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Cannondale
1999 Jekyll 3000sx
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Submitted by
Robert
a Cross Country Rider
from Mansfield,CT, USA
Date Reviewed: November 10, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1800.00 | | Purchased At: | used | | Strengths: | The lefty front shock is awesome. Too bad they didn't have the electric lockout that they offered the following year. Every review I've read loves the lefty shock, it just sucks up the rocks. The frame is great if you like dual suspensions. Personally I think they are over rated. They all add a lot of weight and price that you only need if you downhill race. Of course it is more comfortable to ride. The rear shock is nice in that you can screw it in or out, which changes the angle of the frame and lowers or raises the seat, to the level you want. Though this system has drawbacks eg. when you lower the frame (ie. screw the shok in) the bottom bracket lowers and you slam a lot of rocks, also your chain rubs the chain stay in the lower gears. You have to play with it to fit you and avoid some of these probs. The disc brakes are awesome.I will never go back.I don't understand the crap I've been reading about people's complaints. I Think people are just not familiar with them. They are so cool coming down a hill or in bad weather. You need to adjust them so you don't have too much play in the brake levers and this is the easiest thing in the world.You need to lubricate with a liquid, not a spray, so you don't get lub on the discs. The handelbars are wider which gives you more control, but makes it a little bit harder to get through tight places,but you get used to it. | | Weaknesses: | You need a roof rack with a claw arm, because you can't take the front wheel off, and even this takes a little work to get the claw on the down tube, especially if you install a water bottle holder on the under side of this tube. I think you don't need a dual suspension. It makes this bike heavy (though lighter than most dualies). Another problem is when you screw in the rear shock it becomes hard to reach it's lockout, which discourages you from using it. The sizing on the bike really ticked me off. Those con-artists at cannondale size the bikes small medium large and extra large. They don't tell you outright that the large is a 19in. bike, and the extra large-21in. I ride a 20in.bike. I bought the large but didn't fit on it (the EL was too big). I finally called cannondale tech support,they were very helpful, and got a set back seat post (it is made by the same co. as the one on the bike) and the bike fits like a glove. | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | stock | | Bottom Line: | I've ridden this bike hard 3X per week, 2&1/2 hrs each, on very technical trails, for 3 mos., and I love it. But if I could, I would get the exact same bike with only a front shock. My friend convinced me to get a dual susp. and I'm sorry. The price on the bike is rediculous, though they did drop the price significantly on the newer models. I bought mine through the paper from a guy who literally put it in his garrage for one year and never rode it.The list back them was $3450. The bike needs electric lockouts on both the front and rear shocks, so that you just hit a botton on the handelbars. So far the bike is awesome--BUY IT---but used.(too pricy). I think it is a great bike for anyone at any level to buy if you have the money. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kris
a Cross Country Rider
from Corona
Date Reviewed: September 21, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$2700.00 | | Strengths: | Lefty is SUPER stiff and plush as any marzocci. Not to mention it starts a conversation at every trail head.
The frame is flawless in design and construction. Climbs great(even with out locking out) and desends like a champ. | | Weaknesses: | Coda disc brakes are a joke!! Cannondale has warrantied the levers twice (the levers fell off on a downhill run!!) in a year and now the calipers are shot. P.O.S.!!!
Stock tires were a little sketchy, replaced them after the first ride. | | Similar Products Used: | FSR Pro, Trek Fuel. (set up for long travel xc) | | Bike Setup: | XT, XTR and Coda crap | | Bottom Line: | Canondale makes GREAT quality bikes, my CAD3 HT is the best HT ive ever ridden. My Jekyll frame and fork are of the same quality.
Its too bad they spec there bikes with shotty componants and wheels and still charge out the nose for the bikes. (I bent and split my fron rim in the weld seam on a little endo) And they dont stand behind their product. They will no longer warranty my Coda discs. They tell me I have to but new Maguras or Shimano...another &300 to &400.
