Strengths: The Looks!!!! If they could kill just about every other bike company would have gone bankrupt. ;)
rides like a fully should nowadays. the rear shock acually moves. unlike like the epics and all the other crap built Anno 2008-2009. and while growing up as a teenage mt.biker it was the dream bike i could never get my parents to buy me!
Weaknesses: The front suspension is a bit on the short side, and the stock brakes were way too cheap for a bike of this caliber.
Bottom Line:
There are a few bikes that the mt.biker world will never forget. The raven is one of them! It turned heads back when it was introduced and still is in 2009. The ride is old school fully but that is a good thing. I've been in the bicycle bizz for over 10 years now as a mechanic as well as rider, and i still haven't found a bike i love riding or just polishing and looking at more than my beautiful Cannondale Raven 1000SL "i just hope it never breaks" if your lightweight and i
Similar Products Used: GT xcr1000, Giant NRS Team, Be-One Nomad
Bike Setup: stock besides, Monkey lite low-rise CNT-Carbon, SMP Seat, Avid Archrivals, Continental Race King world-cup 2.2 (F+R), Rockshox Monarch 4.2 rear shock, Sram PC1090 Hollowpin 10-Speed chain, Thompson Elite seat-post 410mm long, XTR Front der. and Shifters, Mavic Cross-Trail Wheelset
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Submitted by
Alex
a Cross Country Rider
from Spokane, WA, 99208
Date Reviewed: June 14, 2006
Strengths: The bike is very light, and despite its wierd heavy CODA components, had potential to be extremely light. - Plus it was really cool looking, a real head turner.
Weaknesses: The wheelbase was a bit short on a large for a 6'1" rider. After i did all i could to lengthen out the feel of the bike my center of gravity was all messed up way off the back giving it a wierd feel and throwing the biomechanics of normal cycling off. This was a bit disheartening concerning the bike should fit me.
Second, and most importantly the frame was light, but seriously sucked. I had ridden the bike about ten or fifteen times in a year due to time constraints, this spring i adjusted the suspension pressure and took it for a ride. In the process of a 2' bunny hop, which should be a pretty routine thing for any mountain biker(even cross country), the BOTTOM BRACKET ALONG WITH THE LOWER PORTION OF THE FRAME COMPLETELY RIPPED OFF THE BIKE. I as a 180 pound rider was definitely within the weight limit for a bike of this structure and caliber. So i contacted the manufacturer and they were not even willing to help me out in the slightest bit, because i was not the origional owner. Well, thats customer satisfaction. - Now im out $1000
Bottom Line:
Do not buy this bike. Do not ever ride one of these bikes. Question ever purchasing a CANNONDALE in the future, second hand or brand new. If you have one of these bikes trash it, because it will eventually do what mine did. If you dont there are serious complications that may arise if you have frame failure during a ride. I was lucky not to get hurt badly.
Bike Setup: Pretty much stock, minus a new handlebar and a new set of shifters.
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Submitted by
neo anderson
a Weekend Warrior
from singapore
Date Reviewed: June 11, 2003
Strengths: LOOKS MAN! Stealth killer! Weight! with Mavic X-MAX under 24.
Weaknesses: The Vee of the frame limits the stand over height.
Bottom Line:
Kick $#@%^$@# bike, BB and Seat post resin reinforced under advice from Cannondale. If you aren't a 200lb Ben and Jerry's boy the frame WILL hold..... Looks like nothing else on earth. Differentiate yourself, get a Dale Raven!
Weaknesses: noisy frame, limited front suspension, weak wheels.
Bottom Line:
It's my first full suspension and I race in Sport so I wanted a light stiff bike. I started with the Sugar 2 but the superior suspension, lighter weight and stiffer frame of the C'Dale converted me. I looked at the 2000SL but the disc brakes were not impressive - nice rear swing arm though. Bike weighs about 25.5lbs and rides great up and down hill. It is much faster than my old(& heavy) hardtail and I have placed in all four races I have done this year. Front suspension is limited compared to the rear. I like the front and rearlock out although I rarely use it. Overall, a great bike (and a great deal at current reduced prices)for X-C Country riders that want a bit more suspension than the Sugar can provide. I now think the best combination would be a Raven frame with the 2000 swing arm (CAAD 3?)rear suspension, and Lefty front suspension.
