The perfect gravel bike is different for depending on who you ask. I prefer a bike that is fast, and I am willing to give up a bit of comfort to get the extra speed. The Topstone is for cyclists that don’t care about going fast as much as they do being comfortable. In this 2022 Cannondale Topstone Carbon 2 Lefty review I’ll explain why the Topstone is the best adventure gravel bike this year.
First, in 2022 the Topstone received an updated geometry. The bike is now more capable than ever for taking on rough terrain. If not for the drop bars, this bike is easily confused for a mountain bike. The slightly lower bottom bracket provides a more confident ride.
You have two color options; Gold Dust and Laguna Yellow. The Gold Dust only shows in direct sunlight, otherwise the bike looks black. Laguna Yellow is the safest color options for cyclists that want to make sure they are seen on both the road and trail.
You can long distance race with the Topstone Carbon 2 Lefty, but it makes an even better gravel adventure bike. The Carbon 2 Lefty is expensive, but its packed with. value. The $4,200 price tag gets you a lot of tech and comfort packed into this gravel bike.
2022 Topstone Carbon 2 Lefty Weight
The 2022 Topstone Carbon 2 Lefty weighs 23 lbs. Some bikes have to be spec’d with different parts due to component availability at the time of assembly. Due to those global supply chain issues Cannondale did not release and official weight for the Topstone Carbon 2 Lefty.
The perfect cyclist for a Topstone gravel bike won’t care too much about minor weight gains or losses. This is not a lightweight climbing gravel bike, nor is it a gravel race bike. The Topstone Carbon 2 Lefty is an off road capable machine. If you are looking for a gravel bike to climb hills, the Topstone Carbon 2 Lefty is not for you.
2022 Carbon 2 Lefty Key Features
The left fork is available on both the Topstone 1 and 2 models. Previous years came with 650b sized wheels, but in 2022 all models with the Lefty fork have 700c tires. The Lefty Oliver is lightweight, and has far less suspension travel at just 30mm than the Original Lefty used on mountain bikes..
Another key feature on Topstone bikes is the Kingpin Suspension system in the rear. The leaf spring system puts a thru axle pivot. in the seat tube. This allows the back of the frame to flex, providing up to 30mm of suspension travel in the rear.
Between the 30/30 front and rear suspension travel the Topstone Carbon 2 Lefty is nearly as capable as an XC mountain bike, while maintaining the speed of a road bike. If you can get past the unique look of the Lefty fork, the bike is incredibly capable.
Cannondale Topstone Carbon 2 Lefty Overall
There is no more asymmetric integration feature, so the bike now has a traditional wheel dish. That means you can upgrade wheels without issues. It is one small step Cannondale took to create a better bike.
The Lefty fork has no sag, which means you don’t lose efficiency when riding on the flat and smooth pavement. It has a lockout feature, regardless. You get both comfort and efficiency with the Lefty Oliver.
This is not a bike for someone riding mixed use trails, or cyclists racing on smooth and easy terrain. The 2022 Cannondale Topstone Carbon 2 Lefty is for the gravel cyclist that also likes to get a little gnarly from time to time.
Cannondale offers a limited lifetime warranty on all of their Topstone Carbon frames. The Lefty Oliver fork is covered under the frame warranty. However, cable clamps, needle bearings, races, and bushings which are part of the telescopic assembly are normal wear and tear items. They ARE NOT covered by the limited lifetime warranty.
If you enjoyed this 2022 Cannondale Topstone Carbon 2 Lefty review, consider reading about my pick for Gravel Bike of the Year here:
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