Submitted by
Christoph Zimmer
a Cross Country Rider
from Duesseldorf, Germany
Date Reviewed: June 14, 2003
Strengths: - light-wight (in combination with the fatty ultra perfect!) - good paint and cool deacals - stiff - with headshock no maintenance needed
Weaknesses: -because of the tubes the disc-brake (rear) cries sometimes
Bottom Line:
The best hardtail i ever had. every person that rides a few miles says that the geometry is the perfect compromise. it's aggresive enough for climbing and fighting but on the other hand it won't kill your neck like other racing-bikes do.
the paint-work is great.
the stiffness of the fork and the frame is superb. there is no better solution for a light-weight-race-bike with disc-brakes.
this frame-kit is worth every penny.
but be aware of the small parts: the headset cost about 70 euro and so on...
Bike Setup: CAAD4 + Fatty Ultra + Mavic CrossMax + Magura Louise + ...
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Fluffy
a Cross Country Rider
from Belgium
Date Reviewed: August 20, 2002
Strengths: Light, stiff, looks good, ...
Weaknesses: Headtube diameter, price
Bottom Line:
Very light, very fast, climbs well. I suggest buying it as a frameset. I bought it as a complete bike and it took me a lot of time and money to replace all the crappy Coda parts...
I give the frame 5 flaming turds overal since it's a kick ass frame, but only 4 value since it costs way too much (especially in Europe)...
Submitted by
Twisted
a Cross Country Rider
from Whitehall, PA
Date Reviewed: June 12, 2002
Strengths: - very strong - very durable - agressive geometry
Weaknesses: - proprietary headset/fork/stem
Bottom Line:
I was very pleased with my old CAAD2. So, I decided I might as well get another C'dale. My friend had this CAAD4 before me and put it through hell with NO PROBLEMS. So, I have the frame now and I love it. Very light and stiff. It handles very nicely. I got a great deal as I only paid $200.00 for the frame WITH the fork! :) As long as you don't mind only being able to use a HeadShok, the frame is great.
Bike Setup: CAAD4, Super Fatty DL, Next LP, 9.0SL, XT Disc, ...
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Tony
a Weekend Warrior
from Bergen County, NJ
Date Reviewed: May 13, 2002
Strengths: Durability and Appearance
Weaknesses: Price and Comfort
Bottom Line:
Regardless of the fact that I'm a die-hard Cannondale fan, their frames are way over-priced.
Yes, the quality of my new CAAD4 is excellent. Yes, the product is virtually bulletproof. And yes, the ride is totally Cannondale predictable (stiff but always straight to where you point it). However, $560 for a frame and front shock upgrade (from a CAAD2) was somewhat of a kick in the butt.
The ride on this frame is slightly less harsh than my rigid fork CAAD2, but my 2002 CAAD5 delivers a much plusher ride.
For those who love Cannondales, have money to burn, and like the traditional stiff ride that fat tubed aluminum offers, this frame is the one for you.
this is a true value for ur bucks bike that is anytime capable of blasting more expensive bikes away and occasionally a few team edition full-subs. change a new frame only when the Caad 7 frame is out!!! quick response and can be blurringly fast on a descent to the extent tat i thrased my set of rims on the way down. overall rating is 4 cos certain in house parts like the seatpost and hanle bar can be scrapped!deore shifters sucks.
Bike Setup: ct2 handle bar,coda stem,fatty super,magura julie disc,thomson elite seatpost,xt front and rear deraillers-sram powerglide 11-32 rear cassette,mavic 317 disc rims with coda expert hubs,hutchison tires,san marco era saddle.
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Submitted by
Joa
a Weekend Warrior
from Chesapeake
Date Reviewed: November 6, 2000
Strengths: light, great finish, smooth, geometry
Weaknesses: Proprietarian shocks (Common to C'dale), cable run
Bottom Line:
I just bought a CAAD4 completely set up from a BSG, based on the 2000 team frameset with Fatty SL. He used it for racing for a year, came serviced new, with some new parts almost like new for only DM2750.- equals USD1200. I cannot tell you how exciting this bike is. With a short stem it pretty much rides like the Genesis geometry bikes. Differences: -> The GF hartails give you much more punishment, the C'dale is just sweet compared to the GFs. -> Uphill and technical sections are a piece of cake -> Downhill it did not give me the confidence right away i have on Genesis, maybe due to shock limitations, but a few rides and this will be history.
I wonder how it compares to a Supercaliber, but i feel like this is the last word in hardtails. I never want to get off this bike, it's just sugar, better than sex. Because of the limited time i can ride, i never considered to get a top of the line bike before, but now i am sorry that i did not make my life better much earlier...
