Similar Products Used: Trek 6000 (the old one), and multiple jamis and rocky mountain modles
Bike Setup: I have changed the tires the rims the pedals and the brakes.
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Submitted by
Mark
a Cross Country Rider
from Wisconsin
Date Reviewed: March 3, 2004
Strengths: I think that everything on the bike is great. Haven't had really any problems with the bike since I have got it.
Weaknesses: The front shifter gave me a little problem but that was easily fixed. Other than that I don't think that anything is a weakness.
Bottom Line:
I think that the bike is the best. I don't think that I have to upgrade because I don't race anymore and the 25 pounds that it is at is good enough. The only problem was when the shifter refused to shift but that needed to be lubed up and adjusted. Nothing else on the bike has broken, bent or failed in any way. Now that I am in college it is a perfect bike to ride around on campus with.
I had to replace the Coda brakes with Shimano XT discs and hubs. The Codas would not completely stop me on steep inclines and howled like air brakes on an 18 wheeler. The XT's work great.
With the Jumbo frame size I had a correctly sized bike for the first time in my life. Unfortunately my bike was stolen today and it looks like Cannondale has discontinued the Jumbo size.
Headshock is great and has none of that squirmy feeling of Rockshock style front suspensions.
Submitted by
Gen
a Weekend Warrior
from Byfield, MA, USA
Date Reviewed: September 7, 2001
Strengths: Great frame and discs. Headshock has great steering precision and never needed maintinence. Great flat black paint job. It's a Cannondale!
Weaknesses: Gripshift shifters not as good as rapidfire. Could go for a more comfortable seat. Shock could use more travel.
Bottom Line:
This is a great bike if you can find it used in good shape. Low weight, great steering, reliable bike. Makes you a faster rider. The CAAD4 frame on the F2000 is a bit better in the handling department and shock absorption but for almost a grand more you can't complain with a CAAD3. Magura Lousie are better than the CODA disks on the F2000.
Bike Setup: well soon after purchasing the bike the disc brakes started to weaken just as they should have been breaking in and getting powerful, thus were replaced by sweet shimano XT hydros. The fork, even with the 3 inch SL upgrade was never plush enough and lacked any real adjustability, thus was replaced recently by a marazoochi Z3 air which has significantly improved the ride from a quick climber but uncomfortable descender to a fast capable climber with freeriding capabilities. These aftermarket changes have had a noticable impact on my wallet as well as the bike as the rad cannondale frames capibilites are only experienced when riding with equally superior componets. After my afer market changes I have probabally spent $2100 on the bike making it a poor value though is finally a swell preformer.
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Submitted by
Howard Peel
a Weekend Warrior
from England
Date Reviewed: June 10, 2001
Strengths: Frames is rigid and responsive. Lock out facility is really useful.
Weaknesses: Headshock system is unresponsive and tops out constantly causing a very annoying clunk. Partially sorted by fitting a more expensive air shock at my own cost. (There is still a degree of slop in the system when the lockout facility is used). The Coda equipment is largely garbage. Chainset was poorly machined so that the rings would not let go of the chain, even when it was perfectly clean and being turned over by hand. (Replaced under warrently with my dealer fitting a Shimano unit). Rear hub bearings failed constantly. Cannondale claimed that this was down to poor bearings. It is not, the problem is that the housings in the hub are not machined deeply enough so that when the QR is done up side load is placed on the bearings. (Replaced at my own expense with a Shimano XT hub). I can see no reason why a 27.2mm seat pin is used. The design of the frame requires a lot of seat pin out, a thicker pin would teke the load better and look more in balance with the rest of the frame. Disk brakes need careful setting up to avoid drag or sponginess at the lever.
Bottom Line:
Frame concept is good but flawed by details such as ill sorted shock system (especially the damping and rebound arrangement) and a needlessly thin seat pin. Much of the Coda equipment is garbage, especially the rear hub. You will be expected to sort this out at your own expense unless you are happy with the subsititution of a similarly poorly designed piece of replacement Coda kit. With many manufacturers now supplying forks with a lock out facility, I would recommend thinking hard before you bought a similar Cannondale, especially if you have the aptitude to build up a bike from scratch with decent Shimano components. Having said that, it does climb superbly, but my enjoyment has been spoilt somewhat by all the hassle I had getting the thing to work properly and reliably
Similar Products Used: Raleigh LX equipped MTB which was great until finally ridden into the ground after 7 years use.
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Submitted by
Darren
a Cross Country Rider
from Northampton, England
Date Reviewed: March 26, 2001
Strengths: Fantastic frame & shock.Disc brakes are incredible in the UK mud!!!
Weaknesses: Coda hubs/wheelset have been disgraceful.You would not believe how many bearings,freehubs,cassettes and discs I have been through in 12 months.The shop have been wonderful and replaced everything without quibble but a bike at that price should have far superior quality than I have experienced.