Cannondales are great when there working, but as soon as something goes wrong, good luck getting them to stand behind their product. I will not buy another Cannondale product.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
abcde johnson
a Cross Country Rider
from santa fe, nm
Date Reviewed: May 14, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Winsor | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1900.00 | | Purchased At: | NM Bike & Sport | | Strengths: | The bike is awesome! having ridden a hardtail Merlin w/ a seat post shock & SID XL up front, I thought I had class until I rode the Cannondale. Amazing climbing & technical abilities. I love how you can aim it at the big rocks & just plow thru & how well it climbs.
| | Weaknesses: | I do find it hard to push the big front wheel/tire combo uphill on the roads, compared w/lighter bikes, but the downhill is worth it, the rockier the better. | | Similar Products Used: | Merlin hardtail w/ SID & rock shox seat post | | Bottom Line: | FUN, Fun, fun!!! I'm willing to get stronger pedalling it uphill so I can enjoy the descents!!! And it climbs really well, w/ none of the front end sketchiness I felt on the Merlin. Just point & pedal & up (or Down!) you go!!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John Moore
a Cross Country Rider
from Conneticut
Date Reviewed: March 17, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | The Palisades Trail, CA | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$2500.00 | | Purchased At: | Conneticut | | Strengths: | Handy, all purpose, novedous | | Weaknesses: | The CODA brakes, simply do not work | | Similar Products Used: | Trek 8500 | | Bike Setup: | Changed to Shimano XT Disc brakes, they are far much better | | Bottom Line: | For the price paid, cannot accept the CODA brakes. They are designed for babies or ladies bikes, not for the use a normal biker gives them.
I tried to get a warranty, but at Cannondale did not even reply, so I won´t buy any other one of their bikes again. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Fronk
a Racer
from St. George Ut.
Date Reviewed: February 6, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Porcupine Rim/Portal trail | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$2500.00 | | Purchased At: | Bicycles Unlimited | | Strengths: | Plush fully active suspension. Super stiff frame and rear swing arm. The best thing about this bike is the rear suspension. No pedal feed back at all. I have to look down to make sure I haven't locked out the rear shock. The bike floats over all types of terrian. Small bumps and huge hits, it sucks them all up. The lefty fork is awesome. The first time I saw it I swore it wouldn't work. I was wrong, the thing rules. No flex or binding up on off camber hits. It's smooth and the travel is quality. The whole bike is adjustable. BB hight, seat angle, head tube angle, wheel base and front and rear preload and dampning. This is the bike for you if you like bikes that do everything. | | Weaknesses: | The rear hub is cheezie. I think the hub shell is fine but the free hub body is weak. I haven't thrashed one yet but it's making a funny noise back there. There is good news. A replacement free hub is only $20.00. It can be replaced in a flash with a big allen wrench and a friend. When My wallet recovers from the price I paid for the bike I'll buy a Chris King Discotech hub. ( I can't find many four bolt rear hubs that accept six bolt rotars. The King takes both.)The only other problem I had was the CODA brakes. The factory up-graded me to the new shoes and expansion chamber and they work all most as good as Hayse, allmost! | | Similar Products Used: | This is my third full suspension Cannondale. I have been happy with all of them. This bike kicks all the others asses. I liked the bike so much I helped purchase 8 of them for our Police Department. We ride Jekyll 1000 at work without flaw. | | Bike Setup: | 1999 Jekyll frame. The good CODA TX 2X9 cranks with an XTR bottom bracket. Thompson Seat post and Monkey Light bars. Sram shifting with an XT up front. CODA hubs and Mavic 223 rims. CODA brakes and rotors. ( up-graded) Lefty front strut with cromolly spindle.( The ti one flexes a little.) XTR 9 speed rear cogs and KCAB Country tires. | | Bottom Line: | If you can afford a good, light weight, full suspension bike this may be the one you are looking for. Any quirk can be tuned out in minutes. The thing climbs like tom cat on methamphetamine and decends like Walker Evans' new truck in the Baja 1000. I believe there are several bikes on the market today that preform well in a variety of conditions. The Jekyll does it at a resonable price and has a factory that will stand behind it. Remember, this is a hand built aluminium frame made in the USA. It's worth a little extra money when you consider the R&D that went into it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
vinny yannitelli
a Weekend Warrior
from garrison, NY
Date Reviewed: January 26, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | bridal paths, garrison NY | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$3800.00 | | Purchased At: | bikeway | | Strengths: | Infinitely adjustable suspension
lefty front fork with electronic lock-out
climbing ability | | Weaknesses: | coda brakes | | Similar Products Used: | various hard tails and full suspension bikes | | Bike Setup: | monkey lite riser bar
easton carbon post
sella italia revolution carbon seat
hope 04 downhill calipers and 8 inch rotors
chris king discgotech rear hub
revolution spokes
mavic x317 disc rims citron color!!
