Submitted by
Ratzilla
a Weekend Warrior
from California
Date Reviewed: August 13, 2011
Strengths: I use this bike to commute 33 miles a day. Handles great, and the lowe gears are great for my 900 foot climb to work.
Weaknesses: With frame configuration, suspension and low gears, tends to do wheelies when climbing hills
Bottom Line:
Love this bike, best I have ever had, and since I am 50 years old, may be the last one I own. Love the commute to work on it, handles great, some serious hills between home and work, the low gears come in great, and with the beach cruiser handle bars, I can still grip the handle bars near the stem when really thumping, or sit upright and comfortable for simple cruising. this link is the image of the bike - http://www.ratzilla.com/bus/8040090.JPG
Bike Setup: Stock with the acception of Beach Cruiser handle bars, and a nice set of 26x1.75 street tires.
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Submitted by
Ryan Kildee
a Cross Country Rider
from Colorado Springs, CO
Date Reviewed: August 3, 2007
Strengths: Updating my review from way back in 1999! Anyway, this bike has been very reliable through the years. So much so, that instead of buying a new bike, I've recently upgraded the crap out of it.
Weaknesses: Not the lightest thing around, but bombproof. I could shave a lot of weight with lighter components, but thats $$$ I don't have and I'm not a weight weenie.
Similar Products Used: Test rode too many to list before upgrading this bike.
Bike Setup: Now running a CAAD4 Jekyll rear swingarm, Fox DHX Air 5.0 shock in 7.5"x2" for 150mm of rear travel. Propedal kills the single pivot bob under power. Up front I've got a set of reducer cups and cane creek headset, with a 140mm Fox Vanilla RLC fork. Avid BB7 brakes. This bike now rides better than ever.
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Submitted by
Mike
a Downhiller
from Evergreen, Colorado
Date Reviewed: July 18, 2002
Strengths: -Light -tough -Canondale
Weaknesses: -Headshok is noisy on downhill -seat kills your balls -derailers are funky
Bottom Line:
this bike rocks for it's price but could use more front travel, and it's gears work badly uphill. Other than that it's my favorite bicycle i've ever owned, it gets a five!
Similar Products Used: Specialized full suspension mtb
Bike Setup: Ritchey clipless pedals, new seat, new grips
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Submitted by
Nick Weaver
a Downhiller
from New York
Date Reviewed: November 6, 2001
Strengths: The Frame is good i like the fox shock on the front but if you ride DH get a new Triple Crown fork...but good overall bike
Weaknesses: you have to be careful of the parts cause some of them are awful...the headshok is also bad cause Cannondale just does not make good forks.think about an upgrade once you get the bike suck as new cranks, FORK!!,deraileurs, cassestes, rims, tires, so on so forth....
Bottom Line:
good overall bike...good for XC, ok for DH but its good for me cause im young and small...get a new fork though cause headshok really sucks, new components too. but a decent bike especially good for young rookie DHers cause its light and its easy to pedal cause its got like 3 inches of travel in the back
Similar Products Used: all the other FS cannondale bikes
Bike Setup: cannondale super V 400 with tioga tires, Manitou X-Vert DC 01' fork, Shimano components
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Submitted by
Carlos Velez
a Cross Country Rider
from Quebradillas, PR, USA
Date Reviewed: April 10, 2001
Strengths: Beautifull suspension, strong frame and strong fork.
Weaknesses: You can’t buy it via Internet, so you have to buy it in your country. In Puerto Rico you can find just one Cannondale dealer but they are very expensive and they don’t have the experience to repair a Cannondale. Rims don’t have too much side force, pedals are recreational and the frame is very flashy and says Cannondale every two inches.
Bottom Line:
Cannondale is a good company but remember that this is their cheapest full suspension bike. For the price this is a good bike but you have to know that Cannondale uses different components and some of that components are very difficult to set up. I suggest if you want to buy this bike, make sure that you have good Cannondale dealers near you, not like in Puerto Rico because “Ciclo Mundo” is the only official dealer. The bike is good in downhill and also supports big jumps! It comes with Continental wheels and they are perfect for Cross Country use. Personally I don’t like to have a bike full of companies name so I have to repaint my frame. Now I love my bike!
Strengths: -Nice looks -Plush Fox shock,no complicated linkages -Sweet Headshok,very responsive -Very good workmanship -Not too heavy -Good brakes -It's a Cannondale
Weaknesses: -Componentry could be a little better perhaps -Bobs like a pogo stick while climbing -Overpriced:The Jamis Dakar Comp is better for only $150 more
Bottom Line:
Torture on long climbs.Heaven in the rocky stuff,though.A good bike,but my friend's Dakar Comp is better than the V400 for similar money as far as components are concerned(The V400's Headshok is better than the Manitou on the Dakar though).
Not bad,but the Dakar takes the cake on this one.I'll give it 3 chilis overall.
Submitted by
Daniel Gordon
a Cross Country Rider
from Connecticut
Date Reviewed: September 7, 2000
Strengths: Great Suspension, price, look, seat, rapid fire shifters
Weaknesses: rear shock not very adjustable, a little heavy but still pretty good weight
Bottom Line:
This was my first suspension bike. It is everything I would want from a bike. It is a good weight, though feels a little heavy at times, and the suspension travel is excellent, though it may not be 4+ inches. I did change the tires on mine because I would skid out a lot, and the tires I have now work a lot better. I think anyone can really have this bike. If all you do is uphill, though, this bike starts to drag and you can feel it, versus some other bikes I have used, it was a lot easier to go up hill on them. But this bike is a killer downhill bike, though I wouldn't use it for professional downhill racing. Deifnitely one of the best bikes you can buy for the price!!! Anyone want to chat or e-mail me feel free!!!
