took the works and moved it to the side. They had to design a single sided hub to go with. Against all odds, through a major ownership change, and shifting of production overseas, they have kept it going all these years. On the Bad Boy with, no suspension at all, it's just a style choice. It screams Cannondale to anyone who likes mountain bikes.

blakcloud

I always thought that fork was gimmiky but they have been using it for years on their mountain bikes, gravel bikes and city bikes so it must work. Many years ago I purchased the very first iteration of the Bad Boy and It was certainly in the top two bikes I have ever owned. I regret getting rid of but I did donate it to a bike charity so I take solace in that.

The bike you posted looks great. I wouldn't hesitate to purchase something like that. As Tyrion said above the only drawback is you are tied into their ecosystem of forks, headsets and front wheels and you can't easily add fenders if that is your thing. Let us know if you purchase it and post your impressions.

Moisture

I was looking into the Cannondale bad boy, I like how the top tube is sloping and and head tube is pretty tall. But the reach is quite long for a commuting style bike, which sort of turned me away. Its designed this way due to the flat bars.

surveyor6

The C'dale Bad Boy was the first to be labelled a "City Bike", if memory serves. It defined the segment.

Ironfish653

I like the Bad Boy, especially the ‘1’ with the belt drive IGH and the Lefty.
I happen to like the Lefty ‘fork’. It’s a really clever piece of engineering, and a tie-back to some of the really radical stuff they were doing in the Made-in-USA day’s, when they were at the peak of their powers.

I find the ride ride of the 650B Bad Boys to be very reminiscent of the NORBA era CAAD-3 ‘F’ series 26” XC bikes; Long and low, aggressive and nimble, which are good traits to have in the cut-and-thrust of urban riding.

Darth Lefty 

I don't know the overall history of the Bad Boy but it's always existed alongside the regular hybrid bikes. The difference is that it's basically a 700c road tire version of a 26" XC mountain bike, with fit to match. A trick enabled by the disc brakes. They even did a full suspension version a long time ago.

hillyman

I don't know why that fork has always bothered me. Guess just not symmetrical. And I ride a bike without a down tube.
Plus after watching Tour Divide docu years ago and Matthew Lee? Had to get his single leg fork replaced mid-race didn't help on my opinion even tho may have been a fluke.

Ironfish653

The Bad Boys are 650B, and, they have very similar geometry to the CAAD-3/4 XC bikes, which is not a bad thing. It’s a bike that likes to be ridden fast and aggressively, and doesn’t mind being hucked over a curb at speed.

I use an updated ‘97 F-1000 on slicks as a commuter, and the Bad Boy is a really close match.

veganbikes

Potentially to be different or just to avoid a patent. I am not a lefty fan and for a commuter bike like it even less. Commuter bikes should be good quality and have easily replaced parts proprietary stuff is not a helpful thing on your commuter bike especially if you are like many who couldn't live without their bike and freak out when they have to get it serviced but also refuse to get a second back up bike and cannot fathom any other way to get to work even in a place with many options. The Lefty forks look cool I guess but when they decide to change things you could be left sans bearings which could be bad.

As far as these experts I am sure they are Cannondalians or just random online reviewers. I work in a shop and have for years, I love and study bikes in spare time as well though I don't call myself an expert as I don't feel the need for that title as I am always still learning and trying to hone my craft. It is not a bad bike it does have parts on it that are great for a commuter and some parts that are quite questionable. Personally it looks like it could be a fun-ish bike to ride but wouldn't want it for the daily commute.

BlazingPedals

Supposedly a one-legged 'fork' would be lighter, but in practice you have to built it and the hub a lot stouter in order to resist the torsion of a one-sided wheel. I can't believe there's much savings, meaning it's mostly just different and with proprietary parts.

A one-legged 'fork' (are they still called forks with only one leg?) also has less air resistance, whatever that means at mountain bike speeds.