Bottom Line:
The new wheelsets have transformed the bike in terms of quality and reliabilty.This is the way the bike should have run since new.It's a beaut. SHAME ON YOU CANNONDALE. THIS IS APPALLING QUALITY FROM YOU. YOU TOOK MY HARD EARNED POUNDS AND TOOK THE PISS.
Similar Products Used: Other much less expensive hardtails without the breakdowns.
Bike Setup: New wheelset.I am now running Hope XC hubs on Mavic X317 rims.
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Submitted by
Mark
a Weekend Warrior
from Wisconsin
Date Reviewed: February 9, 2001
Strengths: I think that all the things on the bike are the strengths.
Weaknesses: I don't think that it has any weaknesses.
Bottom Line:
I think that the bike is a great performer. I haven't had any troubles with anything on it. I have ridden it pretty hard in the last 2 years except during the winter.
Similar Products Used: Hard tails from various companies
Bike Setup: stock
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Submitted by
Andrew
a Cross Country Rider
from Wilmington, NC
Date Reviewed: January 16, 2001
Strengths: Lite (for bike w/ discs), Precise steering, Fast, Braking power
Weaknesses: none so far
Bottom Line:
Expected more trouble from a used 2-yr old bike. Discs bent but were very easy to true. May need headshock work done in the future, but otherwise bike is reliable. Performs better than expected, also looks and feels ready for 2 more trouble-free years. great cross-country bike, Will update in a few months after i get a chance to take it to the mountains
Submitted by
John
a Racer
from Elkton, Maryland, USA
Date Reviewed: November 11, 2000
Strengths: well guy/gals, i love the frame. the paint is sick, i have no real scratches except on the fork.
Weaknesses: here's the list that cannondale just doesn't want you to know. the rims (coda experts) bend like crazy, i'm a 160lb guy, and i've had to relace them three times ($$$, time). next. the brakes stink. they feel like linears, and have more power, but the hopes i've tested are far superior. headshock... uhh, the point of a cannondale. well, it tops out and drives me nuts. rear derailleur... umm, chain ghost shifts (this is xt too) and snaps the rear spokes, 15 so far. other odds and ends... (spec'd hutchy mosquito's stink, no traction but light), coda seat is hard and ideal only for short sprinting off the saddle. seatpost bent. other than that...
Bottom Line:
well, i started racing a lot this year. the cannondale is my race rig. i mean to uprade to shimano xt disks, full xtr, thompson seat post (easton slips), race face next lp's... lot of stuff... i think i should have just sprung for a race model and been done with it. all in all, i would not discourage a lighter, novice racer such as myself from buying this rig. expect to unload some cash to make it into a race worthy machine. but for the weekend warrior or occasional spead freak, i think the gig is decent. not a nike for a seasoned racer, but they all know this anyway... p.s. this company is known in some circles as crack and fail. well, my frame has had some rather rough falls to its credit. i tend to crash when i try to do rocky descents. but the frame is still intact.
Similar Products Used: have a schwinn moab 3 (1999), much more reliable at a lower price.
Bike Setup: my f-900 is now upgraded to xtr rear, easton carbon seatpost and flatbars, and selle flight saddle.
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Submitted by
Mike
a Cross Country Rider
from Hollidaysburg, PA, USA
Date Reviewed: July 2, 2000
Strengths: Awesome Orange color (scares small children)... Great fork and disks (Coda). Stiff and responsive.
Weaknesses: Seat has to go, pedal are crap and the cranks are questionable. Shifters (wish it just came with pods). Finish scratches very easily.
Bottom Line:
The Headshock is awesome. The ability to easily lock-out the fork on demand is a great idea. The bike accelerates, climbs and descends well. Had some problems with the rear caliper but that was fixed free by my LBS. Rain or shine the bike stops on a dime. Bike could be lighter and could do without the coda crap.
Strengths: Head shock, raped fire, light wieght, strong and the color
Weaknesses: I don't think there are any!!
Bottom Line:
I have only been racing for two years, and one year with this bike. I think that racing with a the F900 Cannondale has made me do better in races. I really like the head shock idea and I would recomend this bike to any racer. Wit my Cannondale I feel like I can go up or down any hill or mountian. The dull black color I real like, cause it gives it that I'll beat you all look. I love going to races and showing off my bike, because no one else has Cannondales at our races excpt for my sister and I. Over all this is the best bike I have ever owned.
Strengths: Light frame, headshock, stiff and responsive, people drool over it.
Weaknesses: The hubs died after 3 weeks of UK weather! now waiting to see if Leasure Lakes (UK bike shop) will replace them. Coda Expert discs are pants! my old XT V's are lighter and more powerful. Cheap Kalloy post. Useless Coda pedals Stems only come in 3 lengths and none of them suit me!
Bottom Line:
Ok it rides really well, super responsive, stiff, climbs really well. But the faults are just too big to ignore.....Coda parts are crap, front ride height is too high and stem choice is limited and paint quality is poor. Now we will see what the aftermarket service is like in the UK!