Similar Products Used: 98 Gary Fisher Zig, Paragon, '90 Diamond Back HT, demos
Bike Setup: 70mm Fatty SL, Mavic X517 rims, Michelin tires, Avid 2.0 w/Kool Stops, XTR, Synchros, RaceFace all over the place
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Submitted by
Stephen
a Racer
from Winston-Salem, NC
Date Reviewed: August 15, 2000
Strengths: Lightweight, Stiff, FAST.
Weaknesses: does that say weakness??
Bottom Line:
The CAAD 4/Fatty Ultra is a deadly combination, they ride up hills almost effortlessly and descend very fast. Perfect for XC racing. If you put the right components on it you can trim it easily under 23 lbs for under 2 grand. But one thing is the choice of colors (the lack of) you have only two choices for each model and the upper ones only one color, mine is grey with black logos. 5 flaming chilis for this one.
Bike Setup: 2000 CAAD 4, Fatty Ultra, Coda TX2 crank, XTR rear, LX front and shifters, Avid brakes, CT2 post, EA-70 Bar, XT cassete, Mavis Wheels w/ Coda Expert Hubs and DT spokes, Panaracer Fire XC Pro tires (blue) . (F1000sl)
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Submitted by
Joe
a Cross Country Rider
from Landing, NJ, USA
Date Reviewed: June 27, 2000
Strengths: Light Weight, Stiffness
Weaknesses: It is a little pricy, but it is a excellent frame
Bottom Line:
This frame is awesome. Climbs like a bat out of hell. My overall riding has improved greatly since getting this frame. Very responsive steering. Frame is stiff, but the newly designed rear triangle takes some of the more violent jolts out of the ride that the CAAD2 frame experienced. Overall, I would recommend this frame to anyone.
Submitted by
William Moritz
a Racer
from Houston, Texas, United States of America
Date Reviewed: June 15, 2000
Strengths: The Bang for the Buck Factor ! a super light weight frame and super stiff light weight fork ( fatty Ultra @ 2.7lbs ) all for under a Grand! there may be slightly lighter alu. frames ( 00' schwinn homegrown @ 2.9 lbs ) however none as fast and a no flex climbing beast as the c-dale's PERIOD. also... i like the clean sanded down welds it just looks clean.
Weaknesses: NO Paint Choices for folks who just purchace the frame set and not the whole bike!!! this is my fourth Cannondale and only one that I bought had a nice color my 98 caad-3 F-2000 in viper "team" red all the rest have been Ugly Flat Dull Colors, my 97 super v-2000 "flat black" my 99 caad-3 "flat drk blue" and my 2000 F-3000sl in "flat black" again!!! Come On ! Cannondale give us at least 2 color choices! for those of us who buy the individual frame and fork.
Bottom Line:
If you are looking for a FAST bike that corners like it's on rails, climbs like a Mountian Goat on crack! can decend confidently with no flex. GO BUY THIS FRAME AND FORK TODAY!
where else are you gonna get a U.S. made frame fork and sealed headset for under 6 lbs and under a grand?
I'll give it a value rating of 5 chilis, however only 3 chilis cuz of the lack of color choices.
Strengths: Responsive and Efficient. Race-happy frame.
Compared with CAAD3: * Much more comfortable. * Slightly longer wheelbase and “Genesis” geometry aspires confidence in technical sections.
Compared with CAAD5: Can hold on to my trusty, dependable and user-serviceable XTR V’s
Weaknesses: * If you’re 6’ like me, you will need an extra long seat-post (but a TI one would also add to ride comfort). * I would be surprised if it is as durable as CAAD3.
BIG MINUS for CDALE (not the bike): Bike geometry tables are wrong! Wheelbase is closer to 108cm then the stated 106.9 – which makes a big difference.
