This article is part of the Mtbr's Enduro Compare-O. See all the stories in this special section here--https://reviews.mtbr.com/category/enduro-compare-o-2014

Under normal circumstances, the notion of having a split personality is a mixed blessing. Sure, diversity of skill is always a good thing. But that same duality of purpose may also lead to bouts of unpredictability, or even a lack of reliability. You just never know what you're going to get.

And no, these are not the ramblings of an amateur psychologist talking about a semi-cuckoo friend. This is bike test talk as it relates to the Trigger 29 Carbon 2, which Cannondale marketing material boasts as having "two personalities-both insane."

The centerpiece of this self-labeled schizophrenic trail steed is its unique Fox DYAD pull shock with handlebar-mounted remote that toggles between 130mm and 80mm of rear end travel, or as Cannondale puts it, "with the flick of a switch it transforms from a pick-any-line lunatic to a switchback climbing freak."

The question then, is can one bike really do both things and do them well? The short answer is, while not perfect, the Trigger 29 Carbon 2 is an exceptionally capable bike that boasts a host of cutting edge technology that yields solid climbing chops and stable descending ability.

The caveat here is that the right rider for this bike is ideally one who is both comfortable straying from the norm, and also capable of making a few second-level suspension set-up decisions. Indeed, the Cannondale Trigger 29 Carbon 2 (and its three brothers, the top-shelf Carbon 1, plus two lower-priced, alloy-framed models) was arguably the most polarizing bike in the Mtbr Enduro Compare-O. Some testers loved it, some didn't, and others changed their mind along the way.

"With unfamiliar knobs on the suspension and an assortment of places where one is supposed to put air, initial setup on the Trigger was a bit intimidating," said one tester. "However, the basic principals of proper sag and rebound adjustment seem to be universally applicable, so with some futzing, I sorted it out. Instantly, the bike felt light, lively, and responsive. Bounce tests in the parking lot gave me hope that the suspension would perform well."



Left of center

Inevitably suspicion about suspension is the first question that arises when evaluating the Trigger 29 Carbon 2. Along with its unique 2-in-1 shock, the bike is spec'd with Cannondale's 130mm Lefty Supermax PBR 29 single-sided fork. Like we said, if you're an old-school traditionalist who prefers bikes that look like other bikes, this probably isn't the bike for you.

But before you write off the Trigger as too weird, wild, or otherwise unconventional, consider this: During our three-day test, positive feedback greatly outweighed negative, especially when it came to suspension performance.

"As the stoke level increased and the apprehension evaporated, I got a sense that I could get even more out of the bike," explained one tester. "After checking the front suspension mid-ride, I realized wasn't getting full travel, so I let a few PSI out of Lefty. Back on the bike for the meat of the descent, we just kept going faster and hitting more jumps. It's not as plush as some others, but the suspension is fully capable of taking the edge off of everything, preserving momentum, and keeping the tires where you want them. On small-to-medium jumps, it managed abrupt landings without any complaint or drama."

The centerpiece of the Trigger's dual-suspension system is the aforementioned FOX DYAD pull shock. Yes, it's looks a little clunky and complicated, but the reality is that it's essentially just two shocks stuffed into one somewhat oversized package. Flick the handlebar mounted lever one way, and it acts as a low air volume, 80mm shock. Toggle the other way, and enjoy 130mm of trail smoothing cushion.

By using these dual chambers, the shock can employ independent compression and rebound damping circuits, meaning you can tune each travel setting, and not just compromise somewhere in the middle. These dual travel modes also alter the bike's geometry. In the 130mm "FLOW" mode, ride height is lower and head angle slacker due to extra sag. But flip to 80mm "ELEVATE" and you get a steeper head angle, less sag, and a higher bottom bracket.

Of course this likely means you'll need to spend more than just the usual few minutes to get the suspension dialed to your tastes. "It took longer to set-up than any other bike in the test," said one tester. "I practically needed a tutorial."

The good news is that there is a full array of suggested pressures and dial clicks printed on the side of the shock. But nonetheless, it can be a little overwhelming. The person who buys this bike should have some idea of how to set up suspension, or be willing to ask a lot of questions at their local bike shop. Otherwise you'll be spending a lot of money-$6170 for our test bike-but not realizing full return on your fat tire investment.



Photo by Tyler Frasca.