conti tires
maxxis flyweight tubes 1.5-1.75 inch... 78 grams each
grip shift
xtr front and rear
shimano 747's with action tech titanium spindles
ride on gore cables
every bolt switched to titanium.... waht a time consumer!!!
| | Bottom Line: | If you have a couple of grand burning a hole in your pocket, buy this bike... you won't be sorry. However, you will need to read up on engineering terms in order to be able to explain the lefty fork to everyone. My only complaint was the brakes, they should be called speed modulators instead of brakes..they just don't stop all that well. If you want to go that extra mile and remedy the problem, buy the hope dh4"s. Hope has overkilled the design on these babies, they will drag you down from speed any speed instantly and without fuss. They may be more money and add a litle weight but they out perform every brake on the market. Other than the brakes the bike is absolutely without flaw. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Richard
a
from Kentucky
Date Reviewed: January 19, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Adjustability on this bike rocks. After a few rides you will find the geometry that fits your terrain and riding style and make few changes. Brakes are great! | | Weaknesses: | None to date! | | Similar Products Used: | Giant XTC DS1 and 2, Specialized FSR, and many hardtails. | | Bike Setup: | 2001 Jekyll 2000, Hayes disc brakes, race face xy post, Azonics bar, WTB saddle, Conti tires, and Ame tristars. | | Bottom Line: | This bike flat out rocks. I have been riding full suspension bikes for over 7 years and have seen many come and go. This is and has been the best ride I have owned to date. It climbs like a scared cat, descends like and avalanche. The lefty fork tracks like a train and gives you tons of adjustment options. The only fitting replacement or improvement for this bike would be another. The technology that Cannondale has put into this bike makes the price well worth while.
I am hooked!
Look for further technical reviews as I log more miles. I only have 3 months and about 300 off road miles on it to date and look forward to spring and summmers non snowborne riding. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bruce Edge
a Cross Country Rider
from Calabasas, CA
Date Reviewed: January 9, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | anything technical | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1800.00 | | Purchased At: | used, mtbr classifieds | | Strengths: | Lefty fork is very rigid, with lots of adjustability.
Bike seems very stiff, no noticeable flex anywhere, I'm 200 lbs, so flex is usually an issue.
Tons of adjustments to fiddle with.
Gobs of suspension, sucks up huge hits. | | Weaknesses: | Coda brakes aren't the best, they require more finger pressure than I would like. Guess that's why Cannondale dropped them for 2000.
Front and rear hub bearings failed pretty rapidly.
Kinda noisy in the rough stuff and under heavy load up hill, ticks, clicks, pops, etc.
Price, new. | | Similar Products Used: | Trek 6000 | | Bike Setup: | Jekyll 3000sx, race face cranks, velociraptors front and back, Time ATAC pedals. | | Bottom Line: | I love this bike. It's light enough to climb with the hardtails, and they fade off in the distance once you hit a bumpy downhill.
Get one used, they're a great deal.
