The Rize is the Swiss Army knife of the trail bike world. It's a bike that brings all-new metalforming technology to the industry, and combines it with carbon-fiber fabrication techniques. It uses a dreamy-riding multi-pivot suspension with 130mm of balanced travel. The means that riders can use it as a do-it-all rig, whether you're riding notoriously gnarly rock gardens in the Northeast or the gently rolling foothills of the inter-mountain West.
Submitted by
acarro8
a Weekend Warrior
from Torino, Italy Date Reviewed: November 8, 2009
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$4000.00
Purchased At:
Cicli Pagliughi - It
Strengths:
Look and image (only) presentation with Lefty
Weaknesses:
All, the meaning of System Integration and customer care in missing. The rear suspension system is buggy, the conflict between front derailleur and chain is a mess, prodelal on or off set a huge conflict.
Similar Products Used:
Klein mantra rave, specialized stjmp (3 different generation), Santa Cruz Blur
Bottom Line:
Also if I try to be in touch with Cannondale help desk they did not support nor solved the problem.
The bike is far to be usable
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
fxd336
a Cross Country Rider
from new paltz new york Date Reviewed: November 5, 2009
Favorite Trail:
stewart/blue mt
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$2000.00
Purchased At:
bikeway
Strengths:
light,great travel
Weaknesses:
sram components,bike rack setup a hassle
Similar Products Used:
trek fuel
Bike Setup:
,nevagals,bash gaurd and middle ring only
Bottom Line:
great bike for serious xc/downhill riding,best of both worlds,light,climbs great and smooth over the rough stuff,good control.nice nort east bike
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
JimS
a Weekend Warrior
from Elkridge, MD, USA Date Reviewed: November 1, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Loch Raven & Patapsco
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$2600.00
Purchased At:
Princeton Sports - C
Strengths:
Lefty Shock with Push Button Lockout is great. Able to convert from FS to HT (close to one anyway) quickly.
Weaknesses:
Pedals are cheap. Cranks are okay but after 6 months - I swapped them out because of outer ring mashed teeth. Getting the front der. dialed in right has taken some time.
Similar Products Used:
Cannondale F600 - Hard Tail
Bike Setup:
I have upgraded to the Easton MonkeyLite handle bars and EC70 seat post and that has made it a dream to ride. My shop upgraded the brakes from the Juicy to the Elixirs and also provided the Kendal Nevegals instead of the Maxxis.
Bottom Line:
Very smooth especially when compared to a hard tail. The suspension is unbelievable. The beauty behind this bike is the plushness of the lefty shock, the comfort of the frame geometry and the ability to morph from FS to HT really gives you the best of both worlds. Although dubbed all mountain with some slight mods I think it will be great for XC too.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
DarkStarPT
a Racer
from Calgary,Alberta Date Reviewed: July 4, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Canmore
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$2800.00
Purchased At:
WipeOut Red Deer
Strengths:
Light,nice set up, easy to control on difficult decents and climps
Weaknesses:
DT Swiss XR430 Rims. First ride on single track and I bent the rear. Fixable, but not reading any good reviews on them.
Front Derailer can't go low enough, and chain rubs in mid gears.
Bike Setup:
Stock
Bottom Line:
I love my bike, I just sucks you spend 3 grand and get some low end components.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
cldsfr79
a Weekend Warrior
from Englewood, CO Date Reviewed: June 8, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Various front range mountains
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$2800.00
Strengths:
Great suspension with the Fox Float RP2 in the rear, and the Lefty PBR up front. Lefty Lock out works well and the pro rider in the Fox float is handy in the climbs. The Juicy 7 brakes work well from lightly pressing the brakes to jamming on them with use of one finger. AND THE BIKE IS MADE IN AMERICA!!
Weaknesses:
Stock tires - Maxxis: They are good on light trails, but when you start getting into loose stuff or slick areas, the tires quickly loose traction. AND the bike comes with Juicy 7 brakes instead of the Elixir CR Brakes. False advertising?
Bike Setup:
stock, but I did swap out the pedals with shimano pedals that are half clipless half flat pedal.
