No suspension. Isn’t necessary and it’s an additional point of failure/maintenance and added weight.
wacksonjagstaff on
Depends on what I’d be riding. Tame gravel, no suspension. Rowdier/chunkier gravel, suspension.
TitaniumladNZ on
Depends on what you’re planning to do with the bike.
stalkholme on
I don’t want suspension, but I’d feel a little cheated paying the same for the simpler option. And damn I’d love to have a leftie. Maybe I’d buy it, throw on flat bars and have a wicked (tame) XC bike.
DuckIntelligent737 on
Stoked on redshift stem & s-works cg-r post (discontinued – roval terra equivalent)
I’d go with the orange and use an xc bike for whatever that other one is hungry for
crass_comp on
It deprnds on the usage- are you doing singletrails with big rocks all the time? At least 80% than its your bike or an MTB
addr0x414b on
Naw. I love the simplicity of a fully rigid bike. And I definitely ride mine on some gnarly singletrack chunk here and there.
RealLifeSunfish on
i would go with no suspension, less complexity
socaljoe42 on
I don’t have suspension (other than tire pressure) on my current bike, so the sour grapes principle demands I ridicule gravel bikes with suspension. That said, I want one of those new (heavy, overly complicated) Trek Checkouts SO bad. I’ll never pay for one, but I WANT it.
Then again, for an MTB, all I want is a Jones LWB. Go figure.
Ill_Imagination986 on
The research is all showing that suspension is better than rigid in most conditions. But whether I would spend my hard earned dollars on a suspension gravel bike is all about the build kit.
I’d take a bike with a good suspension fork over a rigid bike, but I’d take well kit out rigid bike over a bike with a cheap suspension fork
bagel_union on
Non suspension but get carbon wheels. Metal wheels on carbon frame is struggle af
DNAthrowaway1234 on
I have a suspension fork, but be aware that a lefty needs special service only available at a Cannondale dealers. Are you happy with your local Cannondale dealer? That’s the most important consideration.
KostyaFedot on
Modern bicycles have lockable suspension by the switch on bars.
If not, it just something different from your picture. Like my e-bike. 🙂
Fork with suspension is handy on downhill and on cobblestones.
psyguy45 on
The only suspension I’d get on a gravel bike is the lauf leaf spring suspension. No servicing necessary. I have enough to do servicing my XC bike suspension every 50 hours. If I’m hitting trails that need more than a lauf fork, I’m grabbing the XC
Junk-Miles on
Non-suspension. More maintenance. Some added comfort but nothing I really need. If I really needed the extra suspension I’d get a Lauf. I don’t feel like the added headache of suspension.
No_Jump4305 on
No !
deviant324 on
Lefties and the bikes they come on are certainly a matter of personal taste, but I had a carbon gravelbike with suspension and got the same bike in Ti (with better componants and in the right size)
Just depends on what you ride with it, I’m regularly happy I have it and I’m pretty sure at this point I would’ve gotten knocked off my hoods at least once if I had a rigid fork lol
No_Artichoke7180 on
I really like the top stone carbon without the lefty, but I bought neither because I kept waffling because what if I regret it later
big_brothers_hd600 on
Tbf if I dont choose the lefty canondale, Ill probably pick a bike with a Campagnolo EKAR, or something else then the TOPSTONE.
dremspider on
Suspension is a lot of maintenance. Weighs more too and some of your energy goes into the suspension. Great if you need it though.
AndrewAuAU on
If i had a nice road bike also i might consider suspension on a gravel bike. With wide enough tyres, you dont need suspension, though. Maybe also if you plan on doing single track and dont have a mtb it might also swing the decision.
If you only had one bike and plan to also do long road rides on a second set of wheels, definitely not.
cyborgeeked on
The Lefty is a pain in the ass according to some friends who own it.