Then, go buy pads, because you'll be going a lot faster.
This was my 1st FS bike. I would recommend it to any intermediate hardtail owner considering FS.
Only 3 chillis for the outrageous price new.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bert Tompkins
a Racer
from Wingdale,NY USA
Date Reviewed: December 17, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Boice park Wingdale | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$3200.00 | | Purchased At: | Bikeway Wappingers NY | | Strengths: | Deep woods technical,downhills and racing.Forgives dumb mistakes.Freaks out non bike riders when they see old left-o-matic fr shock. OH...did I mention clear coat imron FLAME job paint??? | | Weaknesses: | Short top tube w stock stem. Lack of XTR fr crank esp 46 teeth. Weak rear spokes.Coda pedals and seat did not survive race endo. | | Similar Products Used: | Super V/ F-3000/ | | Bike Setup: | CT2 carbon bar/Flite trans am seat/Ritchey pedals/Conti super cross/baha rear tire/ seat post QR/ | | Bottom Line: | Was top 50% racer,NOW top 5 or placing in all races this year. Its like too much good beer.Makes one very brave(almost scared)when crashing downhill. Those who ride my wheel comment on the rear suspension as they fade away. Coda cranks OK but wish it was full XTR groupo. Brakes are easier to maintain than V brakes and adjustments/bleeding make for modulation changes. Conti rear tire works better for roots than IRC.I am totally pleased a year later and have endo'd a few times and bike gets right back up.Drop offs are great. YOU FEEL LIKE JEFF LENOWSKI on this bike!!!Then the rear spokes go boooing. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brian
a Cross Country Rider
from Saint Louis
Date Reviewed: November 5, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Greensfelder | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$2000.00 | | Purchased At: | mtbr.com | | Strengths: | This is the second full suspension bicycle that I have owned, the first being a Cannondale Super V Freeride 1000. The Jekyll has the same amount of travel, but thanks to the newly designed frame and lefty fork, the Jekyll is about 5 to 6 pounds lighter, and the frame is adjustable to me and the trail!! Also, a full complement of XTR and Coda components, makes this a durable and fun bike to ride. | | Weaknesses: | Like most full suspension bikes that are light, it is expensive. I found a great deal on a used one on MTBR.COM for only 2 grand...I saved about 1500 dollars.
Other than that, the bike rocks!! The Shimano 9-speed is taking a bit to get used to...needs a bit of adjustment from time to time, more so than the eight speed set up on my other C-Dale...
| | Similar Products Used: | Cannondale Super V Freeride 1000 (98).
| | Bike Setup: | Stock with Time pedals and a Salsa Zona Tres saddle.
Stock on this bike is XTR, so no need to upgrade... | | Bottom Line: | The Cannondale full suspension frame design is tried and true. Although the appearance of the Jekyll is different from the previously produced Super V, the pivot placement and geometry are the same. And that is a good thing, because the Cannondale dualies utilize a single, beefy pivot that will not loosen over time and track well over the 'worst' (read:funnest) terrain. The Lefty, like all other Headshok products, is engineered very well and obviously rides well. The Headshok products, in my opinion are superior to any other fork available because they contain needle bearings to facilitate movement and thereby allow the fork to smooth out your ride!! Makes sense...and it works...less maintenance since plastic bushings dont exist (and thereby need to be replaced every 6 months) in the design. This is a great bike, and as such it deserves five flamin' mice!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Aaron Grisham
a Cross Country Rider
from Waldorf,MD,20603
Date Reviewed: October 18, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Clawhammer (Near Asheville N.C.) | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$3500.00 | | Purchased At: | Bike Doctor of Waldorf, MD | | Strengths: | Plush but Active, simple suspension design, Lefty DLR is a great fork and even better conversation piece. Lightweight aluminum frame and swing arm, Brakes offer great modulation and are simple to dial in and maintain. Great rider position for freeriding. Adjustable bottom bracket height and head tube angle make the bike much more customizable than any other design.
