Cannondale

Scalpel Carbon 3 Bike

What Our Gearhead® Experts Are Saying:

"I’ve ridden the Scalpel Carbon 3 on tight singletrack and marathon courses, and it’s a rocket. The carbon frame and FlexPivot suspension climb like a hardtail but keep traction where you need it. The Lefty Ocho fork stays composed in chunky sections, and I love how confidence-inspiring the Shimano XT drivetrain is on unpredictable terrain."

For cross-country riders chasing speed, precision, and performance, the Cannondale Scalpel Carbon 3 Bike delivers everything we expect from a modern XC rig. Its progressive geometry and featherlight carbon construction keep us agile over tight corners, steep switchbacks, and lung-burning climbs, while the 100mm of travel smooths out the chatter on the descent.

Cannondale’s FlexPivot rear suspension system is the highlight of this build—it’s simple, responsive, and efficient under power. Up front, the Lefty Ocho fork offers confident control with precision damping in a lightweight single-leg package. Paired with a Shimano XT drivetrain and tubeless-ready wheels, this Scalpel is built for race day, trail days, and any day we want to fly through the woods.

Heads up - We do our best to keep bike specs and images current, but occasional component changes can happen without warning-and sometimes the photos might not show the exact build you'll receive. If you want to double-check the details, our Gearheads are always here to help.