Just_Bluebird6887 on
No suspension. It’s heavy. If you want some ‘spencion later, put on a Redshift stem. 😎
UnderstandingFit3009 on
No suspension
hoxnploxn on
Go with the suspension. If you dont like it you can sell the fork and buy a rigid one and still have more money in the end. Plus you will have a dropper post which is always a good thing.
mellofello808 on
If the terrain you take your bike on requires suspension, you will 100% have more fun riding a MTB.
gemstun on
I love my 2023 lefty Topstone. I’ve had several lefty’s since 2000, and I honestly don’t know what people are talking about when they say it’s difficult to keep up with the maintenance requirements, find people to work on them, etc (whenever I probe on where they’re getting their information from, it’s never primary). I can get it serviced from my LBS, or an independent mechanic without any issue.
F—- convention and the assimilated masses, get the lefty!!!
As for having a suspension on a gravel, it’s perfect for the hybrid of light MTB/gravel/tarmac routes around where I live… As an alternative to the black diamond stuff that I take my all mountain on. Most people complaining about sus on a gravel bike probably live in areas without significant hills.
hambonelicker on
No suspension.
Teddyballgameyo on
As an endurance rider who likes all day rides over rougher terrain I’ll take the suspension for sure.
willy_quixote on
I have a hardtail, so im picking the no sus option.
scaredt2ask on
I would not pick suspension. I don’t find it desirable in anyway in addition to the extra weight and maintenance required. I would never dissuade anyone from getting suspension, just giving my opinion. Everyone is different and you need to do what is best for you, your riding style and riding environment. That’s why they make so many different gravel bike options.
reforger88 on
Not
BatJew_Official on
I think it depends a ton on what exactly you’re planning to do with the bike, but in general I’m a bit skeptical of suspension gravel bikes. I’m not against them like a lot of people are, I just think they fit a very specific niche that I think won’t serve most people well unless they’re specifically looking for it. A $3k suspension gravel bike will require more maintenance than a $3k “regular” gravel bike while also probably performing worse on most gravel trails and especially on any kind of hard surface, be it asphalt or packed dirt; and at the same time it will also be way less capable off-road than a $3k XC MTB. There are undoubtedly trails out there where riders don’t really need a mountain bike but would benefit from a bit of squish, but unless you’re already doing a ton of those trails I just don’t really see the benefit.
To me, suspension gravel is a similar niche (in terms of specificity) to something like jump bikes, foldable commuter bikes, or real beafy downhill bikes. Like there are rides where those bikes shine and people who love to ride them, but they’re kinda awful for anything outside of their specific purpose because the sacrifices they make to meet their niche hold them back. That doesn’t make them bad or pointless, it just means you need to more or less know you need them before buying one.
33 Comments
No suspension. Isn’t necessary and it’s an additional point of failure/maintenance and added weight.
Depends on what I’d be riding. Tame gravel, no suspension. Rowdier/chunkier gravel, suspension.
Depends on what you’re planning to do with the bike.
I don’t want suspension, but I’d feel a little cheated paying the same for the simpler option. And damn I’d love to have a leftie. Maybe I’d buy it, throw on flat bars and have a wicked (tame) XC bike.
Stoked on redshift stem & s-works cg-r post (discontinued – roval terra equivalent)
I’d go with the orange and use an xc bike for whatever that other one is hungry for
It deprnds on the usage- are you doing singletrails with big rocks all the time? At least 80% than its your bike or an MTB
Naw. I love the simplicity of a fully rigid bike. And I definitely ride mine on some gnarly singletrack chunk here and there.
i would go with no suspension, less complexity
I don’t have suspension (other than tire pressure) on my current bike, so the sour grapes principle demands I ridicule gravel bikes with suspension. That said, I want one of those new (heavy, overly complicated) Trek Checkouts SO bad. I’ll never pay for one, but I WANT it.
Then again, for an MTB, all I want is a Jones LWB. Go figure.
The research is all showing that suspension is better than rigid in most conditions. But whether I would spend my hard earned dollars on a suspension gravel bike is all about the build kit.
I’d take a bike with a good suspension fork over a rigid bike, but I’d take well kit out rigid bike over a bike with a cheap suspension fork
Non suspension but get carbon wheels. Metal wheels on carbon frame is struggle af
I have a suspension fork, but be aware that a lefty needs special service only available at a Cannondale dealers. Are you happy with your local Cannondale dealer? That’s the most important consideration.
