Very strong with enough built in shock absorption for killer ride.

Air shocks are the only thing I would make better on this bike...very not the best!

I bought this bike the day after christmas in 1999. This bike has gone beyond my expectations in how it rides, looks, feel, durability and quality of parts. I have only had to change the rear shocks.

Similar Products Used:

none

Overall excellent XC bike!!! Love the way this bike climbs. Bike is very tuneable, corners better than anything I've been on. Eats up the track and you don't feel like you've been beat to death when the ride is over. No complaints at all on handling.

Comes with entry level components, seat is the worst I've ever sat on. Might as well be sitting on the seat post.

25lb setup. Thought I was going to have problems with the rear shock. Over a year now and it doesn't leak. This is the second Cannondale I've owned and I haven't been disappointed. To old to race anymore, but love to push this bike to (my/it's) limits.

Similar Products Used:

Super V carbon full suspension, Fisher hardtail, Specialized

Smooth ride; lightweight; responsive.

Componentry needs to be upgrades; no shock lockouts.

I really enjoy this bike. It's much more responsive and lighter than the Super V series. I do miss the Headshok lockout and wish I had a remote rear lockout as well (only for road climbs). Active suspension keeps my wheels on the ground so I can concentrate on climbing some amazing stuff. It is pricey if you don't get a deal somehow. Great for cross country but lacking travel for serious downhillers. Can be problematic depending on what type of car rack you use (Yakima and Bike Tights work wonderfully).

Similar Products Used:

C-dale Super V 1000

The '99 Raven 900 frameset is the best riding frameset on the market. In stock form, the 900 is a very good value as far as componentry is conserned. This frame offers superior rear end rigidity and suspension plushness with a good rising rate of travel. This bike climbs like a hardtail and descends like all out DH bike. Compared to the 2000 Raven 2 frameset this bike kicks ass. Grab one while you still can!!!!!

Problmatic Magura Louise Disc Brakes. Magura was good enough to replace the defective offerings free of charge. Buy Magura brakes and feel the power!!!!!!!!

No other bike rides like an original Raven frameset. If you can still find one jump upon the chance. Soup the bike up like mine and you can ride anything including some mild DH riding (it does have 5 inches of rear wheel travel). You can also lighten her up for cross country racing. You owe it to yourself to try one out. I only have one thing left to say,
LIVE TO RIDE A CANNONDALE, RIDE A CANNONDALE TO LIVE!!!!

Similar Products Used:

Not one bike on earth holds a candle.

Exellent suspension system,perfect steering, confidence inspiring frame of 2000 model

expensive

The best ride you can ever have besides a motorcycle

Similar Products Used:

diamondback x6, specialized

lateral stiffness, Headshok tracks like an arrow, full suspension is like riding your sofa

heavier than my bike,climbs like full suspension

Getting used to this after my bike. Downhilling is a blast; the bike just floats. (Line? What line?) Hooks up really well on super slow, super steep climbs, otherwise, I'll take my hardtail for climbing. Doesn't bob, but still feels like it's sapping your energy. Tracks very straight-confidence inspiring. Seems to have no handling quirks. It seems to like being steered rather than snapped into hard corners. The new Raven 2 is significantly lighter. Hmmmmm.

Similar Products Used:

Pro Flex 957(?), Klein Mantra, Ibis Bow Ti

Frame strength, disc brakes, shocks

none so farOh, THE SEAT

Even though this is an American bike, I really have begun to enjoy it. The brakes are great in the rain (oh yes it rains in BC), the suspension is about right, (any more travel and you lose feeling for the terrain, especially on the North Shore).
Get one if you want a rocking XC racer, buy a triple clamp fork for more travel, although the headshock does well in the bad weather.This is truly an awesome, forward thinking bike designed by YANKS! I Hate to admit it, but it really, really is great fun to ride, precise to steer and great to climb with.fIVE SEVERED FINGERS ALL THE WAY

Similar Products Used:

Rocky Mountain Vertex TO
Brodie Catalyst

NO FLEX ,MAGURA BRAKES, HEAD SHOCK

NONE YET

THERE IS NO BETTER FULL SUSP. THAN C'DALE. THE RAVEN IS LIGHT ENOUGH TO RACE, BUT I USE IT TO TRAIN AND THEN RACE MY CDALE TEAM REPLICA ( WHEN I GET TO RACE WHICH IS NOT TO OFTEN) THE RAVEN HANDLES GREAT WHEN PUT INTO CURVES FAST OR ON THE ROCKY STUFF. THE TIRES STAY IN CONTACT WITH THE GROUND, EXCEPT WHEN BIG AIR IS PLANNED THE IT LANDS LIKE A DREAM.

Similar Products Used:

SUPER V 900 ALUMINUM

Light enough
Strong frame
Magura disc brakes
shocks

My fitness level

Great bike for the price (got it for $1650 new)
shocks work well, as do brakes
Rides like a dream. Then again what would i know? This is my first full suspension bike.
I don't race, I ride purely for fun with freinds who are self-proclaimed freeriders. i try to keep up and I think this bike will help. For the price and technology, you cannot go wrong.
Although I would like to try a GT XCR, a URT, an AMP and then I would know what I was talking about

Similar Products Used:

cannondale m2000
Trek OCLV Pro issue
Specialized M2
Avanti Pro

Built this bike as a frameset, so it is a 900, but with assorted parts. Currently weighs 25+ lbs., about 1 1/2 lbs. more than my hardtail bike. This is some machine. Absolutely NO lateral flex. Climbs well, descends well, tracks like an arrow. Most of the time I forget I'm on full susp. until things get really rocky, and you float over the hits that would have previously required a trip to the chiropractor (or the E.R.). Very, very nice.