Submitted by
bobmahal
a Weekend Warrior
from Edinburgh, UK
Date Reviewed: May 14, 2009
Strengths: Great frame, superb front susepension and the lockout facility rocks! Beautiful paint job (Sobo blue on the SL).
Weaknesses: V-brakes are weak, as are the tyres which are terrible.
Bottom Line:
A great bike only let down down by poor V-brakes on the SL model (will upgrade soon) and rubbish tyres, but at this price I'm not complaining in the least!
Strengths: Great bike, love the fork+lockout, frame is quality and climbs great, comes with clipless and some other goodies
Weaknesses: Crappy Truvativ crank (upgrade to XT is planned), seatpost couldn't keep seat from tweaking on hard hits
Bottom Line:
Bought this bike because of the quality frame/shock, and I got a great deal buying a Made in America bike on 4th of July weekend (15% off). The ride is stiff with the aluminum frame, but suck it up! Add some discs and upgrade the crank, and this bike will keep you happy for years to come. I'm a big guy (230+) and this bike talks all I can give it and comes back for more.
Similar Products Used: Old-school Diamondback back in the day
Bike Setup: Hayes MX-1s front and rear, new cheapo seatpost
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Nick Kolisnyk
a Cross Country Rider
from Winnipeg,MB,Canada
Date Reviewed: March 18, 2005
Strengths: Great frame (stiff and pleasing to the eye), nice geometry, awsome suspention system, ability to install discs at a later time. Climbs like no other bike I've ridden.
Weaknesses: V-Brakes are a joke, Continental Explorer Tires are light, but are composed of nothing and I actually tore through one off a sharp rock!
Bottom Line:
Awsome value! Cannondale comes through again! Though -1 Chili for Cannondale not putting on a set of V Brakes that match the quality of the bike. My new prized posession, and I'll probabky get another one when this one gets smashed.
Strengths: Agile, fast and a climber. Very steady at high speeds. Headshock and frame excellent.
Weaknesses: Crank shaft
Bottom Line:
-If you are a serious x-country rider and dont want to break the bank then this bike will make you a fast happy rider! I love my F600...sl....cheaper and you can add the discs brakes later.
Submitted by
Xavier Perez
a Weekend Warrior
from New Castle, Colorado, USA
Date Reviewed: January 6, 2005
Strengths: Handmade in USA ! Frame and fork are awsome. Ready for disc brake upgrade (a must).Sobe Replica paint job is like anything outhere and even looks good standing still !
Weaknesses: Cannondale V-Brakes just don't do the job. Truvativ crank are plain cheesy for this bike. Can't wait to upgrade on these couple of components.
Bottom Line:
Great entry lever XC racer. Even comes with Cannondale clipless pedals. Good seat and comfortable position for long rides. The truly lockout fork works excellent, and makes this bike climb like a more expensive hardtail. The Mavic wheels have been trouble free and even on rock gardens this bike feels totally in control.
Submitted by
Chris
a Cross Country Rider
from Calgary
Date Reviewed: October 29, 2004
Strengths: It is a really great bike. Cannondale make a fantastic quality frame. It is super light and the handling is great.
Weaknesses: Tires (Light but not enough tread/volume for agressive trail riding in the Rockies)
Bottom Line:
Highly recommended. I've done a couple of small changes to the setup but all in all it is a great rig that should last years. The disc version was a little beit too much over my budget. Adding a disc to the front has improved the high speed control quite a bit (Stock v's were ok but disc is so much better).
Similar Products Used: Kona Cindercone (also very nice)
Bike Setup: Superheat front tire and Hayes MX1 front disc.
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Submitted by
Dan
a Cross Country Rider
from Dupage County, IL
Date Reviewed: June 24, 2004
Strengths: Price, sweet, sweet cannondale employee discount program, 25 percent off wholesale. But anyways...Frame, r.derail, wheelset, and awesome fork
Weaknesses: crankset, chain, bb
Bottom Line:
This bike rocks. Everything on it was sweet really except the crankset. I freaking busted the thing in the first month, but josh, the cannondale sales rep was cool, gave me lx-price credit towards new cranks, which i used to get fsa carbon team cranks. Same thing with bottom bracket. But now this thing weigh a little udner 25lbs, with an xl frame. The headshock is sweet. It might look funny to some but the thing is so light and stiff. The travel is very smooth and predictable plus the lockout is very nice. Get this bike, its a sweet deal even without employee discount, just make sure you upgrade the cranks and chain.
