Submitted by
calebs_tenspeed
a Cross Country Rider
from Houlton, Maine USA
Date Reviewed: May 2, 2009
Strengths: This bike is very light and very fast. It's a great single track bike. It was a little rough riding if you got into any more technical trails but for packed fast rolling trails it's great. And I surprisingly love the coda seat!!!
Weaknesses: The original crank and bottom bracket didn't take long to wear out. Also I'd upgrade the cheap no-name brakes.
Bottom Line:
I won this bike at a convenient store in a SOBE contest. It really launched me into the love of singletrack. My bike has a limited edition sobe paint job and sticker set so it doesn't actually say it's a F600 on it...even though it is. This bike has lasted me a VERY long time and I have really only had to replace the crank and bottom bracket. Not bad for all the trails I've taken this thing on. A great light frame to upgrade on if you're looking to get a used one.
Bike Setup: shefield stainless steel forks,bell with police siren sound effects.
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Submitted by
Scott Wimberly
a Cross Country Rider
from Massachusetts
Date Reviewed: November 27, 2004
Strengths: Light frame, durable starting point
Weaknesses: most of the stock components are crap. Headshock needs to be scrapped, at a pretty high cost.
Bottom Line:
Its a good, light bike - I ride mostly singletrack that turns into DH. The headshock may just be old, but its clunky and the shifters were shot when I got it. Basically, the frame is light and rigid - providing a good starting point to upgrade the rest of the components. Which you could do with a much less expensive bike.
Submitted by
Rick P
a Weekend Warrior
from Ontario Canada
Date Reviewed: May 23, 2003
Strengths: It's a mountain goat on climbs and begs to be ridden in technical sections slow or fast. light and nimble. Sweet!
Weaknesses: Front end might be a bit lighter on steep climbs. DD50 shox but then I have had it for 6 years and hasn't cracked , or rusted yet. This fork wont!
Bottom Line:
This Bike begs to be hammered on! It's fast and loves to climb. I have had it since the end of 96 and now my girl friend is now riding the SHAT out of it while I ride my new Santa Cruz Superlight R bad asss! Do me a favour, Ride and Ride some more and don't let any one tell you mountain biking is going to go away! It's Not! Trails in the States might be closing but there is millions of AWSOME trails Up in here in the Great White North!...Canadian Born To Rip And Shread!
Purchased At: A Shaty Bike Shop, who no longer is in Bus. FAT TIRE CYCLE
Similar Products Used: Santa Cruz maybe.
Bike Setup: Tangoriene Orange 97 Cannondale F600 Comp!LX V brakes(1997), Sachs 8 speed grip shift, LX Front- XT Rear derailer, TI Tech curved seat post, Bontrager seat and rims. Race Face Cranks- Powder coat Orange cranks, SWEET LOOKING BIKE!
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Submitted by
Brooks McDaniel
a Cross Country Rider
from Ridgefield, CT
Date Reviewed: January 22, 2002
Strengths: Sweet handling lightweight frame. Head shock with lockout. Beautiful red paint job. I got a great deal on a leftover model.
Weaknesses: Some not-so-light CODA components, but what do you expect for a bike at this great price. Chain-suck is more frequent than I would like.
Bottom Line:
I love riding this bike. It climbs like a mountain goat and the headshock soaks up the bumps on speedy descents. This spring I am going to upgrade the handlebar, stem, and seatpost to light-weight aftermarket stuff. I will have this bike for a long time, so upgrades will be ongoing. I got a great deal so 5 stars on the value rating. Overall I give it 4 stars simply because some of the components are not the greatest, however I absolutely love this bike.
I would highly recommend this bike. I beat the living shi+ out of this bike and the only thing I have broken on it is the cordless Cateye II mount (twice, going over the handle bars). The pedals and wheels need to be upgraded but beyond that it's a great deal...
Bike Setup: I added Rolf Satalitte rims, Bontroger saddle and Icon bar ends
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Submitted by
Gal Ben Yaakov
a Cross Country Rider
from Kiryat Ata, Haifa, ISRAEL
Date Reviewed: November 26, 2000
Strengths: absolutely amazing! great performance. I just love the headshock P-bone D. a very lightweight bike, with great coda components. this bike will get you anywhere you want.they have tremendous advantage in those steep uphill climbs.
Weaknesses: none, except the brakes- it sucks. but a wise man once told me that the less you use the brakes the faster you go. so i dont mind.
Bottom Line:
I just love this bikes. in fact, i keep them in my room. so they whould be the last thing i see when i go to bed. and the first thing i see when i get up. this bike have the ability to fly across the single tracks. they have greate stiff geometry. and it's very good, although when i first got them, three days later they threw me away right on my face. but it often happens when you get from a non-suspension havy bike to a bike that jumps up to the air and teach you to fly. i am very proud to oun this bike. and i recommend it to all the cyclists hwo are looking for a bike that whould go anywhere you wouldn't dream to get.