Splined Bottom bracket and Crank arms make it a breeze to clean the bike. | | Weaknesses: | I live on the East coast, mud bogs, creek crossings and general grit seem to make 9 speed cry in sorrow, The engineers at Shimano need to make a stronger more compacted B-tension spring and casing for the XTR derailleurs ( I have two other fellow Jekyll owners as well as myself who have unseated the B-tension spring...We didnt break the retention plate as many people do when they break a derailleur but actually unloaded the spring internally) Shimano needs to address these issues because of the increased loads placed on those springs on full suspension bikes, I would be curious to hear of anyone else who has had similar problems.
Next issue is the sizing, I did a standover test and fitted for a medium, But the medium isnt long enough for me with the shortie stem that came equipped so I have to trade out the stem for a longer one. The medium frame inside the triangle is too cramped for anything accept a small water bottle. and the bushings on the suspension pivots creak occassionaly, even after cleaning.
And last but not least, Cannondale needs to pull their heads out of their asses... If you are going to charge this much for an F'ing bike do not put your crappy, flimsy, no better than Wal-Mart special, Coda Cranks on this bike, Please put XT Hollowtech or XTR on this bike.
Stock Tires are a joke
The 9 speed system is great but if you live east of the Mighty mississippi then invest in a sealed derailleur cable system otherwise you will have to flush your cables after every ride. | | Similar Products Used: | GT, Trek | | Bike Setup: | Jekyll 3000sx
Lefty DLR
Shimano Ultegra bottom bracket
Coda EX3 crankset..... crap, crap, crap
XTR der's
Easton Monkey lite 175 gm bar
Coda discs
XTR 9x rapid fires
Ritchey Clipless
Thompson seatpost
Coda Saddle
Fox float RC rear shok,
Coda Expert hubs with 32, three-cross sun DS1-xc rims
Michelin Wildgripper Lite S tires | | Bottom Line: | This is a great bike, even despite some of the poor component choices by the manufacturer, the suspension performance alone makes it worthwhile.
| Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John Herod
a Cross Country Rider
from morgantown wv
Date Reviewed: October 17, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | pathfinder | | Strengths: | the whole bike.the lefty is too strong. | | Weaknesses: | the coda disc brakes.they were perfect for a long time and then one day the rear brake decided to not lock-up any more. | | Similar Products Used: | i ride a first generation raven and a caad 4 hardtail. | | Bike Setup: | upgraded to all xtr and magura clara disc brakes. | | Bottom Line: | in wv you need this bike, roots,rocks, and the occasional 3 or 4'drop. perfect for eastcoast riding.i raced this bike this year and was in first place in the points series for the fisrt 5 races,but a wicked crash put me out for a while.
this bike ads a new element of fear on steep decents b/c
it goes to fast.but once your over that its killer.i have also done drops up to 7' the only thing to even whimper was
my twisted bottom bracket(shimano).race this bike and win. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike Strope
a Downhiller
from Austin, TX. USA
Date Reviewed: August 17, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Barton Creek Greenbeld | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$3500.00 | | Purchased At: | Cycle306 | | Strengths: | In the seven months it has been overall a good bicycle
The adjustable frame works well for more than hills where I ride there are a lot of large rocks this has come in handy to clear them
With the lefty front suspension it makes repairing a front flat real easy
| | Weaknesses: | Lock out for the front shock is in a poor location when standing you can hit your knee on the lock out lever
Rear break line has warn the paint off the frame and slaps the frame when riding
| | Similar Products Used: | My first full suspension bike
I had a Klein attitude it was stolen this is what I chose to replace it | | Bike Setup: | Stock I have added a first aid kit, tire pump, tool pouch, two water bottles and carry two extra tubes | | Bottom Line: | I would recommend this bike it is holding up and I'm hard on it
Both front and rear suspensions work very well you can adjust the ride for your weight to a point where the bicycle has very nice travel in the suspension
I have gone off some six to seven foot drops with good performance from the suspension
The hydraulic breaks have been quite with a good stopping power I have not got them wet so far so I don't know how well they hold up in the wet
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Troy Taylor
a Cross Country Rider
from Lexington, VA US
Date Reviewed: August 16, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Tsali | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | Bikes R Us | | Strengths: | This bike rocks - I've owned Trek, GT, Giant, Specialized, Lite Speed and 3 others not worth mentioning. This bike is handles like no other. Cannondale is in a class of its own and the suspension is simply has the best response and out performs all others. Anyone who says otherwise either has not riden one, don't know how to adjust the shock for the type rider he/she is, or has been riding a slow responsive shock for so long he/she just that a top of the line shock just don't feel right. Anyone who gives themselves enough time to adjust to the quick responsiveness of the headshock will be leaving their friends in the dust. | | Weaknesses: | You can't work on your own Headshock unless you buy Cannondale's special tools. | | Similar Products Used: | Trek, GT, Giant, Specialized, Lite Speed | | Bottom Line: | You can't go wrong with this bike.