Modern bicycles have lockable suspension by the switch on bars.
If not, it just something different from your picture. Like my e-bike. 🙂
Fork with suspension is handy on downhill and on cobblestones.
The only suspension I’d get on a gravel bike is the lauf leaf spring suspension. No servicing necessary. I have enough to do servicing my XC bike suspension every 50 hours. If I’m hitting trails that need more than a lauf fork, I’m grabbing the XC
Non-suspension. More maintenance. Some added comfort but nothing I really need. If I really needed the extra suspension I’d get a Lauf. I don’t feel like the added headache of suspension.
No !
Lefties and the bikes they come on are certainly a matter of personal taste, but I had a carbon gravelbike with suspension and got the same bike in Ti (with better componants and in the right size)
Just depends on what you ride with it, I’m regularly happy I have it and I’m pretty sure at this point I would’ve gotten knocked off my hoods at least once if I had a rigid fork lol
I really like the top stone carbon without the lefty, but I bought neither because I kept waffling because what if I regret it later
Tbf if I dont choose the lefty canondale, Ill probably pick a bike with a Campagnolo EKAR, or something else then the TOPSTONE.
Suspension is a lot of maintenance. Weighs more too and some of your energy goes into the suspension. Great if you need it though.
If i had a nice road bike also i might consider suspension on a gravel bike. With wide enough tyres, you dont need suspension, though. Maybe also if you plan on doing single track and dont have a mtb it might also swing the decision.
If you only had one bike and plan to also do long road rides on a second set of wheels, definitely not.
The Lefty is a pain in the ass according to some friends who own it.
No suspension. It’s heavy. If you want some ‘spencion later, put on a Redshift stem. 😎
No suspension
Go with the suspension. If you dont like it you can sell the fork and buy a rigid one and still have more money in the end. Plus you will have a dropper post which is always a good thing.
If the terrain you take your bike on requires suspension, you will 100% have more fun riding a MTB.
I love my 2023 lefty Topstone. I’ve had several lefty’s since 2000, and I honestly don’t know what people are talking about when they say it’s difficult to keep up with the maintenance requirements, find people to work on them, etc (whenever I probe on where they’re getting their information from, it’s never primary). I can get it serviced from my LBS, or an independent mechanic without any issue.
F—- convention and the assimilated masses, get the lefty!!!
As for having a suspension on a gravel, it’s perfect for the hybrid of light MTB/gravel/tarmac routes around where I live… As an alternative to the black diamond stuff that I take my all mountain on. Most people complaining about sus on a gravel bike probably live in areas without significant hills.
No suspension.
As an endurance rider who likes all day rides over rougher terrain I’ll take the suspension for sure.
I have a hardtail, so im picking the no sus option.
I would not pick suspension. I don’t find it desirable in anyway in addition to the extra weight and maintenance required. I would never dissuade anyone from getting suspension, just giving my opinion. Everyone is different and you need to do what is best for you, your riding style and riding environment. That’s why they make so many different gravel bike options.
Not
I think it depends a ton on what exactly you’re planning to do with the bike, but in general I’m a bit skeptical of suspension gravel bikes. I’m not against them like a lot of people are, I just think they fit a very specific niche that I think won’t serve most people well unless they’re specifically looking for it. A $3k suspension gravel bike will require more maintenance than a $3k “regular” gravel bike while also probably performing worse on most gravel trails and especially on any kind of hard surface, be it asphalt or packed dirt; and at the same time it will also be way less capable off-road than a $3k XC MTB. There are undoubtedly trails out there where riders don’t really need a mountain bike but would benefit from a bit of squish, but unless you’re already doing a ton of those trails I just don’t really see the benefit.
To me, suspension gravel is a similar niche (in terms of specificity) to something like jump bikes, foldable commuter bikes, or real beafy downhill bikes. Like there are rides where those bikes shine and people who love to ride them, but they’re kinda awful for anything outside of their specific purpose because the sacrifices they make to meet their niche hold them back. That doesn’t make them bad or pointless, it just means you need to more or less know you need them before buying one.