Bottom Line:
I'm loving this bike. It climbs like a home sick angle. I have tackled mountain climbs that I couldn't touch on my old hardtail Trek Bike. My bike is pretty light weight for a full suspension mountain bike, so that helps in the climbs, but on real steep climbs I have to find a good balance to prevent the tail from slipping or the nose from rising. The suspension gobbles up the bumps easily, so I feel less fatigued after a ride. The Lefty fork also gets a lot of looks on the trail and seems to gather some questions of interest from the other riders. The frame appears to be built strong and I'm proud of the "Handmade in USA" logos on it.
I did contact Cannondale about the brakes being different than advertised, and they responded that "they have the right to make modifications on their product" and that the website was "not updated" yet. Oh well. The Juicy 7 brakes work great, they just squeak a bit when wet, but that's not Cannondale's fault. Honestly, when I'm bombing down hill, I don't care if the brakes scream, I just want to stop!
Overall, great bike, and worth what I paid.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
dearbornfarm
a Weekend Warrior
from Olympia, WA Date Reviewed: June 2, 2009
Favorite Trail:
6-50-8 Capital Forrest
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$2600.00
Purchased At:
OTB Olympia
Strengths:
Excellent Suspension, decent component spec..made in the USA
Weaknesses:
Cannondale doesn't spec it per their website, LX Derailleur and stock Maxxis tires
Similar Products Used:
Mongoose Otero Super, Kona Dawg Deluxe
Bike Setup:
Cannondale Lefty, upgraded to X-9 Shifters, XT Front Der, Avid Juicy Seven, Fox RP2 rear shock, upgraded Easton EA70 Monkey Bar, upgraded to Kenda Nevegal DTC 2.35
Bottom Line:
This is my first longer travel full suspension mountain bike, it took a couple of rides to dial the suspension in, but once set up it works great. The Lefty is awesome, unlike anything I have ever ridden on. The push button lockout works great. The RP2 works just fine and does not leave me wanting for the graduated pro-pedal of the RP23. The only complaint I have, is that as a consumer I research the specs and look at the total package when making a decision. Since Cannondale published their 2009 bikes, the spec listed the Elixir CR brakeset with this bike. That is not what comes and through an e-mail exchange with Cannondale I was informed that they never sent a Rize 3 out with the Elixir CR, but the never updated their website. In my opinion this is quite misleading since it is really a minimal change to update their website, but instead they rely upon a disclaimer that pricing and specification is subject to change. Regardless, it is a great bike but as usual Cannondale customer service and response is typically lacking and a clear indication as to why the new Canadian owners are downsizing and moving overseas. This will be my first, last and only Cannondale.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
cooter32
a Weekend Warrior
from Charleston, SC Date Reviewed: April 21, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Marrington Plantation
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$2900.00
Purchased At:
Main Street Bicycles
Strengths:
The minute you get on this bike you feel absolute quality. It's solid! Rides like a cadillac on the roughest of trails instilling total confidence. You know you can just ride without worries.
Weaknesses:
Out of the box the lefty wouldn't lock out but after a hard ride it broke loose and works great.
Similar Products Used:
Cannondale Super V
Bike Setup:
Rize Three Standard setup but transferred my Selle Italia seat.