Submitted by
Mike
a Cross Country Rider
from Hayward WI
Date Reviewed: August 6, 2000
Strengths: Awesome headshok, Looks, Price,
Weaknesses: Grip Shifters, Seat
Bottom Line:
I use this bike for xc and its pretty good for a beginner like me. The Icon pedals that are on it were put on by the bike shop before I bought it. They probably couldnt get rid of them anyother way. The seat makes my ass numb after about 10 miles. The chain came off a couple of times while riding but i think thats due to my inexpirience. The price was right fro my pocketbook. $800.00 new. The rear shock is a Fox Vinnila and is pretty rigid. I guess thats good because it would seem to be a waste of energy to be bobbing up and down all day. I took three spills today and nothing broke. One was real bad too. I have about a 9 inch cut on my fore-arm from a stump. I think someday it'll stop bleeding. Got many compliments from expiienced riders. Awesome bike for the money. In a year or two I will upgrade to the 700 model. This bike will give me many years of beatings. Highly recommended. From one novice to another.
Similar Products Used: Bainchi Osprey, Specialized FSR
Bike Setup: Icon pedals (mistake), Sigma Sport Targa computer, everythingelse is stock on my Super-V
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Submitted by
Thomas Baugh
a Weekend Warrior
from Russellville, AR
Date Reviewed: July 28, 2000
Strengths: For the price I have to love this bike. I check around, and glad I picked this one. Rides quite well on rough trails, and easy to control. Takes a beating, and keeps going. Wish I did as well afrer a crash.
Weaknesses: Grip shifters and seat. Not as light as a hardtail, but what softtail is.
Bottom Line:
Once you change out the shifters to rapid fires, and put a good seat on it, you have one good trail bike. Grip shifters didn't work well from the factory and the seat had to go right away. But that's all I changed on the bike, and I love it. I ride it every weekend, and don't think about getting anything else.
Bike Setup: Stock, with rapitfires, and specilized seat.
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Submitted by
Martyn Parr
a Downhiller
from Rhyl Wales UK
Date Reviewed: February 10, 2000
Strengths: Looks sound, built like a tank, relatively lightish, plush, standover height
Weaknesses: seat post adjustability from long high to low for extreme use
Bottom Line:
Good as a light weight medium travel downhill bike, but poo as an XC machine, the back end is too active. I havent broken it yet and I can break anything with my seriously bad but try anyway riding skills. Respect to Cannondale this bike is sorted.
Strengths: Super V Frame. Smooth ride and easy to control.
Weaknesses: Ghost shifting...grip shifters suck..
Bottom Line:
The bottom line is...this is a great bike with a few changes. I had alot of problems with ghost shifting going up hill. So i went XTR everything when it came to the drive train...Not a problem since.
Bike Setup: Front and Rear XTR derailleur, XTR rapid fire shifters, XTR V-Brakes, and XTR crankset...XTR RULES!!!
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Submitted by
CosmicCharley
a Weekend Warrior
from Issaquah, Wa
Date Reviewed: December 22, 1999
Strengths: Headshock Frame Design
Weaknesses: Gripshifters, just couldn't get used to them in the steeps and in and out of corners...I just don't like the feel of them.
Bottom Line:
I switched out the Gripshifters for Rapid Fire's...Much smoother and more reliable shifting in my opinion. Put Slime liners in tires for Tuscon ride...had NO FLATS on a 10 Desert ride around cactus. Bike performed very well in and out of the washes, bounced along the rocks real well. Beautiful two wheel drift in the downhill corners...It's a Cannondale..what more can I say?
Submitted by
Ryan Kildee
a Cross-Country Rider
from Grand Blanc MI
Date Reviewed: November 5, 1999
Strengths: Great solid frame and plush, active rear end. I don't feel a thing at speed. Precision of the head shok. Its much more rigid than my old Judy. Very plush but rarely bottoms. Coils forever!! Comfy ride
Weaknesses: A bit on the portly side. Cheezy components ( but they work okay if you keep them tuned up properly) Bobs a bit when shock is set up for descending.
Bottom Line:
Well, I'm really not a cross country rider like its says above. (I don't shave my legs-It doesn't make any sense!) I just love bombing through steep, rough terrain and this bike allows me to go much faster with less effort than my old hardtail. I've been converted to full susp by this one. Great bike for the price.
Similar Products Used: Specialzed FSR's, GT STS, Trek Y-3 (yuck, a urt)
Bike Setup: Stock, except for riser bar, upside down stem, coda clipless, better saddle, Mavics, Hayes discs coming soon
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Submitted by
Cris Vigliano
a Weekend Warrior
from DC
Date Reviewed: October 13, 1999
Strengths: the frame is true and laterally stiff headshock precision plush reart shock
Weaknesses: short top tube lenght unconfortable saddle hubs, pedals, brakes, saddle not up to par with frame
Bottom Line:
this frame and fork are a work of art, and work beautifully together. In fact, in my first ride with ths bike i got so overconfident that went over the bars and got 8 stitches and a chipped tooth. And then i began to really love it! the stock saddle is too short and soft (you kind of stick to it, but it isn't really confortable. I got a specialized saddle that allowed me to put the saddle a bit more to the back, This and some riser bars, coda paquito bar ends (the best) and also turning the stem upside down helped to fool the bike into having a longer top tube for climbs and a LOT more control on the downhillls. the only obvious upgrade, tough, are clipless pedals. other than that, this is an excellent offroad/all around/commuting bike FIVE RED HOT FLAMING CHILIS!
I have a 1999 Super V 400 for sale and trying to find a place to sale it and how much to ask. The bike is in great condition and still has everything stock on it, even the tires. I Read More »
