Urban bikes nowadays have to be built to provide comfortable transportation, exceptional durability, integrated accessories, and more, all while keeping a low profile. Cannondale has updated the Bad Boy utilizing their vast knowledge and experience of aluminum along the way. Varying by edition, it sports integrated front and rear lights, Urban Armor frame protection, and rolls on 650b wheels.
Get more past the break…
The aluminum frame is created using Cannondale’s 3D-forge technology, which allows them to create the headtube and downtube from one piece of aluminum. Their Urban Armor system incorporates reflective bumpers on either side of the top tube protecting it from dents and scrapes throughout daily abuse. The Bad Boy is available in 4 editions (1-4), with all but number 3 hitting U.S stores. The 1,1/8″ headtube houses a Lefty LightPipe OPI fork, with a built-in light bar (micro USB rechargeable). A 31.6 seat tube holds a LightSkin seatpost that also provides the rear with illumination. The 3 & 4 do not come with the integrated light systems.
photos c. Cannondale
The top end Bad Boy 1 stands out from its relatives with a Gates belt drive system. The Shimano Alfine, 8-speed hub holds the 22t Gates CenterTrack cog while the 46t front cog is mounted on an FSA crank. The Alfine shifter is paired with Magura’s MT2 hydraulic disc brake system on a 720mm bar. Furthermore, it comes with Schwalbe’s 650 x 40c folding G-One Performance tires adding a bit of cushion to the hoops.
The Bad Boy 2 is the next best choice for those interested in a 1 x 11 standard system. It gets a Shimano Metrea shifter and rear derailleur, on an 11 x 32t 105 cassette. Up front, the Cannondale SI crank is stocked with a 38t SpideRing. It comes with the same 40c tires while the Bad Boy 3 & 4 have a 35c setup. Sizes: S-XL Prices: $1,840 (1), $1,620 (2), $870 (4) – *£850 (3 – not available in the U.S.)
dentists love putting on their leather jackets and going for a ride on their bad boys
How can you not like these bikes?
I love these bad boys!…. Unfortunately they’re too $$$ and too flashy for a commuter for me 🙁 … maybe I’ll buy a used one in a few years!
Can you put full fenders on it?
Yup, there’s a fender bridge included
Good question — doesn’t look like the bottom of the lefty headset has a provision for a fender bolt. Any struts wouldn’t be able to bolt to the right hub end up front. Maybe the 3 and 4 have normal forks?
A pity the 3 & 4 didn’t go 1×9 to save some complication & lower the cost.
Front fork makes fitting a full mudguard rather difficult, but a SKS
Shockboard could work.
I commute on my beloved high-end cross bike. I’ve never been that interested in riding a relatively slow, heavy bike with goofy features and low-end ‘urban’ components just because I’m commuting. I guess I could see it happening if I had to tie the bike up outside during the day and risk theft, though.
+1. Titanium cross bike = ultimate foul weather commute bike.
What’s that fork even for? Lefty’s look stupid, but the suspension is pretty good. This one just looks stupid.
Had one of those, the worst bicycle i ever had, stiff frame to the point it hurts when hitting pavements, loose seat post, crappy paint, alwful eccentric bb which even cannondale recommended to replace with aftermarket one, which i did but it didn’t fit by a fraction of mm, no way to get proper fenders on it, which you would want if you commute… Just horrible bike
Gross
I own two bad boys, one for me the other my wife’s. Brings my stable up to 11 bicycles. The bad boy 2 is the first bike I have ever bought that needs nothing upgraded from stock, it’s perfect. Amazing light, perfectly simple and fun to ride.