Similar Products Used: diamondback apex, some late 90's GT's
Bike Setup: Stock except for fsa carbon team cranks, ritchey riser pro bars, shorter stem, drive technologies pedals, kenda kharma tires,
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Submitted by
Luke
a Weekend Warrior
from Corvallis, OR, USA
Date Reviewed: May 23, 2004
Strengths: Very strong light frame, HeadShox Super Fatty Ultra DL front suspension (lockable), respectable Shimano front & rear deraileur and shifter (Deore), stock hubs can accept disc brakes (nice upgrade feature), strong wheels.
Weaknesses: Tires and brakes definitely need upgrading. Crankset is okay.
Bottom Line:
Definitely buy it, but be ready with a few extra bucks to get better tires and brakes. Its a very good bike on the dealer's showroom floor, but its a GREAT bike with a few upgrades! Climbs hills by itself. Locking the HeadShox front suspension is sweet for getting to the trail fast, no bounce. Plenty of fork travel for downhill and XC, works well. Made in the USA!!!
Strengths: Frame, fork, great component mix, strong wheels
Weaknesses: Brakes may be questionable
Bottom Line:
This bike has been on two distance rides at Oak mountain and I am very pleased so far. It is lighter than other bikes at this price point. I was always a hardtail rider when I tried out a Tomac 98 Special Comp last year. I was not pleased. I felt the bike bobbed even in lockout. Not the case with the Cannondale F600. First, it's not a dual suspension, so that rules out bob. But it seems to track quite well, and is very responsive to quick bursts of power. It instills a lot of confidence. I love the truly lockable Ultra Headshok. Nothing better on the market for my purposes. Great buying decision from the experts at bob's bikes in Vestavia Hills and Oak Mountain Alabama!
Submitted by
Pat
a Cross Country Rider
from Canada
Date Reviewed: May 6, 2004
Strengths: Light strong frame, Head shock that locks, smooth ride, quick response, comfortable bike
Weaknesses: Tires
Bottom Line:
In this price range you are getting excellent value (others cant beat it). This bike is very well built, climbs easely and is fast. The headshock is unique and works very well. I recommend you buy this bike and feel how comfortable it is too ride x-country !
Similar Products Used: Trek, Spec., Devinci, Giant, Oryx
Bike Setup: Stock
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Submitted by
Ivan
a Weekend Warrior
from Australia
Date Reviewed: April 27, 2004
Strengths: Frame,Frame,Frame.....Great Frame....Strong and pretty light.
Weaknesses: Tyres and brakes(should have got HD)
Bottom Line:
Great bike, Great Colour(Sobe)....and YES it does climb real well. Very responsive especially cornering, goes were you point it.A bit expensive($300 more than others similar), But Lifetime warranty and oozes QUALITY.Just an allround great bike.I mostly ride half pavement/road and half gravel/dirt for general fitness, being 115kgs(260lbs) does the job well. Highly recommended.
Strengths: looks,headshock,drives smooth and is very fast
Weaknesses: the crankset is one of the cheapest in this category,this will get an upgrade very soon
Bottom Line:
I realy love this bike.It's very comfortable and I love the headshock.In previous tests I red that this F600 sl climbes like a cat,well it doesn't,it as however very fast suited for cross-country and to leave everyone behind you
Favorite Trail: cross country and the belgium ardennes
Duration Product Used: 3 months
Price Paid:
$1500.00
Purchased At: smout belgium
Similar Products Used: none
Bike Setup: changed the tires into ritchey speed max
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Submitted by
Andrew T
a Cross Country Rider
from Athens, Georgia
Date Reviewed: March 14, 2004
Strengths: Well being a roadie and wanting to get back into mountain biking, I seached and demo bikes. Finally have a wheel set that can take abuse. Instead of disk brake bikes I opted for better drivetrain
Weaknesses: Stock Fatty Ultra needed to be stronger. Ordered beefer springs or what ever is in that thing! (190 lbs)
Bottom Line:
If I get 4-5 years from this bike being stock I will be a happy person.
Similar Products Used: Bianchi King Bee- No doubt awesome bike with great disk breaks and very nice fork. Alittle to much compact bike for me. And not as good drivetrain as the Cannon.
Bike Setup: All stock with beefer springs for fork on order!
