Strengths: frame quality!, good components, excelent fork (Marzocchi DJ2) all components are built to handle really hard use (pedals, cranks etc are bombproof). Good tires (kenda k-rad)
Weaknesses: Quite heavy, it weights 16 kilograms (about 35 pounds) but you can easily make it lighter.
Bottom Line:
I used this bike for DJ and street, I have a lot of fun with it! I love this bike
Strengths: bad ass bike i bought this built up from a lbs mechanic is came with marzocchi bomber fork race face husfeller cane creek head set easton handle bars dual duty front rim sun rino lite rear rim i tor this bike up at the skate park road bowls sweet did the dirt jump great
Weaknesses: sun rhino lite rym got a dent dirt jumping but with all on this bike good luck finding a deal like i got
Bottom Line:
i tore this bike up at the skate park killed stairs road dirt and used it as a comuter for a year and a half or so this was my only bike for the longest time i can not belive this singlespeed did everything i threw at it. i recently retiered this bike to turn it into a trail bike and got an addict cycles frame to replace this i am switching over parts and bought new mavic deetracks this bike hands down is the best bike i ever bought i am so glad i ran into this in the local shop this bike will last for ever i felt it was time for a new dj frame and wante to turn this into a trail bike
Bike Setup: kick ass marsocchi bomber camo seat easton bars cane creek head set race face bash guard husfeller veanks dual duty front rim rhino lite rear rim
Strengths: light ( compared to cro-mo street bikes) good geometry for manuals and gives you confidence on the bigger djs
Weaknesses: came with mechanical brakes and rims look a little skimpy but i havent bent them yet
Bottom Line:
for the price and the quality of bike it is a wicked deal. good for beginners and experienced riders. rips the street and the djs. Stoked on this bike!!!!
Similar Products Used: transitions trail or park, giant stp, specailized p.bikes
Bike Setup: one juicy5 in the back holzfeller blue macniel grips :) xpedo pedals dj3 single speed
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Submitted by
Devin Kovach
a
from boulder colorado usa
Date Reviewed: June 1, 2006
Strengths: the geometry on this frame is what got me to buy this bike its comfy it has the over sized head tube so You have the capability to put any fork a comp requires another plus is that it is hand made which helps on over all weld strength
Weaknesses: the two things I would say need to go are the yokes and the accentric bottom bracket just off set a euro it the place of the accentric And the aluminum IM personaly a chromo fan but like how responsive an aluminum frame is
Bottom Line:
if you like to dirt jump this is the bike you need to own I have never been so pleased with any bike in my entire life.
Similar Products Used: I have been rideing bmx my whole life and when I test rode this bike it felt just like my bmx frame i rode out the door and did a 180 pivot like butta
Bike Setup: over all the set up on this bike is awsome I sugest to the retired bmx'er
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Submitted by
evan hipditch
a
from st.john's nl canaha
Strengths: This bike is very strong for almost anything. I use it for jumping 5 foot jumps and huge drops and it stays strong. There havent been any major problems. Also good for downhill. Great shocks for jumping and the gears work very well. A great bike.
Weaknesses: The shocks could be a little bigger because i sometimes almost bottom out when I land off big jumps. Not a good bike for up and down trails, i figured that out the hard way. This bike is too heavy for that. Also my front disk brake squeeks like thats its job. Its probbably the fault of the bike store because the rotor is bent. Also the pedals are very grippy which can be bad if you are trying to reposition your foot at the last second before a jump, But these are just little things.
Bottom Line:
This is a great solid bike for downhill and evenmore for dirt jumping. It has a solid construction and only has a few minor problems. Buy it if you want to do that.
Submitted by
dave
a Weekend Warrior
from Victoria, B.C., Canada
Date Reviewed: April 27, 2005
Strengths: Amazing frame, the components are wicked. My chase is a 2004, so it has the dirt jumper 3 forks rather than the manitou. All of the components on the chase are top notch, the avid mechanical discs kick ass. The overall bike looks and performs very very well
Weaknesses: I think it has changed for the 2005 model year, but my chase came with a really lame downhill seat that killed my butt. It also came with the uncommon inner tubes that have the different valves (not schrader).
Bottom Line:
This bike KICKS BUTT. The overall feel of the bike (i got a medium size frame and i'm 6'3") is very good, very agile and i can really make it fly due to its size and weight. I got mine on sale because it's last year's model, but even with the 2005 price tag it would be well worth the value for the amazing frame and components. bottom line: looking for a great dirt jumper/ street bike? get the chase, or at least consider it.
best bike i ever had because this thing could take me everywhere that i what . berfect bike to do any kind of crazy thing crazy as this seem 's this bike is my life
ps hope that these bikes cannondale will continue to performe even better in the furture.
Strengths: the stability that this bike provides both on the ground and air is amazing. If you want to hit something and you've got the balls to do it this bike will take the abuse.