Who Its for: Anyone who is looking for high performance cross country bike.
Who Its not for: Downhill riding only | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Pedal Boy
a Weekend Warrior
from Chicago
Date Reviewed: July 12, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Palos | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Frame Geometry, Adjustable shocks and Construction | | Weaknesses: | Price | | Similar Products Used: | Santa Cruz Heckler | | Bike Setup: | pretty much stock. | | Bottom Line: | The Cannondale Jekyll is an overall excellent bike. There is nothing that this bike can do. My only concern was the price $$$ as well as some of the components equipped with this bike. From commuting in downtown Chicago and then hitting the trails on weekends, the Cannondale Jekyll is a PERFECT machine. Lifetime warranty, Made in the USA, great frame design. If you want a full suspension bike....this is it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Don Rohrer II
a Weekend Warrior
from La Verne, CA
Date Reviewed: June 27, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Red Box to JPL Trail | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Great parts groupo, trail performance, very agile. | | Weaknesses: | Wheels are susceptial to comming out of true for first few rides, and a break in period is required for the CODA Expert disk breaks! | | Similar Products Used: | Santa Cruz Heckler X, Klein Mantra | | Bike Setup: | Overall setup is ok, however if you enjoy the speed of the downhill. The stock tires must go, a quick release seat clamp is required. | | Bottom Line: | The Jekyll 3000 SX is the sweet ride for the weekend warrior that is not price driven. With top notch components, the Fox Float(w/lock out)and Lefty (w/lockout)give you the best of both worlds. Not to mention handling my big ass 6'9" 260lbs crakin' down the mountain. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Sideshow
a Cross Country Rider
from Morgantown West Virginia
Date Reviewed: May 3, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | the one with rocks,dirt,roots,trees,streams | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | MADE IN BEDFORD PA WITH AMERICAN HANDS
LEFTY fork, stiffer, stronger, smoother, cuts a line through the rough stuff. Adjustable geometry for x.c/D.H , and anywhere inbetween. Check out the fire mtn fade paintjob
| | Weaknesses: | None so far... maybe the fox shock is getting a little play but not sure | | Similar Products Used: | Demoed a few bikes with multi-pivots or sweet spots
(Ellsworth truth, Ibis Szazbo) super V's | | Bike Setup: | well | | Bottom Line: | Great techinical x.c bike. Softens the big hits, eliminates the rest. Sticks on the climbs, flys down the hill with precision(Lefty with dual discs) and adjustments that you can feel and performance the inspires you to ride faster, longer, better. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Albert Mandile
a Cross Country Rider
from San Jose, CA. USA
Date Reviewed: April 27, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | St. Joesph's hill, Los Gatos | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Unbelievable ride, plan on learning how to re-ride, because of the increased speed on the downhill.
