Submitted by
w.yunus abdullah
a Cross Country Rider
from K.Terengganu,Malaysia.
Date Reviewed: April 28, 2002
Strengths: Nice emphasizing decals, stiff, light, looks different from other bikes.
Weaknesses: None.
Bottom Line:
This bike is incredibly fast during climbing, you can push heavier gear than you'd used before on the same trail. On flat, you can save more energy by locking up your shock and feel like an instant road bike. This bike is making me dare to be different. If you're looking for a bike that can do faster climbing, decending even on sprints, this is it. Buy it and you will be please with it.
Bike Setup: CT2 bar & seat post, xtr hub, mavic 517, xt drive train plus SRAM 9.0 SL.
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Submitted by
Willbur
a Cross Country Rider
from Clemson, South Carolina
Date Reviewed: September 25, 2001
Strengths: This bike is super light and can climb like no other. It is very fast on the downhills and is wicked stable. The black and yellow paint scheme is butter as well. Looks really cool.
Weaknesses: Are you serious?
Bottom Line:
This bike is great. Killer cross country race machine. It is definalty worth the greenbax. The Fatty Ultra Head Shock is great. It has a just the right amount of travel and the lockout is in an easily reached place. This bike is not meant to sit in the garage it begs to be ridden and ridden hard. This bike is butter, I give this bike five flamin' chilis!!!!!!
Strengths: everything works amazing the bike is light as hell and it climb up tree pretty easy and flies down singletrack get this bike
Weaknesses: i broke a brake lever but cannondale replaced with no hasle
Bottom Line:
its the sweetest bike out there get it only get it if your gonna ride it alot because its expensof get some thing cheaper if you just go ride once a month
Similar Products Used: there is other ones but they all suck
Bike Setup: full xtr caad 5 frame
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Submitted by
Willy Z
a Cross Country Rider
from Roxboro, NC, US
Date Reviewed: June 12, 2001
Strengths: LightWeight-21.75lbs. Excellent geometry. Slices through single track and downhills. Corners better than anything I've ridden etc.
Weaknesses: None so far
Bottom Line:
This bike retails for $2950.00 and is worth every penny. I got a deal at $1000.00 barely ridden - only 3 months old. This is the best handling bike I've ever ridden. It climbs like a rocket. It's stiff, light, and the head shock is awesome. If yur not happy with this bike...???? 5 Flamers.
Submitted by
Bob Modos
a Weekend Warrior
from Ft. Wayne, IN, USA
Date Reviewed: May 22, 2001
Strengths: Nukeproof construction, excellent climber, wicked decender, stable at all speeds, made in the USA, did I say indestructable?
Weaknesses: hard on the lower back, cranks need to be constantly tightened
Bottom Line:
This bike is awesome. Have augered it bad many times and I haven't broke anything yet. Lesser bikes would be trash by now. This bike climbs like a billygoat, decends like a madman, and handles tight technical singletrack unbeleivably. I think this geometry is about as near perfect as a hardtail can get. Have rode it in Michigan, Indiana, Colorado, and the holy land, Moab. Feels perfect everywhere. Hit 32 mph coming down Gemini Bridges and it was very bumpy, but very stable. Two wheel drifts like the best of em. I can't say enough about how awesome this bike really is. I get on her and think that I am so fortunate that I can afford a machine like this. Only complaint is the slightly harsh rear end, not bad at all, but it doesn't let you forget its aluminum. I'm knocking one chilli for retail price, but this caliber of bike is worth every cent, just find a year old one on the showroom like I did. Bottom line, Awesome, the BMW M3 of hardtail mountain bikes.
Bike Setup: CAAD 4 frame, Headshock Fatty Ultra, Mavic 517 w/Coda Expert Hubs, full XTR drivetrain & binders, Coda Expert Cranks, Easton CT2 carbon bar, Thomson post, 858's, Coda Expert saddle, Panaracer Fire II & Smoke tires, Coda grips & bar ends
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Submitted by
Trey Humphreys
a Cross Country Rider
from Dallas, TX
Date Reviewed: May 10, 2001
Strengths: The geometry is great. The seat tube is a little bit shorter than my 98 F1000 frame but the top tube is the same length. Shaped seat stays!!! This thing is great!
Weaknesses: matte black is hard to keep looking good. I gave up and now it just looks mean!
Bottom Line:
I bought this as a frame upgrade and wow what an upgrade! This is a single track riders dream and it feels like you could climb a wall on it! Cornering is outstanding and the headshok is great for off camber areas! You will not find a better aluminum frame and fork at any price!
Bike Setup: XTR front and rear, XTR Shifting and braking, XT hollowtech crank, Easton Carbon bar and seat post, Time ATAC carbon, XTR hubs on Bontrager Valiant rims.
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Submitted by
travis
a Cross Country Rider
from salt lake city
Date Reviewed: April 9, 2001
Strengths: fast and lightweight. Very smooth on the uphills.