Bottom Line:
I bought this bike for many reasons but on top of the list was the fact that I have ridden my Super V for 12 years on every type of trail imaginable. Threw everything I had at it and she just kept going. To this day that Super V still rides like a new bike. no slop at the pivot, no creaks, no pops...just solid. I had no justification to replace it, it was just time to try something new. I am thrilled with ride on this bike. Wore mself out trying to find the flaws. So far it looks like another 12 good years of riding ahead. It's light, fast and plush not to mention it looks cool as hell!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
troverman
a Weekend Warrior
from NH, USA Date Reviewed: March 23, 2009
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$3000.00
Purchased At:
Omer & Bobs
Strengths:
Forged frame, Lefty strut, SRAM drivetrain
Weaknesses:
Tires, maybe Fox shock and Avid brakes
Similar Products Used:
Giant Yukon, Schwinn Mesa GSX
Bike Setup:
Stock except flat pedals
Bottom Line:
I love the styling of this bike, looks great in red. I am a heavy rider and needed the X frame (6'6"). The rear Fox Float RP2 shock may not be adequate, too much sag for me. For a lighter / average rider it may be fine. There is nothing in the paperwork about the max inflation for the Fox, I called and it can go up to 300psi. I had it at 250 and it was OK, so maybe it will be fine at or near the max pressure. This is my first experience with a single-strut in the front (Lefty). However, I can say it works great, including the lockout and rebound features. The bike steers very precisely and there is no weird left / right sensations. The frame seems very rigid, as there are no welds on it. I was surprised to find Juicy 7 brakes since the specs say Elixir CR's. These right now have nowhere near the stopping power of my old Giant with its Hayes mechanical discs. However, I guess there is a bedding in period; these brakes have good reviews so assuming they will improve over time. The DT Swiss rims seem decent, we'll see how they hold up to my size. I'm used to Shimano rapidfire style shifters, seems weird to push for both higher and lower gears, maybe not quite as comfortable? We'll see. And the tires, even though they were custom-made by Maxxis for the Rize 3+, not sure they're that great. They don't have a lot of grip, anyway. Still, I ride on pavement too so they're good for that. Overall, the bike is pretty lightweight, feels very responsive to pedaling torque, and even though the rear suspension is a little soft for me it sure is compliant. Made in the USA for $3k seems like a deal to me.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
tfisher71xx
a Weekend Warrior
from Studio City, CA USA Date Reviewed: February 18, 2009
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$2600.00
Purchased At:
Helen's Marina Del R
Strengths:
Value, stiffness, great all-mountain competency, component selection.
Weaknesses:
Lefty fork can make transport a hassle. Lackluster grips and tires. Front brake cable routing needs redesign? - rubs tire when fork is heavily compressed. Probably not the bike for the weight-obsessed.
Similar Products Used:
Cannondale Jekyll
Bike Setup:
Stock save for different grips, SPD pedals and tires.
Bottom Line:
An ideal choice for this weekend xc rider who asks his bike to do a little of everything. Dramatically stiffer, more efficient going up, and faster going down than its predecessors. This is in comparison to my previous bike, a 2001 Jekyll 700 LTD - just for those pondering an upgrade. The Rize is a MUCH better fitting bike for me. At 5'10" and 184 lbs., I often felt inbetween sizes on the medium Jekyll, but not so on the Rize.
Happy to report Cannondale now does a much better job equipping their mid-level bikes. They've apparently abandoned making things they're not good at- entry level cranks, seatpost, and those WTF!?!? 4 bolt pattern disc hubs. They've also stopped skimping on critical components, I'm looking at you- Magura's plastic brake levers.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Francois
a Weekend Warrior
from Mauritius Island Date Reviewed: January 27, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Mare Longue, Mauritius
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$3200.00
Purchased At:
Emcar Mauritius
Strengths:
Great handling, very light weight for an alu
Weaknesses:
Lefty disengages when locked, sometimes, it locks when its unlocked
Similar Products Used:
Giant NRS 2
Bike Setup:
As bought, now thinking of carbon handle
Bottom Line:
Some hiccups with dealer who did not initially put the original pedals and cleats but resolved. Bike is awesome, i feel that it was custom made, some drawbacks on steep climbs, geometry seems that i am sitting high pitched, so i had to come down and give a little push.
I am a little worried about the lefty who is leaking on top but just hope it will be ok soon, its one month old...and also is not stable when locked or even unlocked.
Because of this, i will rate with 4 chillis and not 5, well i am sad about that..
Great war bicycle, i just love the Cannondale Rize 3, i would recommend it to anyone ! FEEL IT !
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Submitted by
rvmdmechanic
a Cross Country Rider
from Maryland Date Reviewed: January 24, 2009
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
Light-weight out of the box, good geometry, handles any terrain, feels fast, good stock parts (drivetrain/brakes/suspension)
Weaknesses:
wheels - dtswiss rims are too soft, smartys not the best pedals
Awesome all around ride. It's light, fast, good for XC. It can also handle some light FR - good suspension feel for drops (3-5ft is the highest so far tested), but also really stiff when needed. Lefty is a cool experience.