Suspension. First FS, a crazy Cadillac ride. High speed washboard? What washboard? I've expected to go down a couple of times, but didn't, due to the way this thing handles the dirt/adverse situations
Lefty: AWESOME! All of the balance problems I was worried about are engineered out of this; it's truly flawless.
Rear suspension: First FS bike, I'll never go back to a hardtail. I only keep it locked out when riding on pavement. This thing is an incredible climber. My last bike was a 1997 F2000, weighing 22+lbs. With the added weight in the Jekyll, it is nothing compared to the traction when pumping uphill. I've ridden in all kinds of greasy mud, dry dirt, etc. The back tire has NEVER 'Broken free'.
Adjustable suspension: Again, AWESOME. I had is adjusted for the tight, steep head tube, high bottom bracket setup when it was new. After the first 50 miles, I switched it to the other extreme, slacking the headtube angle, lowering the bottom bracket. I didn't expect much of a difference. The difference is HUGE!!! My back and shoulders/arms are so much more stretched out now; downhill speeds are way faster!
Braking: AMAZING, I can go into corners WAY faster, the stopping/slowing ability is INSANE
Freakout Factor: Expect to be talking to a lot of people. People freak when they see the Lefty. Expect to sound like a geometrical genius when telling others that the Lefty isn't the biggest feature, the adjustable suspension is. Then play professor smarty when you start to explain the adjustable
| | Weaknesses: | No quick release on the front tire/rim
The stock tires are wimpy
The front Coda Crank, it's starting to crackle- as they always do. The Coda crank is garbage, I had to change it on my F2000, also. | | Similar Products Used: | Cannondale M500 (1986, no suspension, rode for 11 years without a problem)
Cannondale F2000 (1997) | | Bike Setup: | Jekyll 300sx
Lefty DLR
Coda 900M bb-crank set-up
XTR der's
Easton Monkey lite 175 gm bar
Coda discs
XTR 9x pod for rear
Rapid fire shifters front and back
Ritchy Clipless Pedals
Thompson seatpost
Coda Saddle (muy comfortable)
Fox float RC rear shok, amazingly supple, like riding a coil over
Coda Expert hubs with 32, three-cross sun DS1-xc rims
Continental Ground Control in the rear
Upgrade (cant remember the brand) 2.1 up front
And soon, My mojo
Rowdy Roddy Piper, a thumb wrestler | | Bottom Line: | I'm 5'11, weigh 220lbs, I'm a weightlifter and I ride 250-300 miles a week. I have over 500 dirt miles on this bike already.
With my size, this bike has me shaking my head, talking to myself. I can't believe what I put this thing through and it eats everything. 2500 bucks is a drop in the bucket, compared to how much fun I am having!
This thing has me re-learning how to ride; because of how much faster I am on the downhill now. I have to learn all new lines on familiar downhill to compensate for my increased speed. I ride over Rocks, brush, deep ruts, mud, jumps, staircases, etc.
I've heard so many people putting down cannondale over the years; I started to believe the talk myself. I almost bought a Santa Cruz. The reason why I bought this, was the beefy pivot on the rear suspension. It was recommended to me to examine the SantaCruz's pivot, compared with the cannondale. Sure enough, the cannondale is way more impressive in this area. This reduces the risk of lateral movement developed in many rear suspension bikes.
Any of you clown’s who talk Cannondale down, need to get a clue!!!
