2019 Cannondale Scalpel-Si Carbon 3 Bike (discontinued)

The Scalpel Si Carbon 3 combines ultra light weight construction with excellent traction, quick handling, and great downhill stability. The lefty echo fork has an incredibly smooth feel and takes large impacts well due to its progressive damping. Hopping logs with the light front end is a breeze. Climbing, the scalpel always keeps traction, and the lockout is nice for smoother climbs. When descending the bike is very stable and the "out front" geometry Cannondale uses makes it able to quickly zip through obstacles.

Sometimes the scalpel feels just a little too big to fit through trees--but that's more my own riding ability than the bike's fault. The steering takes a bit of getting used to but is actually quite nice once you get the hang of it. The scalpel's greatest weakness is taking tight corners--it has a tendency to slip at lower speeds than it should.