Submitted by
simpterfex
a Downhiller
from kodiak, ak, usa
Date Reviewed: May 3, 2011
Strengths: Awesome Geometry, frame and overall design.
Weaknesses: Chain guide is needed, brakes need to be upgraded, fork is lame,
Bottom Line:
I got this bike as a winter commuter for cheep from craigslist. Soon as I sat down on this thing I was in love, It rides great on the ice and snow especially with the holy rollers. It has led me back into the world of dirt jumping and crossed me over to downhill and freeride. I used to BMX and this is a perfect bike for anyone looking for that next step in dirt jumping, trail slaying excitement. This bike murders the jumps even when they are covered in mud!
Bike Setup: Fox f29 fork and new hydro brakes new stem and 1 1/8" headset conversion.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
cabbage chris
a Weekend Warrior
from blyth, newcastle, northumberland, uk
Date Reviewed: June 17, 2008
Strengths: everything, quite literally i find this bike amazing, i have owned loads of rides from sussers to hardtails and this is the dogs bo""ocks, though there are a few minor problems i have noticed and changed.
Weaknesses: the bars and stem that come on the cannondale chase 2 (07 white model) are rather weak and let the bike down, the bars are rather flimsy and flex quite a bit and the stem just looks like crap.
also i found that it was a bit overcrowded with cables if that makes any sense, i removed the front shifter and front mech and it still look overcrowded also all of the cable are are too short including the hydraulics making life harder.
also i found the hayes hfx-9 dh 2 brakes on the bike to be useless in braking and went through many pads.
Bottom Line:
a truly amazing bike and rides sweet, a few minor problems brakes being a main one but i have always wanted hopes so i would have changed them regardless, and an epic for looks and ride
Submitted by
Joseph Bowman
a Weekend Warrior
from Cookeville
Date Reviewed: May 10, 2007
Strengths: Strong Frame, wheels, pedals, handlebar, stem. Smooth shifting, rolling, pedaling. Great shock so far. Tires have very little rolling resistance(which is what they are known for). Great shock(dirt jumper 3). Give the disc pads a little while to break in and they will stop you very well.
Weaknesses: Cannondale brake levers are a touch on the flimsy side. Better than the cheap avids though. Slightly on the heavy side but for a bike that is built to be as tough as this one, I can't complain! Seat is slightly uncomfortable but if you are using it like your supposed to, it won't matter.
Bottom Line:
If you are used to riding regular frames, this will take you a while to get used to. Once you get used to the geometry, steering, pedaling, shifting(geared way different than an XC bike!!!), and get the seat and handlebars adjusted just right, it will be great for anyone wanting a beefed up mountain bike that will take jumps, handle well and look great! This bike is a great deal. I would suggest it to anyone! --By the way, the picture makes it look like a bmx bike which I was not wanting but it is definitely a mountain bike that has had a huge geometry face lift! I give this bike all the chilies. I think Cannondale finally got the bike right this year. I know others haven't been happy with years past.
Similar Products Used: Specialized-Hardrock, Cannondale-F600-F1000-F3000sl, Haro-V2 that is tricked out and Raleigh-Mojaveh.
Bike Setup: Stock 2007 model Chase 2 - except for ODI BMX grips which I would suggest to anyone if they can find them. Easiest grips on the hands that I have come across. They lock on too!
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
jake
a Weekend Warrior
from newton MA USA
Date Reviewed: November 28, 2006
Strengths: just about every thing. The frame is amazing, The stock drive train is not that bad, wheels hold up, if you maintain them, brakes are good, head set is HUGE, manuels are simple, easy to tranfer your weight over dirt jumps and much more.
Weaknesses: The forks were sh*t. so i got manitou gold label 2's. There good but have been havin probs with bein stiff but i like em. brakes need often adjustment
Bottom Line:
THIS BIKE IS AWSOME!!!!! light but extremely stiff and strong. I can ride just about any types of DJ's and even BMX styled and i dont have any probs levelin out my wieght.
If this is one of your options for a dirt jumper buy it, if its not one of your options make it one and buy it anyways
Similar Products Used: Had a 2004 norco torrent (great bike for every thing but dirtjumps and park) specialized p3, p2 and about every thing else out there
Bike Setup: 2006 chase 2, 2007 manitou gold label 2 (lime green!) 2006 e 13 SRS and every thing else is stock
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Submitted by
brent lawler
a
from calgary, alberta, canada
Date Reviewed: August 29, 2006
Strengths: the frame is awsome, it feels like you are sitting right in the middle of the bike. i love the platform pedals they give you so much grip when standing on them
Weaknesses: the fork is a peice of crap i bottom out going up curbes
Bottom Line:
its a really good bike. but id like to see cannondale put some better things on this bike for when they sell it but i guess thats what the chase 1 is for.
Bike Setup: all the standard stuff but i threw on a truvativ box guide and manitou sherman breakout plus
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Spencer Johnson
a Weekend Warrior
from Superior, WI, 54880
Date Reviewed: May 24, 2006
Strengths: Everything is just strong frame is stiff. The bike is set up perfectly for Dirt Jumping, Freeride, and Downhill if you put a bigger fork on the front end. Really fun bike.