Similar Products Used: Tested Klein Adept, FSR XC, Sugar2
Bike Setup: Stock except Time pedals, and CT2 Seatpost, coda triple chain ring
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Submitted by
Little John
a Weekend Warrior
from Sydney
Date Reviewed: January 28, 2001
Strengths: CF frame is great, light, stiff and very responsive. Fatty Ultra is plush and very predictable and just the right amount of travel in the rear end.
Weaknesses: Would be better if it had a lefty at the front Coda Chain rings Coda cassette body is fairly crap
Bottom Line:
After 12 months, I still feel that this is the best ride on the market. I was initally a little apprehensive after I purchased this bike, because of all the issues that were voiced on this site. But to my relief, I've not experienced any problems with the bike as far a workmanship is concerned. I'm not quite sure what all those people are going on about, I've done 5ft drops lots of rocky descents and big stairs and all is well. I have nothing but praise for this bike as it does everything it's supposed to and more. I'm no vetran in the world of MTB, but I've ridden with guys who've been riding hardcore for years and been able to keep up and on occasions been where they've failed. I guess people who spend a bit on their bike tend to become a little too obsessive and nit pick at every little detail. They seem to expect their super bikes to turn them into superhumans. Bottom line is, I think they need to learn how to ride as no bike is gonna stand up to a 120kg lard ass dropping from 6ft and stopping dead. I have to drop 1 chilli because of the coda rings and cassette body.
Submitted by
John Brackston
a Cross Country Rider
from Salisbury, England
Date Reviewed: December 14, 2000
Strengths: Good bike for fast cross country riding.
Weaknesses: The frame. The bottom bracket tore away from the frame separating the carbon fiber skins from the magnesium frame, the magnesium frame then snapped. This happened whilst peddling hard up a short steep bank. The bike has not been pushed hard, my riding is done on gravel fire roads with no drop offs or other terrain that would unduly stress the frame. In Canada I rode my Super V 400 on rocky trails with 3 foot drop offs, boulder fields etc with no problems, I know what a bike should be able to withstand and consequently I know the bike has an easy time on the trails I now ride.
Bottom Line:
Speaking to a local dealer this type of frame failure is not uncommon. Reading other reviews on this site I see that other types of frame failure have also been experienced with the Raven design. Bottom line can the frame be trusted? Had the frame not failed I would be giving 5 chillis for handling etc but lets face it a frame failure can seriuosly injure if not kill hence 1 flamin chilli.
Bike Setup: Standard except handle bars which I replacedwith Easton Monkey Lite low riser bars.
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Submitted by
Little John
a Weekend Warrior
from Sydney NSW Australia
Date Reviewed: April 26, 2000
Strengths: Light. Stiff. Very plush. Grin factor
Weaknesses: Coda EX2 Crankset, pricey
Bottom Line:
Ok, I've since done some serious riding on the Raven and I think it absolutely kicks a$$. Going down loose rocky descents are a breeze, steps are no probs. You can definitely ride with confidence. But I really couldn't appreciate the Coda EX2 crankset, it didn't shift very well at all - I think this was due to poor chainring design, cos the shifting pins didn't help at all - , in fact it was more difficult to use than the LX setup on my Moab 1. So I've since upg'd to XTR and all is sweet. I love the suspension on this thing, it's so responsive, it lets you go anywhere and everywhere. I guess the long and the short of the story is, if you have the $$$ and the "grin factor" is important to you, then this this the bike for you. Heaps better value for money then any other bike in the same category. "RIDE ON"
Bike Setup: Mostly stock, but upg drive train to XTR except FR Der.
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Submitted by
Jonathan
a Cross Country Rider
from Angwin, CA
Date Reviewed: April 22, 2000
Strengths: This bike is very light for the money. I paid $1920 for mine at a Helen's in Santa Monica. I had them weigh it before I took it home, just over 24 3/4 pounds. Pretty light with all the stock componets. It rides extremely nice, without much noticable pogoing.