My first FS and I couldn't be happier - the bike has some stock parts that are meh, the wheels got flat-spotted after some light drops, but overall it's an amazing bike - it feels fast, in control, and never felt like i was riding better than the bike could handle.
If you love cannondale, and you ride XC or AM, this is a great bike for you. Feels great to pedal, plush ride, good parts.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
T4343
a Cross Country Rider
from NorCal Date Reviewed: January 5, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Tamarancho, Repack, Tenderfoot, WaterDog Park!
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
Summit Bikes-my seco
Strengths:
Frame! Lefty (lockout feature at your fingertips and light), simple yet incredibly plush suspension, made in the U.S, SRAM component group feels sweet, Brakes rock!
Weaknesses:
Handlebars, stock tires not the greatest, probably the pedals. Will see how the DT Swiss Wheels hold up.
Similar Products Used:
Talk about a comprehensive decision making process! Trek EX, Gary Fisher HiFi, Santa Cruz Line, Specialized Stumpy, Yeti 575, Ellsworth Epiphany (sweet bike)
Bike Setup:
Stock with Crank Bros Joplin seatpost and some Titec Pluto Carbon bar ends (Can't break my bar end habbit.)
Bottom Line:
This is only the 100 mile review, Maybe I'll do a follow-up in a year or so. If there are durability or support issues, will report.
I have had the chance to ride all sorts of terrain thus far, and I'm really becoming comfortable on it now. I'm actually pretty passionate about this bike, it has made me a better rider. I'm coming from a nicely upgraded Santa Cruz Heckler, and the Rize just frankly crushes it.
Wow did I research this purchase! I looked at several bikes in the 5" class and this one just shined and offered what I thought was the best value. (The best bike might have been the Ellsworth Epiphany, but that was a few grand more :))
IMO, you can do all sorts of research online but it really just comes down to how it feels. I demo'd a Rize 2 carbon which introduced me to the Rize. Glad I did. While I'd like to be on a carbon frame, I feel almost as fast on the Rize 3 so far-don't feel like I had to give up too much.
Now for the ride: Simply put this bike does it all. I am faster and more confident in well, just about everything. For 5" of travel it is just superb in the climbs. The pro pedal setting and Lefty lockout are so EASY to deal with. You will only need to lock out on the longest of climbs, because there is very little bob induced while pedling. Flats and moderate downhills are now scorched earth-the power transfer from the pedals to this frame helps you to just, explode. The steeps and jumps are also more fun than ever. I splurged on a CB Joplin seatpost! Drop the seat, point the bike and prepare to be amazed on the new things that you can handle that you couldn't before. So much new confidence that it is frankly dangerous.
The Lefty Fork, awesome set of Avid brakes, SRAM components, and beautiful 130mm travel frame are the highlights. Also, like a good guitar-this bike is made in the US!! It will make you smile on the trail.
I'm going to start exploring endurance racing with it.
There are a few minor details on the bike that I'm changing-I didn't much care for either the seatpost (changed to Joplin) or Handlebars (need to change to carbon.) Stock tires are just OK (couldn't stand them at first, but thankfully they weren't as bad as I thought. Still getting ready to change them to some WTBs.) Low end crank bros pedals will probably end up breaking-but: I now really like Crank Bros pedals and will likely upgrade with some of their nicer models. We'll see how the wheels hold up on the crazier days.
Bottom line: Value. I feel like this outclassed everything in it's class. My first Lefty-and I love it. Like I said, it comes down to feel, and I just felt quality here where some of the foreign made bikes above felt a little "thrown together" to me.
Hopefully durability isn't an issue with anything...to this point it isn't (granted it's early in my ownership. If issues arise, I'll be happy to report back on what broke and what support is offered etc.)
So for now, I feel very good about giving this bike a resounding 5 chilis!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Silentfoe
a Cross Country Rider
from Eagle Mountain, Utah Date Reviewed: September 22, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Wasatch Crest
Duration Product Used:
Tested or demo'ed only
Purchased At:
Bike Peddler
Strengths:
Light weight, climbs great, adjustability.