Weaknesses: none
Bottom Line:
The bike is sick. Some people were complaining about not being able to wheelie. Maybe they're just all mountain riders that are used to wheeling in the saddle. The manuals are a lil bit hard. The bearclaws for pedals make for some rather sketchy bails when u start to float backwards. Weight really isn't that big of a deal once u start riding it. If I had to guess it's just that people arn't use to the differnt geometry. It's literaly no effort to bring the back tire up while J-hoping or jumping. bottom line is I love this bike. Deff a great buy. Oya. if u ride winter pick up some spair tires to stud cuz on snow or really wet grass u slip like crazy
Submitted by
Chris
a Downhiller
from east yorkshire
Date Reviewed: December 26, 2004
Strengths: [Price in £!, and it's the 2005 model]Lightweight, corners nice, components are of the highest quality of any stock bike, jumps well, forks plush, hayes brakes are well sharp. Pimp Paint job; it changes colour!
Weaknesses: Forks have too light a spring for a hard riding bike, i weigh 11 stone and can bottom them by moving my weight over the front without pushing. tyres are useless in uk in winter, high rollers make it handle like a dream. Pointless front mech+ 26t ring. 11-32t cassette has not got the gear resolution for a 4X bike. Does not have street bike geometry with 100mm travel fork.
Bottom Line:
The soft springs in the fork are the biggest let down when moving from boxxers with 100kg plus springs, they are very good all the time though and dont bottom in a nasty, overly noticable way, the only time they felt worse than Reba team was whilst pre-jumping stair sets. Take drop-offs onto flat with care. Other than that now ive got a short range cassette it is the best off road hardtail i have ever ridden, and has brought a very racey and agile style to my riding. I think if you are looking to mainly ride street make sur you can afford some longer travel forks to sort out the geometry and low BB, i may be a little harsh though as i have moved across from a DMR rhythm with 24" wheels. If you mainly ride jumps & singletrack buy this bike.
Similar Products Used: DMR rhythm, Trek bruiser, PlanetX jack flash, orange 222
Bike Setup: Stock except high rollers, 12-23t cassette,
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Submitted by
Griffin
a Downhiller
from Mill Valley, CA
Date Reviewed: November 2, 2004
Strengths: Hussefelt cranks, Avid CPS disc brakes, Maxxis Highroller tires (for the rainy seasons), ODI Lock On grips, well-built wheelset.
Weaknesses: The fork. The fork. The fork. Oh, and the fork. If you plan on doing any sort of serious riding, or ever picking up the front end at all, ditch that beast of a fork right now. At 7.2 lbs, the '04 DJ 3 is almost as heavy as the 888R, and not even nearly as cool or useful. Having that fork on the front is like having a ton of bricks strapped to the front of your bike. Also, the stock Cannondale platform pedals are walking deathtraps, according to the 27 stitches in my shin. Switch to something will smaller pins like Truvativ or Atomlab.
Bottom Line:
The bottom line is that this bike has the potential to become one's main hardtail bike. Being able to equally conquer the slalom, mountaincross, and cross country short-track courses, while also doubling as a weekend urban assault or BMX track dominator, the Chase is the jack-of-all-trades of the hardtail world. As soon as one replaces the silly excuse for a front fork, the bike becomes something that truly shines and stands out among other meager excuses for hardtails.
Similar Products Used: Specialized P.3, Azonic DS-1, Kona Roast.
Bike Setup: Stock medium '04 bike except for the following changes: 1999 Marzocchi Z.1 Alloy 4" fork, Hayes hydraulic 8" front brake, '98 XT v-lever for rear disc, Shimano Dura Ace rear derailleur 10/9-speed, Shimano Dura Ace 12-25 rear cassette 9-speed, Truvativ Hussefelt chainguide, S&M platform pedals, Tompson seatpost, WTB Rocket V saddle, and WTB Mutanoraptor 2.14/2.24 tires.
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Submitted by
Adam
a Downhiller
from Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Date Reviewed: October 4, 2004
Strengths: Solid Frame, Lightweight when I first bought it, around 34lbs. The part spec is decent, but I had pretty much everything changed to my liking.
Weaknesses: None really so far
Bottom Line:
This bike is super pimped with the parts I have on it now, Cannondale should've made this bike with this parts spec and called it the Chase Pro model or something.
Its a bit heavier aroung 36lbs, but it doesn't ride like it, wicked trick/street bike, I've learned a ton on this bike, and am still learning.
Similar Products Used: Kona Scrap, Specialized P.3, Norco 4hun, Devinci Hucker, Norco Rampage
Bike Setup: 2004 L Chase, 04 Manitou Flick (Camo), Atomlab Trailpimps 26 front, 24 rear, Chris King ISO Disc hubs (gold), Hayes HFX-9 6" brakes, SRAM X-7 derailler and shifter, MRP Bones Cranks, Livid Chainguide, E.13 Black supercharger, Maxxis Hookworms, Raceface Diabolus stem, Azonic CF-1 Carbon bar, ODI Lockons, IRD Blacklighting cassette and chain, and Azonic Xtension pedals.