Headshok needed serious servicing a year ago, but still runs perfect since Miller's Cycles of Norman, OK rocks the Casbah.
My XL frame came with an XL Stem that kept sending me over the handlebars, I traded out for a 150 stem with a little more rise and now it's perfect. Weighed in at 24lbs, lightest bike on my trail and it's the tallest.
I found frame used and built it up for under $800, otherwise you're stuck with Coda and $1000 price tag.
Submitted by
Jeremy
a Weekend Warrior
from Singapore
Date Reviewed: November 16, 2000
Strengths: Light frame, great geometry, the lock-out ability of the head-shok, smooth finish on the frame, the fact it has a scrap value.
Weaknesses: None so far, maybe the strength of the frame cos the frame is not that thick.
Bottom Line:
It is a great bike, but if you're gonna take this bike to jump 5 feet drops, then this is not the bike for you. Great geometry for long distance cycling and light jumping. The head-shok just absorbs all the bumps.
Bike Setup: Changed the brakes to Magura HS-33s, switched handlebar to a riser handlebar, using GT pedals and Panaracer tires.
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Submitted by
dave
a Cross Country Rider
from sidney B.C. Canada
Date Reviewed: October 31, 2000
Strengths: great frame, nice finish,
Weaknesses: have had a problem with the front fork failing to lock completely making a cluncking sound $30 to service, chain has been sucked between frame and chainstay on downshift under load.
Bottom Line:
bike has performed well. I have ridden it as a fully loaded tourer off road as well as on road and the lockout shock worked well for this. I also use this bike as a commuter and has been very reliable. I feel the shock have a little smoother action, friends say it feels like it has sand in it!!
Submitted by
WillyB
a Cross Country Rider
from Austin, TX
Date Reviewed: October 14, 2000
Strengths: Great frame, head shock works great for my light weight.
Weaknesses: Coda pedals stink, shifters are kinda sketchy for the thumb lever - LOTS of motion required to shift
Bottom Line:
I've only had the bike 3 months but I am more than sitisfied - got the 2000 model from Sun and Ski here in Austin for $300 off MSRP. Stiff, sometimes rides harsh over little stuff, but the thudbuster takes care of that. Couldn't have gotten a better upgradeable frameset for the price. I dunno about paying $1100-$1200 for one. 4 upside-down explorers for value for the full price version.
Bike Setup: stock + thudbuster & shimano spd downhill pedals
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Submitted by
Andy Mac
a Cross Country Rider
from Lantau Island, Hong Kong
Date Reviewed: September 7, 2000
Strengths: The Frame. Intially bought the bike only to keep for a year, but have kept it for 4 years so far. The frame is oversized aluminium which aids greatly in climbing. The frame is quite lightweight being a CAD2. The metallic black paint still looks mean.
Weaknesses: Standard setup spec is not great & you will be quickly frustrated if you are a half serious rider. I have ugraded almost everything possible component on the bike except forks, stem and handlebar which has cost quite a bit. There are some minor paint blisters. Over the real rough stuff you can get thrown around by the stiff frame.
Bottom Line:
Currenly the bike with all the bits described above is fast, light & rides a lot better than the standard setup. For the warm weather in HK a light bike is nice as there are some steep gradients (1:8) in places. A little more front suspension travel (currently 50mm) would be nice, but I may just get a Jekyll instead.
Similar Products Used: Cannondale M2000, Specialised FSR
Bike Setup: XTR cranks, XTR BB, XTR V-brakes, XTR Deraillers, XTR hubs with Mavic 217 rims, Specialised Team Master Tyres, Cateye Cordless computer, Avocet O2 Ti Seat, Syncros Hardcore seatpost, 747 pedals with Ti axles.
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Submitted by
Michael Orndorf
a Cross Country Rider
from Columbus, OH United States
Date Reviewed: July 9, 2000
Strengths: Does not apply
Weaknesses: After 3 months of riding this bike, the seat is bent and front suspension has began to rust. I am not sure if there is a customer service department at Cannondale. No one wants to help you out
Bottom Line:
I would not recommend this bike or a Cannondale product to anyone.
Similar Products Used: Trek, Specialized, Gary Fisher
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Submitted by
Matt Morris
a Downhiller
from Connecticut
Date Reviewed: March 20, 2000
Strengths: The Headshok is great esspecialy the lockout. XT rear Derailleur. Tires Frame is definatly awsome, light, stiff, and strong.
Weaknesses: Cranks Hubs/ spokes
Bottom Line:
Very nice. It holds up through the crap that i put it through weather it is an awsome single track downhill or flying up a crosscountry hill. It is fast on the road and faster off the road. The bottom line is it is great for the price.
