Cannondale Jekyll AL 29 4 Review
Cannondale has come out with another supreme enduro bicycle for this season, with some great improvements. The Cannondale Jekyll AL 29 4, as its name suggests, can shift its personality by 180 degrees.
Jekyll Al 29 4 also features a dropper post which allows you to transform it with the press of a button. You can then tackle more demanding descents and jumps. The Jekyll 4 is an enduro race bike that has trail written all over it. It will bite into the roughest of terrain and give you an exceptional off-road experience.
Cannondale Jekyll Full Specs
This addition to Cannondale’s Jekyll range offers some great new features that will take your ride to another level. There are many things to be looking forward to if you decide to buy it, so check out what they are.
- Frame: SmartForm C1 alloy, 6061 (Color: Mantis)
- Fork: RockShox Lyrik Select, 150mm, DebonAir, 15×110, tapered steerer, 42mm offset
- Rear Shock: RockShox Deluxe Select Plus, DebonAir
- Tires: Maxxis Minion DHF 29 x 2.5″ WT, Dual compound, EXO puncture protection, tubeless-ready
Rear: Maxxis Minion DHR II 29 x 2.4″ WT, Dual compound, EXO puncture protection, tubeless-ready - Rims: WTB ST i29 TCS, 32h, tubeless-ready
- Crankset: Truvativ Stylo 6K DUB, 30T, Ai offset
- Cassette: SRAM PG-1230, NX Eagle, 11-50, 12-speed
- Rear Derailleur: SRAM NX Eagle, 12-speed
- Shifters: SRAM NX Eagle, 12-speed
- Brakes: Shimano MT500 hydro disc, 180/180mm RT66 rotors
- Saddle: Fabric Scoop Shallow Sport, steel rails
- Pedals: Sold separately
- Number of gears: 12
- Weight: 33 lbs. 3.2 oz.
- 150 mm of travel
- 12-Speed
- SRAM NX Eagle groupset
- Shimano MT500 hydraulic disc brakes
- Heavier than other Jekyll models
Cannondale Jekyll 4 Review
The truth is, you get a lot of bike for the money that you invest in buying Jekyll 4. The rear suspension system makes this bike comfortable and responsive in all conditions and makes it a really capable enduro bike. However, it is not the only high point that it has.
Frame & Drivetrain
Compared to the other three Jekyll models that feature carbon frames, Jekyll 4 is different from an all-aluminum frame. This makes this model a bit heavier than its brethren, but it is still quite nimble due to its geometry, which is on par with the more successful enduro bikes. On top of that, the frame can fit a 500ml side-entry cage water bottle and the Asymmetric Integration rear triangle offset means you can fit it with wider tires.
Cannondale Jekyll 29 4 can transform its personality from Dr. Jekyll to Mr. Hyde for a customized unique experience.
Jekyll 4 comes with an improved SRAM NX Eagle drivetrain with 12 speeds. The old model had 11 speeds, so this Jekyll 4 is faster and more capable than before. This offers plenty of range for any harsh uphill that you might encounter. Moreover, the whole drivetrain is moved 6mm outboard so it provides more mud clearance than usual.
Derailleurs, Tires & Brakes
SRAM NX Eagle 12-Speed Groupset
The bike is fitted only with the rear derailleur being that it has a 1×12 drivetrain. Both the derailleur and the shifter are SRAM NX Eagle, which performs perfectly on the trail. They offer subtle and precise shifting even under severe tension.
Both rear and front tires are Maxxis Minion. The front wheel is fitted with a DHF, 2.5”. It’s made of the dual compound for better grip and stronger sidewalls, and it is also folding and tubeless-ready. The rear wheel is fitted with a DHR II, 2.4”. It’s slightly slimmer to give more speed on softer tracks, but it will still bite into loose terrain just as well.
Jekyll 4 is fitted with a complete SRAM NX Eagle groupset, but the brakes come from the Shimano family. These are the popular MT500 hydraulic disc brakes with 180mm rotors both on the front and on the back wheel. Brake levers are Shimano MT500 as well, for maximum compatibility.
The Rockshox suspension is one of Jekyll’s strongest points.
The best feature about Jekyll 4 is definitely its suspension with 150 mm travel. It gives you more than enough plush and stability no matter the terrain and obstacles. The rear shock is the RockShox Deluxe Select Plus. It offers great value for money and is known for its durability and opportunities for adjustment.
As for the fork, Jekyll comes with a RockShox Lyrik Select fork that offers 150 mm of travel and a 42 mm offset. The fork is firm, but at times maybe a bit too firm as it is hard to get the full float out of it if you are on the lighter side. Nonetheless, it doesn’t disappoint on the downhills.
More from the series
If you are looking for an MTB in a different price range than the Jekyll 4, check out other Cannondale Jekyll models that we’ve prepared for you.
- Cannondale Jekyll 1 – This model is the most advanced and most expensive of the four. It has much better components and an aluminum-carbon frame.
- Cannondale Jekyll 2 – The frame on this model is also a combination of carbon and aluminum. It is a more expensive model than Jekyll 4.
- Cannondale Jekyll 3 – This model is very similar to Jekyll 4. However, it has a much better Gemini suspension.
Cannondale Jekyll Frame Sizes
S – 5’4″ – 5’6″
M – 5’6″ – 5’10”
L – 5’10” – 6’1″
XL – 6’2″ – 6’4″
Final Considerations
The bottom point about this bike is that Cannondale has done it again. They have created another capable and high-quality enduro race bike, that is worth every cent you spend on it. The only drawback of this bike is that it is on the heavier side due to its all-aluminum frame. However, this is not a significant weight difference, so the bike still performs well on the trails.
At one moment, it can be a composed climber, and a second later it can turn into a downhill and singletrack beast.
If you want a bike to set new personal records with but still save some cash, go for the new Cannondale Jekyll 4 AL 29.
If you do not want to break the bank and go all out on a carbon Jekyll 1 but still get a great performance bike that will allow you to tackle any terrain, we say you go for the Jekyll 4. You won’t make a mistake.
Buy Jekyll from REI Buy Jekyll from Gravity Coalition
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