Strengths: This bike has outlasted thousands of riders (universally) since it was new, and still rocks! It was used heavily (read "pounded") as an urban trick bike for the first 3 years of its life by a 180lb rider. I bought it from my friend, and when the Headshock broke I began adding the following over time: killer Marzocci MX Pro fork (via Cane Creek headset), Thudbuster seatpost, Avid SD7 and 160mm disc w/ SD7 Levers, sram 9.0 der's, WTB Laser saddle (all of this used and essentially 'free' except for $80 headset adapter) and new 8spd sram cassette.
Weaknesses: Headshok really "held bike bike" - was just not up to the par of the bike (it's REALLY rocky here). I realized the true value of the bike once I installed the Marzocci.
It's incedible for what it is. Yes, I would get a Blur or the likes if I could afford it... but I truly LOVE this bike...still!
Bottom Line:
I now have a super squirty little rocket hardtail that takes a POUNDING three to four times per week on my local blazin' rockfest and never, ever moans! To be fair I weigh in at a reletively light 160lbs, but ride after abusive ride, year after abusive year it takes it in stride!
Most of my friends ride heavy DH bikes in the 40lb / $4000 range - we share 95% of the same trails! Hmmm??? Weighs less than 25lbs.
Submitted by
Derek Jordan
a Cross Country Rider
from Bellingham, WA
Date Reviewed: September 5, 2003
Strengths: Strength/Weight/Price ratio, prettier than a full moon. Fast and responsive.
Weaknesses: Some of the throw-away components. Also, I came along this bike when disc brakes were just a fan$y option--at least locally--so ended up with rimmers. Very stiff, which I like, but you may not.
Bottom Line:
Like the reviewer below, I mourn the absence of the likes of the F700 this day. It was everything a real, working mountain bike (sans DH) could ever aspire to; at least as far as I know. It's timeless form and grace still apparent even after three years of brutal, epic XC riding four days a week, it sold for just $200 less than purchase price. The Headshock was unfailing--just pull the boot down and clean/relube every couple months. The frame seemed indominable. I'm not a pro-level racer or anything, but nobody could pass me if I didn't want them to. I only sold it when (almost unintentionally) I scored a 2003 C'dale F1000--w/ti lefty, Hayes hydro, xtr, mavic, etc.-- from a Miami, FL bike store. As good as the F700 was, this one is so much smoother.
Similar Products Used: Wouldn't call meself a Cdale fanatic, per se, but due to being in the right place/time (NW Wash. in November) I've always managed to score concurrent year's top model for no more than $1000
Bike Setup: Upgraded immediately to RaceFace cranks, XT fr.& r. Deurr., profile stiffy stem & carbon h-bars, Sun Rhino front rim and Mavic ceramic rear
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Brian Matula
a Weekend Warrior
from Berkeley Hts., NJ, USA
Date Reviewed: May 22, 2003
Strengths: *L-I-T-E! As one whose previous off road jaunts were made on the throw aways I've cobbled together from parts since I was a kid, or my older steel frame MTB, the CAAD 2 aluminum frame, even though outdated by 2003 standards, still stands as an achievement. You can pick it up with a few fingers, and it rides up hills with ease. And it rides better today than even some new aluminum bikes i've tested. I even took the gears off and road it for a month as a singlespeed and the light frame made it no harder than w/ gears! *Lock-out! Since I sometimes ride the bike on the road in the winter months when it's snowy, the lock out for the front fork is great. Plus, since I sometimes ride on the street to GET to the local trails, the lockout really works. Plus the headshock fork has an aesthetic simplicity of design that reminds me of a traditional rigid fork; it has this cool understated look that belies it's ability to absorb shocks, rocks, and roots. *Reversible stem: the threadless handlebar stem can be flipped upright or canted downwards to provide a flatter riding position. I like it down. *Frame gaurantee! Cannondale builds it in the U.S. of A. and says it won't break. If it does, it's warranted for the life of the frame, so no worries! *The ppatriotic paint: my f700 is the Olympic edition so it's red white and blue. GO USA!
Weaknesses: The medium frame size is too small to really use the mater bottle mount on the seat tube. But the one on the downtube works fine! * Grip shift. I prefer an actual lever or something to flip, thank you. The grip shift takes longer to shift than a rapid-fire setup or even the old thumb shifters of yore. In fact, the rapid-fire style shifters on a junk mtb i restored actually shift better.
Bottom Line:
Lightweight. Cool. Easy to use. If you ride offroad at least several times a week this, or any cannondale, is worth the bucks. Even does duty as a winter bike. I don't race i mostly ride alone so can't comment on that, but I have ridden down some nearly virtical trails in the woods, and this bike makes it a less frightening experience. Light weight makes it easy to lug over anything you can't clear, like fences, trees over 4 feet thick, etc. You might want to put on new shifters, but other than that this mtb really has no flaws. offers a truly great ride at a not to bad price. A recent visit to cannondales website informs me the f700 is no longer featured, which strikes me as sad if it is true. This bike is a really good package for the cyclist.
Similar Products Used: 1996 Trek 820 MTB with aftermarket Rock ShoX fork; several other used MTBs, one of them a cheapo aluminum duel suspension which I broke in half by accident
Bike Setup: one bottle cage, original rims and tires, Schwinn grips, will install cyclocomputer when I get the time/dough/patience
Strengths: strength, weight, very very stiff (good climbing etc), looks cool
Weaknesses: very very stiff (sore a$$), headshox
Bottom Line:
Ive managed to brake alot of stuff on my bike but my frame has been the only reliable piece. it has a very comfortable feel to it, and its kept me on the bike when i thought i would be on the ground. u can tell its stiff when u fish tail and ur bike skips the ground near the end, thats because my wheels suck though. u need strong wheels with this frame, just strong components because this bike beats everything, including the rider. learn how to take the rigidity and u then u can appreciate what it does for u, i find it kinda fun to have my bike shaken around, hey ur on a bike not a luxury car... expect to take hits but if u get a real sore a$$ get a cane creek suspension seat post. its a fun reliable frame, just i can only upgrade with headshox and i wish i had the option of other forks on the market without buying a goofy adapter. i give it a 4.75, but i cant so it gets a 5
Favorite Trail: i just like to showoff, theres no girls on trails are there?
Duration Product Used: 2 Years
Price Paid:
$650.00
Purchased At: Landrys Bikes, Danvers MA
Similar Products Used: alot
Bike Setup: new saddle, lx brakes, profile bar ends, friends old no-name front wheel (my old one burnt out, dont buy stxrc hubs. i plan on getting new wheels very soon), velociraptor rear tire, self sealing tubes, new coda grips, lx rapidfire 8 speed shifter and grip shift left side shifter... hence the name michael jackson bike.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
JASON
a Weekend Warrior
from ALEXANDRIA VA,
Date Reviewed: July 2, 1999
Strengths: very light frame, no flex, good for climbing over logs ext, and its still in one peace.
Weaknesses: high price tag, VOLVO DECALS
Bottom Line:
F700 VIPER RED, PAYED $780 END OF YEAR DEAL,THIS BIKE HAS BEEN VERY GOOD TO ME. IT TAKES A BEATING EVERY WEEKEND. I LIKE IT MORE THAN THE SUPER V I WAS THINKING ABOUT BUYING. SO I WILL JUST KEEP IT UNTIL IT BREAKS....