Do yourself a favor and go test ride one.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
David Houghton
a Racer
from Toronto
Date Reviewed: April 19, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Bow River | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Nearly everything | | Weaknesses: | Finicky front derailleur | | Similar Products Used: | Klein Mantra, Gary Fisher Sugar, Specialized M4 | | Bike Setup: | Stock | | Bottom Line: | My best finish on my Klein Mantra was fifth in my category. Since I got the Jekyll, I've had two second-place finishes. The bike is light, responsive and instills confidence. It takes time to dial in the settings that work best for each individual rider and each course but it's worth it. A fine, fine ride. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dr. Bob
a Cross Country Rider
from Houston
Date Reviewed: February 23, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | I was in the market for a GT I-drive ( a die hard GT fan)when I learned about this bike. It is the most awesome ride I've experienced yet. Blows the I-Drive away, and it isn't a pig like the GT. As for losing climbing with a full suspension bike, that's all bull. This is my first FS bike and was surprised as to what little difference climbing was; actually improved because you can rocket downhills. Worth every penny. The Lefty is unbelievable. Easy to get used to and the whole bike is extremely responsive and nimble. | | Bike Setup: | Stock except for Time Atac Alium pedals. Right now set in cross country configuration. | | Bottom Line: | A real breakthrough. Fast, light & nimble. Suspension is plush and with innumerable possibilities for setup. True it is a bit expensive. There are 3 models for different budgets. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
garrett
a Cross Country Rider
from Santa Barbara, CA
Date Reviewed: January 29, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Skyline in Silicon valley | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Wow. I have previously owned 3 hardtail Cannondales. This is my first fs bike, and well, its very impressive. Stock, 18" bike comes in weighing 26.62 lbs. Now that is light for 4 inches up front, and 4.5" in the rear. I probabaly have 75 or so dirt miles on it so far, so I'm just starting to utilize all 4" of plush fun :) The lockout option is something that I thought I would use often, but I only find myself even using it on a short pavement sprint, that is all. The pedal bob is almost insignificant, and doesn't seem to hinder the power to the wheel in the least bit. And what can I say about lefty? Well, it is awesome, that is what I can say. Rigidity: yes, plush: yes, freak-show: yes.
I am very impressed, the smoothest compression and rebound I have found with Headshok's. What about the adjustable rear suspension geometry you ask? Well, that is what sold me on the bike, and I am very impressed. I have tried both ends of the spectrum, the steep headtube and higher bb height, and the slack headtube and lower bb (lower center of gravity, like dh'ers). It is amazing to see how much of a difference this makes, how much more weight you have over the rear with the "dh" geometry. I put in my fav bb-crank setup and changed to the carbon monkey lite. I think I a sneak under 26 lbs now. It feels really light.
I went on a ride today in the SB mountains. It was awesome going up through the rough rocky terrain, and the down was, well.. amazing.
I was going to get a Raven, but I am glad I got this bike. (yes some might say i have a cannondale affliction, but I believe in their product, I believe in their beefy single pivot suspension, and all headshok's are spot on.)
| | Weaknesses: | My front disc grabs better on certain parts of the rotor. So it makes for an odd braking. I am sure I can get this worked out via mtbr techtalk or if the rotor is bad, Cannondale will warranty it for me. If I do not get this front disc brake fixed, I will post a follow up post. | | Similar Products Used: | Raven (1st gen)
Ridden almost every fs-bike via friends | | Bike Setup: | Jekyll 300sx
Lefty DLR
Coda 900M bb-crank set-up (extremely rigid and positive feeling)
XTR der's
Easton Monkey lite 175 gm bar
Coda discs (rear works exceptionally well, still working on the front to get it a-o.k.)
XTR 9x pod for rear
Sach's extreme grip shift for front der
Time atac carbon clipless
Thompson seatpost
Coda Saddle (muy comfortable)
Fox float RC rear shok, amazingly supple, like riding a coil over
Coda Expert hubs with 32, three-cross sun DS1-xc rims
IRC Notos Kevlar 195 in the rear
Specialized Team Control 2.1 up front
And soon, My mojo
Rowdy Roddy Piper, a thumb wrestler | | Bottom Line: | This bikes ability to adjust the geometry makes for a versatile machine. For the 2 weeks that I have had it, it is most impressive. Awesome tracking via no-flex and super plush suspension. Oh yeah, by the way... how stoked was I to see it get Bike Of the Year in the March Mountain Biking mag.
If my viewpoint changes (I doubt it will), I will post another review.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
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