Submitted by
12yearSexperiencE
a Downhiller
from Thousand Oaks, CA, USA!!!
Date Reviewed: April 24, 2000
Strengths: The Components
Weaknesses: The Frame, The Price, The Color, The Tires, The Seat
Bottom Line:
Out of all the bikes I have taken out to the Dominating California Mountains and streams!!! All you Californians Know what Im talking about... We have it all, Snow, Mountains, Desert, and Surf!!! That is southern Cal... Anyway The GT was the best performer by far... Every one that races with me tells me that Cannondales are way over rated!
Similar Products Used: GT Zaskar, Ritchey, Raleigh, Schwinn, Nishiki
Bike Setup: Stock setup
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Russ B
a Cross Country Rider
from Seaford
Date Reviewed: February 8, 2000
Strengths: lightweight. Top of the line components
Weaknesses: avid brakes. good but am xtr man
Bottom Line:
changed the avid brakes to XTR. Great bike. Very light. Made climbs I didnt make the first time I was on this Blue machine. Stiff, very stiff. Very responsive and explosively fast.
Strengths: classic aluminum hardtail-lightning fast (faster than I am), excellent sprinter(gets the hole shot every time); adjustability of headshok is great(practical and easy to access on the fly); climbs like a billygoat cause you can lock out the shock
Weaknesses: classic aluminum hardtail-beats the crap out of you in the rough stuff; headshok is not what I would consider plush, CODA headset/stem are generic at best (although they haven't actually given me any trouble)
Bottom Line:
Previously I have been extremely anti-Cannondale. I found their bikes, and ususally the people who ride them, to be extremely pretentious elitest snobs. However, after borrowing one of these babies from a buddy for a race, I was pretty much sold. I got the frame/fork/stem on the C'dale trade-in deal for $600, even though I did't have C'dale to trade in. When you shop around, i think you'll find that's about the best deal going for a raceworthy frame/fork combo. I added to that an XTR components kit, which I was going to mail order but the bike shop price matched (watch 'em here cause you'll get a 1 1/8 headset and stem which you can't use but should get shop credit for). Total cost $2080. Now that ain't chump change I know, but I got the bike you see at the top of this page (mavic 517 instead of the Cane Creek wheelset) for $600 less. Go XT, and you can save about $500 more. Overall, I'm impressed, the bike is quick, responsive, super light and a great climber. The headshok holds a line through rough decents like nothing I've ever experienced, it just beats you senseless in the process (especially if you forget the fork is locked out from the climb that got you there). I know people are raising holy hell about 9 speed, but that 34 tooth cog keeps you in the middle ring on all but the steepest climbs. Overall, an excellent deal for the up and coming XC race weenie. 4.5 chilies (needs sealed bearing headset to get to a 5)
Submitted by
Jim
a Weekend Warrior
from Atlanta, GA
Date Reviewed: August 10, 1999
Strengths: light, fast, full XTR
Weaknesses: None that a few $$ can't fix.
Bottom Line:
This bike is excellent. People should stop reviewing Cannondale (as a company) ie. warranties, frame trade-ins, and color mix-ups. Start reviewing the bike. That is what this Product review is for! Please write a letter to Cannondale about your tragic events.