Weaknesses: Rear shock has to be pumped up close to max to be hard enough.(email and tell me if you have this problem) Stock tires are not for aggressive riding, handle bar way to low for the height of my saddle. Double chain ring may be lighter but I miss the granny gear.
Bottom Line:
I love riding this bike, I can bomb down hills not having to pick the best line, but just hitting the fastest one. Climbing is good although I can sure tell my IRC tires are a lot heavier and have more rolling resistance. I would recommend this bike to anyone. I shopped around a lot when I was looking for this bike. I found that this bike was by far the lightest for the money. Cannondale really made an awesome product, go test ride it!
Similar Products Used: Santa Cruz Heckler(3 hour trail ride), Specialized FSR and many others (parking lot rides)
Bike Setup: All stock except for the irc Claw Comp lites. Plan to upgrade pedals, saddle, handle bar and possible a triple chain ring.
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Submitted by
Brian
a Cross Country Rider
from Baltimore
Date Reviewed: March 14, 2000
Strengths: Light frame, smooth ride, lock out in front and rear, light 2 chainring crankset, coolest looking bike around, climbs better than my hardtail.
Weaknesses: Chain, CODA pedals and seat, squeeky bottom bracket, no bar ends, spokes on left back tire tend to loosen.
Bottom Line:
This is a sweet,light bike with a surreal ride. The thing has totally changed the way I ride. It just floats over anything and when you climb the suspension keeps the back tire from spinning by maintaining the proper amount of pressure on the dirt. The lock out on the front and rear is great when I am climbing alot on the street.
I looked hard at the FSR-XC which is hundreds less. It didn't feel as tight or linear going downhill and was nowhere near as plush. So, I (actually my girlfriend) forked out the extra cash for this and I am stoked.
This bike is not perfect. Cannondale has a tendency to load there bikes with CODA stuff to cut costs and it isn't always the best product. The pedals were especially bad offering no float and impossible to adjust as well as weighing a ton(on a superlight model?). The chain broke the first week I had it just like the other one reviewed here. The seat left alot to be desired compared to the Flite. The bottom bracket was squeeking and it just needed to be broken down and greased.
Overall, this bike is a dream. Once I ironed out all the little stuff and got it dialed in it has been sweet. Good luck trying to find one, I had to buy it out in California.
Similar Products Used: Klien Mantra Race, FSR XC, my old F700.
Bike Setup: Put on Flite seat, onza pedals, sachs chain, CODA bar ends, lizard skin shock boot. The rest is stock.
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Submitted by
Little John
a Cross Country Rider
from Sydney, NSW, Australia
Date Reviewed: March 7, 2000
Strengths: Light, Stiff, It's a Dale!!! Looks great and puts a cheesy grin on your face..
Weaknesses: Not much, but if you're being pedantic? If you look closely at the joins, it does look a little messy and they should give you a selection of colour schemes to choose from.
Bottom Line:
I haven't had it for long, but it kicks ass. Looks great and is mega light for a duallie. Not sure how it rides just yet as it's been pretty wet outside. But this is only a prelim review. I will come back later for a more accurate review on performance, but for now it absolutely kicks ass.
Strengths: The frame, all the way. Its very light. Part of that is becuase there are only two front chain rings to lower weight. Good, plush suspension
Weaknesses: Chain, and Tires. No riser bar
Bottom Line:
Its a amazing bike, once you get thorugh the first could weeks of breaking it in. Climbs with no effort at all, and the frame and suspension work very well together. Ive only been snow riding with it, and thats why i switched the light misquitos with some knobby tiogas, and it maintains good control in the snow. I use it for trials, and its been workin really well in that area too. It came an ENTIRE 4 months after is was suposed to, and if i oculd of avoided that, and the busted chain, it would get a higher score, other than that, excellent bike.
Bike Setup: Since it came super late, i asked for some extra parts, and instead of the coda clipless, i got some Y2K shimano DX's. I switched the misquitos to Tiogas. I Replaced the chain, added bar ends, and switched the easton bar with a club roost riser bar.