Weaknesses: none
Bottom Line:
This bike is awsome!!! Does everything well. The only wish is that it was a little more dampened on the downhills. I didn't realize how jittery it was untill my wife let me use her Jamis Dragon on the downhills. That bike is butter on the steeps not one ounce of chatter. Not true for the C'dale. It will make your arms ache, but is more responsive. The C'dale kicks on the up's and on the tight single track!!! Over all this bike gets 5 flamin'chilis.
Strengths: Everything on this bike is top notch. No compromises anywhere
Weaknesses: I heard that the CODA pedals aren't the greatest, so before I even hopped on the bike, I made sure I had a new pair of Time ATAC Carbons on. Also, tubeless tire selection was nill at first, but it seems to be coming around now.
Bottom Line:
When you compare this bike's price and Component spec with other top-end bikes built for XC racing, this bike is a no-brainer. Unless you favor a different frame material, this IS your bike. And oh yeah, the bike actually runs about $2700, but I race for the shop I bought it at. Even so, it's still a good price.
Bike Setup: XTR with Coda T2 crank and Avid Arch Supreme Brakes/Levers. Thompson Post, Easton carbon bar, Mavic Crossmax Tubeless.
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Submitted by
Andrew Planchat
a Racer
from Mtl, Quebec, Canada
Date Reviewed: September 11, 2000
Strengths: Geometry, handling, center of gravity, great grip on steep climbs and descents, very lighweight, brakes are incredible, wheels and tires are a dream. XTR is as usual
Weaknesses: Some screws on pedals keep coming loose. I'm watching my cranks because they have come loose twice.
Bottom Line:
I've got lots of miles on this baby in 12 months. Always a pleasure to ride. Any road training I just stopped this year because of this baby! Glad I choose the version without disks. Who needs them my brakes are awesome in all situations. I'm not sure how they did it but my brake pads are in great shape after 1 busy year. I use the front shock lockout all the time in race situations. I think I would prefer the lever to the dial. Light wheels/tires make for great acceleration and climbing. Top score for my black beauty ! This is the first time in five years I get people saying "nice bike man" during my races. I got one flat in one year of lots of riding...all right tubeless! Hint: Try to wash this mat paint and it doesn't come too clean. I put Armour All all over the frame once a week and this really keeps it looking hot hot hot!!! Oh yeah and the mud just falls off! Bonus!! Hint: Follow the instructions for flats...use no levers!! The tire seal is kind of important! This bike retails for 4300 in Canada if I had paid that much for it it would still be good. If you are not really pleased with this bike, nothing will make you a happy man!!
Similar Products Used: Cannondale F900 Specialized S-Works M4 Cannondale F1000
Bike Setup: Stock Except For Easton CT2 Carbon Seat Post, Speedplay Frog Ti Pedals, Yeti Grips
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Submitted by
JIM VANARSDALE
a Weekend Warrior
from OMAHA, NE USA
Date Reviewed: July 11, 2000
Strengths: SUPER LIGHT,CROSS MAX WHEELS,THE BRAKES ROCK!!!
Weaknesses: OTHER THAN DEFECTIVE HUTCHINSON TIRES WHICH CANNONDALE REPLACED RIGHT AWAY AND THE WRONG BRAKE PADS THE BIKE IS AWESOME!!
Bottom Line:
I AM FITTED ON A XL FRAME AND THE TOP TUBE IS STRETCHED OUT PERFECT FOR ME. THE BIKE CLIMBS LIKE A GOAT AND CORNERS EXTREMELY WELL. DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU RIDE IT'S HARD TO RUN THE TUBELESS TIRES AT SUCH A LOW PRESSURE DUE TO GETTING FLAT SPOTS ON THE RIMS, BECAUSE WHERE I RIDE THERE IS LOTS OF STUMPS AND THICK ROOTS STICKING UP. I ALSO AM A TRUE BELIEVER IN THE LOCK OUT FATTY SHOCK, THAT IS AN AWESOME SHOCK. THIS BIKE GETS FIVES BONES FROM ME!!!
Submitted by
Tim Daechsel
a Racer
from Penticton B.C. Canada
Date Reviewed: April 14, 2000
Strengths: super light an honest to god 21.75lbs out of the box tubeless crossmax,no more pinch flats, roll like narrow slicks on the hard pack grip like big nobbies in the loose stuff avid arch supreme brakes are the best, its that simple, check the price of these stoppers in the mags. almost three times as much as xtr no wonder no other mfg.specs them stock
Weaknesses: only two tire mfg. make tubeless so far, mechilin & hutchinson, you won't find a new tire in backwater usa the color flat black shows dirt and dust like you wouldn't believe, at least on this bike I won't be eating much dust
Bottom Line:
this bike is a rocket racer, although not cheap I don't think that you'll find a better hard tail racer at any price. As a racer that doesn't always come in first this bike takes away my favorite excuse( I need a better bike)and my second favorite excuse (I flatted) guess I best get out on a training ride right now.
Strengths: This bike is unreal. It is light as a feather, the wheels are unbelievable, the easton carbon fibre bar is awesome, I think you get my point.
Weaknesses: I havent found any that arent easily replacable. The only thing that comes on the bike that sucks is the cannondale pedals, but I got time atac carbons so im happy.
Bottom Line:
This bike rocks. It kicks my old specialized bikes ass big time.