Weaknesses: Fork needed to be re-built after like a week of riding. The stance line doesn't work very good. I put a chainguide on the crank because the chain was falling of, now works awesome.
Bottom Line:
The bottom line with this bike: It is so Strong nothing brakes Buy this bike Its extreemly flickable and stands up to punishment.
Similar Products Used: I used a Fuji Panic Comp. The bike is strong for its price but you grow out of it.
Bike Setup: Fork: Manitou Stance Blut 1.5 Steerer Frame: Extreemly Strong Cannondale Wheels: Dependable Sun Rims Single Track 20mm Thru in Front and QR in the rear. Crank: Truvative Hussefelt 2 ring Bash Brakes: Avid BB5 nice as BB7 if you know how to adjust them. Bars: Cannondale Freeride Nice and strong mine have taken a beating and are still good Stem: Sec 1.5 Seat:SDG big seat might look dumb but helps with tricks
Weaknesses: forks need a upgrade other wise when they reach near bottom the fork hits the wheel. Brake hoses are exremely fragile
Bottom Line:
A piece of rubbish. more trouble than its worth due to crappy componentry good frame and alrite spec wheels but a very dissapointing fork and brakes. Seems like agood price for what you get but it may aswell me a saracen with suntours in disguise. Piece of trash.
Bike Setup: standard accept for some ridiculously soft forks i can bottom them by bouncing and im 4 11 and way about 7 stone.
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Submitted by
ollie lewis
a
from stonehouse,gloucester, england
Date Reviewed: March 27, 2006
Strengths: everything is wicked!
Weaknesses: nothing i have picked up on as yet
Bottom Line:
this bike is so smooth compared to my old bike. its speed when not pedaling is amaizing in comparison. the holy roller tyres give amaizing on road grip and low rolling resitance. i have not managed to find the time to try them off road, yet. i havnt had chance yet to push my new chase to what i know it can do yet. but im very confidante that it will be brilliant. the colour is also nice, to me it seems to change in different lights. some times its a chocolate brown other times its black and on the odd occasion it has a tinge of green. by advise to u si to buy this bike!
Similar Products Used: scott yz2 with mx comps mavix xm719 rims magura julie discs deore rear mech and other standard shimano drivetrain.
Bike Setup: manitou stance blunt 100ml with 20ml thru-axel. mavic mx312 rims on cannondale hubs (i think, cant remeber what model.) hayes 9's. truvativ/sram x7 drivetrain.
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Submitted by
scott
a Downhiller
from edmonton, alberta, canada
Date Reviewed: March 6, 2006
Strengths: great urban bike frames amazing sweet components set up perfect weight
Weaknesses: fork would have rather had a chain guide up front instead of the derailer has back pedaling problems
Bottom Line:
an amazing bike would recomend it to anyone that wants to get into urban or dirt jumping
Strengths: Very stable comfortable bike. Platform pedals and good disc brake stopping power is great.
Weaknesses: Super soft fork springs
Bottom Line:
I'm a 37 year old EX PRO BMX racer and bought a downhill bike to train for motocross. I rode this Chase hardtail and sold my downhiller the next day. The Chase Cannondale has been my favorite bike I've ever had. I mostly ride skateparks daily. I changed the handel bars to standard BMX cruser bars for more height and balance. This made a huge difference. Now everyone wants to ride my bike!!
Weaknesses: not many really but it should have a chainguide instead of a front derrailleur
Bottom Line:
The chase is a brilliant bike for street and park . It is suited to anyone whether it be a beginner, intermediate or pro. Everything on the bike is perfect. It rides like a dream !
Submitted by
jack
a Weekend Warrior
from syracuse, NY, USA
Date Reviewed: January 10, 2006
Strengths: rock solid frame, fork is pretty good after you switch out the spring for a much stiffer one. components are pretty good for a stock bike, headset rocks
Weaknesses: NONE!
Bottom Line:
THIS BIKE IS AMAZING. this is a follow up review from the one below. ive thrashed this bike on just about everything for the past 5 months almost every day. tearing up dirtjumps, alot of urban freerideing, even a little downhill and trail riding. this bike is rock solid, ive done 10ft.drops to flat, 25 ft. gaps, huge dirtjumps...just about everything. ive landed so hard on this bike that my helmet came off even whiplash. this bike has servived some pretty crazy crahes too. in fact, im writing this with my arm in a sling after dislocating it from a nasty wreck off of a 7 ft. ledge. but yeah, this bike is amazing, IT WILL NOT BREAK. manuals and wheelies are cake. i was doing stuff i never though id be able to do on a bike with the chase. its totaly worth every penny. it still looks great. ive done stuff on this bike my friends wouldnt do on thier softails. if you love dirtjumps are urban freerideing this is the bike for u. feel free to e-mail me with any questions
I'm thinking about getting a brand new never ridden 2005 Cannondale chase 2 for $950.00, I want to know if this is a good deal for that bike? And are the components any good?
Tha Read More »
Hi all..I am new to the forum and looking for some advice on buying a used bike. I am looking at a bike for trail riding and commuting (only a few miles of commute). And I want a b Read More »
Hi all..I am new to the forum and looking for some advice on buying a used bike. I am looking at a bike for trail riding and commuting (only a few miles of commute). And I want a b Read More »