Bottom Line:
I apologize in advance if this is long and detailed, but I would like to share my experience, especially with CAAD3 owners who are considering this frame/bike:
I have been looking for a bike to replace my "oh so good", but "oh so harsh" CAAD3 for a year now. I never even considered the CAAD4 because the charts said it would be shorter than my (already a bit too short) CAAD3, and the XL sized bike I test-rode felt much too big. I test rode MANY bikes, mostly FS and was never really happy because “it wasn’t as alive as the F” or “The steering wasn’t as precise” etc. I was getting very frustrated…
Than my LBS suggested we actually measure the CAAD4 that he himself was riding. To my (our?) surprise it was 1cm LONGER than the bike I was riding, and with the shorter chainstays this meant about 1.5cm (more than half an inch) longer “front to center”. The only problem I had to overcome was the short seat tube – solved by a moots laidback post. I took the guy’s bike to test it. I was going to ride it for a few days but was sold after the first ride. I took to the rockiest terrain I know, and it performed MUCH better than CAAD3 although the later is equipped with a suspension seat-post. Also, I was riding with my regular riding buddies, and I noticed I was going much faster in comparison to previous rides:
Specifically what I noticed (than and since) was:
1. Headshock: The 80mm is a big improvement over my 60mm (Which can’t be said about the air-sprang 70mm versions). It almost as good as Spring for the small bumps, and the added travel is very noticable. 2. The rear triangle really does absorb shocks. And with the addition of the Moots most of the Harshness of the old frame is gone. * The above points also contribute to being able to ride downhill faster. 3. The rearward center of weight geometry (let’s give credit to Mr. Fisher here) aspires confidence over tight technical terrain, especially the drop-offs. This is stating the obvious, but I mean to say that is very noticeable.Strangely enough, climbing ability hasn’t suffered from that either. 4. The bike like to be hammered just as the CAAD3 does (if not more).
The only drawback in behavior is the fact that you have to lean forward much more during fast turns otherwise the front-wheel tends to loose grip.
Similar Products Used: CAAD3 (for three years) , Sugar (tested)
Bike Setup: Large CAAD4 frame. 80mm fork (had to insist on that, since 70mm comes standard). Moots Ti Laid back post (Grrrrreat!) . XTR 8sp everything except XT hollowtech BB and Crank.
Bike Setup: Fatty Ultra, XT/XTR, CODA Expert disk (awesome)
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Pascal INTZOPOULOS
a Cross Country Rider
from Paris, France
Date Reviewed: May 2, 2000
Strengths: Je viens d'acheter un cadre Cannondale CAAD4 : outre qu'avec sa déco bleue team, il a un look ravageur, je découvre de nouvelles sensations de légèreté, de rigidité, donc d'efficacité, habitué que j'étais à un cadre CAAD2. La moindre impulsion sur les pédales est intégralement retransmise et associé à des Crossmax, j'ai l'impression d'être dopé... Vraiment un cadre formidable, cher mais formidable !
Strengths: The CAAD4's hour glass seat stays (similar to Schwinn's epicentre design) provides maximum comfort (as far as aluminum frames go) while still providing excellent tracking and fightening efficiency. Not only is the frame light (Cannondale compares it to Merlin's Extralight frames in weight) but is stronger than any frame in it's category, with no ridiculous tube gussets or headtube reinforcements (read: Specialized, Kona).
Weaknesses: There really are none. The only issue that you might come across is the fact that Cannondale classifies a medium as a 16", with top tube lengths similar to a 17" or 17.5" in most makes.. in other words, you might have to raise your seat higher than usual.
Bottom Line:
If you are looking for the most efficient and light racing frame for the money on the market today, look into a Cannondale CAAD4 frame (CAAD5 frames, although sweet are disc-specific). This frame is not for the weekend warrior enthusiast, who might find the harsh ride of aluminum which comes as the price of efficiency. Bottom Line: YOU HAVE TO RIDE ON TO BELIEVE IT.
Just bought a F3000SL and love it. This frame is soooooo awesome.The frame has much better racing geometry than previous cannondales did. I have to give this bike five stars because it's just awesome.
I bought two CAAD4's recently. One for me and one for my girlfriend. She got the F2000 and I purchased the CAAD4 frameset in the team blue graphics. This bike is incredible. I had it speced with the CODA compact disks, 9.0SL rear and XT front deraileuers, CODA disk hubs with Mavic X223 rims, CODA bar and saddle, Thomson seatpost, 535 pedals, and the CODA Tarantula crank with the XTR BB. I cannot be more pleased. The bike climbs like a fiend and is as tough as nails. I only have two complaints and that is that the Tarantula crank/XTR BB is not made for big people. I myself am six three and 250 lbs. It creaks like mad, requires constant tightening of the crank bolts, and don't be surprised if you start grinding down the splines if the bolts loosen themselves. My other complaint is about the disk brakes. They work wonderfully but are noisy and are challenging to adjust. Overall I like them but find out if you like them for yourself. In summary just think about older Cannondales and then make them better. Everything that you complained about before is fixed and better. If you can buy this bike. You won't be sorry unless you are a big guy and get the Tarantula. Otherwise it's great. 4.5 chillis....5 if you get a race face crank