Some conventional wisdom

One place where Cannondale hasn't strayed so far is the design of the suspension itself. The Trigger's rear end utilizes what is effectively a traditional single pivot with rocker link, but instead of the link compressing the shock, it pulls up. Cannondale has also opted for a 100-percent carbon fiber frame construction (including rocker link), which means instead of a bearing pivot at the axle, the bike's "Zero Pivot" stays flex, an engineering design the company has been using for more than a decade. The reason for this, they say, is that it slices weight out of the bike's swingarm, while increasing overall stiffness thanks to a revised composite lay-up schedule. It's obviously tough to verify all those claims, but feedback from our testers spoke of a bike that was indeed a very capable climber, with no noticeable lack of stiffness.

"The DYAD suspension locks out nicely, switching to the 80mm rear travel setting with the flick of a switch on the handlebar and pushing the 'pop top' on the Lefty fork," noted one tester. "The result was a bike that climbed exceptionally well. In fact, I thought it was one of the best climbing 29ers in the test."



Photo by Tyler Frasca.

And that final statement is saying something considering that our test model weighed in at a decidedly pedestrian 28.74 pounds sans pedals. Just think what you could do with a few weight-dropping parts upgrades.

Continue to Page 2 for more on the Cannondale Trigger 29 Carbon 2 and full photo gallery »

Riding high in the saddle

Besides ongoing jokes about the need for a doctorate in suspension set-up, the most common observation about the Trigger 29 Carbon 2 was in reference to how it rode. Or more precisely how high our testers rode on it. Unlike some of the more hunkered down, low-to-the-ground machines in this test, this bike has a more lofty feel, especially when in its 80mm travel setting. That often leads to the unwanted sensation of being over top the bars, or as one tester put it, "I felt like I was riding on top of the roof of a car, not sitting in the driver's seat."

This translated into a slightly more twitchy feel, where it felt like you really had to stay on top of the steering rather than allowing the bike to simply flow up or down the trail.



Photo by Tyler Frasca.

Some testers also took issue with the rear suspension, wishing it delivered a slightly more plush ride feel.

"The bike was reasonably capable, but even in 130mm rear travel mode the DYAD suspension system felt choppy and lost some composure in the rutted and brake bumped sections of our test trail," reported one tester. "To me it felt more like an XC full suspension rig than an all-mountain enduro bike."

Yet other testers were impressed with the Trigger's performance, especially when the trail got twisty.

"When we hit those faster twisty bits, something about this bike just felt right," said another tester. "It went precisely where it was pointed, without hesitation, and provided solid feedback from the terrain. I felt like I always knew precisely where the wheels were planted and where they were going next. As the speed increased, so did the bike's agility."

We also collectively noticed that while the Lefty fork was stellar during the downhill portion of our testing session, it tended toward subtle unwanted activity during out-of-the-saddle climbing efforts. Of course this bike was not built to win World Cup XC sprints, but it's worth noting that you'll likely be reaching for the fork's lock-out button during any climb that requires longer stand-up efforts.



Photo by Tyler Frasca.

A case for more gears, less fork

In a time when front derailleurs have become as popular as 26-inch wheels, the Trigger bucks the trend of the 1x11 set-up for a more traditional Shimano XT 2x10 with 36-22t chainrings. While we collectively love the simplicity of the single-ring set-ups, this 2x was well received with one tester claiming that as a general rule of thumb "any bike in excess of 28 pounds should be running a 2x system anyway." Whether you agree with that statement or not, you could certainly do a lot worse than Shimano XT drivetrain, which delivered the usual reliability Shimano is known for.

The other stand-out spec is the Lefty Supermax PBR 29 fork. Phrases such as torsionally rigid and direct front end feel during descents dominated the conversation among testers. What's more, the Lefty's roller bearing design yields an exceptionally active and supple ride that carries throughout its 130mm travel, allowing it to soak up chop with sponge-like efficiency.

"Bottom line, the Lefty and the (RockShox) Pike were my two favorite shocks in this entire test," effused one tester. "Plus you don't have to take off the front wheel to change a flat."

"The fork will be a polarizing factor for a lot of people, but I had no issues whatsoever," said another tester. "It was stiff, plush, and could easily be locked out when you needed to on climbs."

Finally, props to Cannondale for not skimping on this bike's dropper post. It's spec'd with a KS Lev Integra with internal routing, a post we've used before and been roundly impressed with. The lever action is smooth, and the infinite position capability allows you to fine tune saddle height depending on the situation. The Trigger 29 Carbon 2 also gets high out-of-the-box marks for its brake choice, Shimano's reliable XT Trail stoppers with 180mm rotors front and rear.