Bike Setup: Cannondale F3000 Sl 1999.5 Ultra Fatty Sl, Caad 4 Killer V frame set, Continental Cross Country tires, XTR components, Speedplay Frogs(love them)
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Patrick Taylor
a Racer
from Centerville, Ohio
Date Reviewed: June 27, 1999
Strengths: components all xtr super light weight the new ultra sl is great
Weaknesses: the pedal coda 900 great pedal unless there is mud, IRC Notros ware quickly and good for hard pack trail only
Bottom Line:
This bike rocks climbs like a beast super lite weight Caad 4 frame(the bike is so lite it floats in water). Seeing the bike in the catalog does not do the color justice. The bike seemed slow until I got used to the double chain rings up front; now its the fastest, quickest and most responsive bike I've ever riden. the only thing i didnt like was the pedals (coda 900) they gum up with mud quickly but that is easily fixed with a switched to speedplay frogs
Similar Products Used: Being a Bike Shop employee I was able to test ride Raleighs, Schwinns, Cannondales,Specialized, and Mongoose
Bike Setup: Cannondale F3000 Sl 1999.5 Ultra Fatty Sl, Caad 4 Killer V frame set, Continental Cross Country tires, XTR components, Speedplay Frogs(love them)
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Patrick Taylor
a Racer
from Centerville, Ohio
Date Reviewed: June 27, 1999
Strengths: components all xtr super light weight the new ultra sl is great
Weaknesses: the pedal coda 900 great pedal unless there is mud, IRC Notros ware quickly and good for hard pack trail only
Bottom Line:
This bike rocks climbs like a beast super lite weight Caad 4 frame. Seeing the bike in the catalog does not do the color justice. The bike seemed slow until I got used to the double chain rings up front; now its the fastest, quickest and most responsive bike I've ever riden
Similar Products Used: Being a Bike Shop employee (Bike Source, Centerville, Ohio) I was able to test ride Raleighs, Schwinns, Cannondales, And Mongoose
Bike Setup: Cannondale F3000 Sl 1999.5 Ultra Fatty Sl, Caad 4 Killer V frame set, Continental Cross Country tires, XTR components, Speedplay Frogs(love them)
Bike Setup: fatty sl cane creek wham yellow xtr/coda competition caad4
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mark
a Cross-Country Rider
from San Jacinto, CA
Date Reviewed: April 15, 1999
Strengths: I just upgraded my F2000 28.8 series frame (with a 98 Fatty SL) to the new F3000 SL with the new Fatty Ultra. The bike weighs in at 21.7 pounds out of the box. The component set up is tops ... XTR and CODA. The new C'dale rides great ... both up and down the mountain.
Weaknesses: The color must grow on you ... black clearcoat which looks more like green or brown.
Bottom Line:
If you want a race ready bike, the F3000 SL is it!
Strengths: Everything on this bike ROCKS.This is the best bike i have ever rode before!!!!
Weaknesses: Not a thing!!!!!
Bottom Line:
THAT FRUIT CASE WHO WROTE A PARAGRAPH ABOUT HOW HE DOESNT LIKE THE YELLOW BOOTY IS OUT OF HIS MIND!!! SIMMER DOWN BIG FELLA,GET A NEW BOOTY IF U DONT LIKE IT!!!!!!!!!!
Similar Products Used: Trek, Schwinn, Gary Fisher.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dustin
a Cross-Country Rider
from Minnesota
Date Reviewed: March 22, 1999
Strengths: Stiffness, weight, looks, components, it's a c'dale.
Weaknesses: Not a reverse pull R-derailleur
Bottom Line:
I have the F3000SL with the new Ultra Fork. I love it. This bike climbs and accelerates like a missle. This is by far the greatest bike I've ever ridden. Thank you Cannondale.
I have now owned my F3000SL since July, 98 and continue to say one thing - AWESOME !Yeah it's expensive, but weighing in at under 21lbs, crossmax, avid arch supreme, CAAD4 frame set, Fatty SL front shock, Thompson post etc, etc, it is just a stunning bike to ride and look at.I've done all sorts of rides since purchase from muddy weekend run arounds to 100 miles plus on road/off road, day/weekend rides. The Cannondale has proved the most comfortable bike to ride, with no problems other than cable stretch, which os to be expected.The inclusion of a titanium 9 speed cassette, coupled with the Coda 44/28 chainset avoids duplication, and saves weight.I had not used grip shift before, but I am now a convert. Quartz 9.0 with the XTR rear mech changes instantly. It climbs like a monkey, XC it goes where you want it too, and downhill is no problem at all ! Just watch those brakes - they are very powerful.Conclusion: If you have got a spare £2,500 - Order one now. You will not be dissappointed.
Submitted by
Jack
a cross-country rider
from Hopkinton, MA
Date Reviewed: March 9, 1999
Bottom Line:
Regarding the warantee issue...Don't believe your bike shop! I've been in final approach to landing an F1000 or F3000 and 3 shops told me 3 things..5 years, 3 years, 5 years converted to lifetime recently. So I e-mailed Cannondale and the verdict is... All CAAD 4 frames have a lifetime warantee to the original owner.