Weaknesses:
Tires (Maxxis Rendez)
Similar Products Used:
Specialized Enduro Pro, Titus MotoLite, Gary Fisher Hi-Fi, Trek Fuel EX 9
Bike Setup:
All stock
Bottom Line:
Looking for a light weight, aggressive all mountain bike. I have ridden all of the above and the Cannondale is hands down the best bike out there. I will go with the Carbon 2 model with some upgrades but essentially the two bikes are very similar. I flogged this bike over 4 days and 60+ miles of single track in the Utah mountains. At first I thought I wouldn't be very happy with how the bike rode with the propedal off (it is two completely different bikes with the propedal on/off) but I very rarely had to switch it on, only on long climbs. Even then I didn't really need it. The bike climbs like a mountain goat, especially when you stand up. I had several instances where I'd come around a tight corner, not expecting a quick transition to uphill and I'd have to come out of the saddle to make it up. The bike jumped ahead each time and felt very smooth under power. The suspension was easy to adjust and it only took one ride to get it balanced. I am a big guy (6'2 and 200lbs) and the bike rode like it was designed for me. I may adjust my own bike for a longer cockpit but the front end very rarely got light on long climbs. It was easy to move around and took downhills and rock gardens like an all mountain bike should. However, that brings me to the one downfall of this bike. The tires are horrible. No real side knobs for cornering and they break loose on corners too quickly. They could also use better center knobs to help breaking. I am good with the size of the rotors, even for a big guy like me. My hands did get tired on real long downhill single tracks but it wasnt' bad and I'm not sure I'd go with a bigger rotor. A larger tire choice would help with breaking more and also solve the cornering problem. I'd try that first. All in all a top quality bike with a solid component spec that worked flawlessly.
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Submitted by
crazylax42
a Cross Country Rider
from Chapel Hill, NC Date Reviewed: September 5, 2008
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
Cannondale
Strengths:
Super light but retains strength, Lefty, plush, controlled feel, looks, awesome saddle
Weaknesses:
mine came with a bad chain, needs larger front rotor and tire, minor chainslap, stock pedals suck
Similar Products Used:
Prophet, Trance X, Mongoose Canaan, numerous HTs
Bike Setup:
stock, upgrades: crosstrail wheels, x.9 shifters, larger front tire, shimano pedals, ODI lock-ons
Bottom Line:
This is a great do-it-all bike, even better than the previous prophet. It's super light but very tough and has a confident, controlled manner both ascending and descending. This bike is as laterally stiff as a good hardtail, read the brochure for why. you will want a larger front tire if you have more technical trails with lots of hills. The bike is super light, and once you switch to kevlar-beaded tires, it's an easy 27 lbs on a plush 5" bike. Awesome. Also, the bike has a fairly short wheelbase so it handles great. Stock setup is perfect except you'll want the larger rotor/tire combo if you want a true all-rounder. Highly recommended! Made in USA, lifetime warranty!
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Submitted by
dmarra
a Cross Country Rider
from Hong Kong Date Reviewed: August 14, 2008
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$3000.00
Purchased At:
Flying Ball HK
Strengths:
Lightweight, great balance, smooth suspension feel, cool looks
Weaknesses:
lefty fork
Similar Products Used:
Giant Trance XO
Bike Setup:
mainly stock but have changed crankset (race face), saddle (Fizik Gobi), seatpost (USE) and bars (Easton mokeylite carbon)
Bottom Line:
I have just finished riding a transalp (7 days from Southern Germany to Lake Garda in Italy) and almost everything on the bike was faultless. Only problem was the lockout went on the first day (before we even started riding) and the fork was leaking oil from the top. Rebound progressively stopped working over the course of the week and the lockout occasionally came on of its own volition after a big drop on rocky descents-not very useful. fork has now gone in for a service after getting back to HK. Some play also developed in the rear linkage.
Avid juicy 7s were superb and dealt with the terrain far better than the Hope minis on my Santa Cruz would have.
Overall a great bike but jury is out on fork reliability
$
Overall Rating:
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