Who is this bike for?

Think of the Trigger like fine wine. If you have the sophisticated palette for its unique technology-not to mention a more advanced understanding of suspension set-up and feel-then this is a great bike that can both eat up tough climbs and devour rollicking downhills. No, it's not the most nimble whip in the barn, but its functional suspension and big wheels mean you'll have no problem tearing up most any trail that's not a full-on DH run.

The last word

Bikes that branch out from the norm often elicit broadly varying opinions and that was certainly the case with the Trigger 29 and our test group. We like the idea of a bike that can do multiple things really well, and feel Cannondale-in partnership with Fox-has done a commendable job at pushing the technology envelope to create just such a bike. This build also gets high marks on the cost front. While not a budget buy, the $6170 price tag is a solid value for a full carbon steed spec'd with higher-end Shimano parts, a KS Lev dropper post, and one of the best forks around.

The flipside is that any time you try to be all things for all people there is some inevitable compromise. In this case, it's clear some people will be scared off by the seemingly complex nature of the suspension. Others be looking for lighter weight in a full carbon, $6000-plus bike. And others still will want a bike with a more nimble, connected, low-to-the-ground ride feel than what the Trigger delivers.

Our advice: This bike is definitely worth a test ride. But whether the Trigger's two personalities mesh with yours will be a highly personal decision. Individually we don't think it delivers the same descending or climbing performance as some other bikes in the test (the Santa Cruz Bronson is a better descender, the Ibis Ripley a better climber). But when looked at it in unison, the Trigger 29 arguably delivers the best mix of uphill and downhill capability.

The Good

  • On-the-fly adjustable rear travel switches from 80mm to 130mm
  • Outstanding fork performance on rolling and downhill terrain
  • Solid Shimano XT parts spec
  • KS Lev dropper post

The Bad

  • Suspension set-up complicated compared to other bikes in test
  • 28.74-pound weight is on the high side
  • Some front suspension activity during out-of-saddle climbing
  • Rides tall compared to other bikes in test

Price and trickle down versions

Trigger 29 Carbon 2 as tested: $6170
Trigger 29 Carbon frame set: n/a
Trigger 29 Carbon 1: $8120
Trigger 29 3 (alloy frame): $4120
Trigger 29 4 (alloy frame): $3470



2014 Cannondale Trigger 29 Carbon 2 Key Specs

  • MSRP: $6170
  • Weight: 28.74 pounds (size large)
  • Wheel size: 29 inches
  • Sizes: S, M, L, XL
  • Color: white/red/black
  • Frame Material: Carbon
  • Fork: 130mm Lefty Supermax PBR 29
  • Rear Travel: 80mm/130mm
  • Rear Shock: Fox Dyad RT2 Dual Shock w/remote lever
  • Headset: Cannondale Headshok SI
  • Handlebar: Cannondale C1 Riser carbon
  • Stem: Cannondale C1 1.5"
  • Grips: Cannondale Dual Locking Grips
  • Seatpost: Lev Integra Dropper with internal routing
  • Brakes: Shimano XT Trail, 180mm front, 180mm rear
  • Brake Levers: Shimano XT Trail
  • Shifters: Shimano XT 2x10 w/36-22t chainring
  • Front Derailleur: Shimano XT direct mount
  • Rear Derailleur: Shimano XT Shadow Plus
  • Cassette: Shimano XT 11-36
  • Crankset: SRAM S1400 AM 36/22T w/guard
  • Rims: Mavic Crossroc 29 WTS tubeless ready
  • Hubs: Mavic Crossroc 29, Supermax Front, 142x12mm Rear
  • Spokes: Mavic Crossroc 29
  • Tires: Mavic Crossroc 29 WTS
  • Bottom bracket type: Cannondale PressFit30, SRAM bearings
  • ISCG Tabs: Yes
  • Chain guide: No
  • Head tube angle: 69.5 degrees
  • Seat tube angle: 68.5 degrees (actual); 73.5 degrees (effective)
  • Chainstay length: 17.6 inches
  • Bottom bracket height: 13.7 inches
For more information visit www.cannondale.com/.

This story is part of Mtbr's 2014 Enduro Compare-O. Check out our intro story here for all the ground rules and goings ons.