Submitted by
Mog
a Cross Country Rider
from San Francisco
Date Reviewed: January 21, 2004
Strengths: You won't find a better frame for the money.
Weaknesses: Fellow riders who whine about the choices they've made.
Bottom Line:
Buy this bike for the frame. Even the inexpensive components will last most riders for a while. When you break something, go to Ebay and buy used top quality parts. In time you'll have an even better bike, for short money. Or... Be a whinging little cocoa puff boy and go out and spend your mummy's money on a really expensive bike. If you have a weight fetish, try losing a few pounds. It's way cheaper, and you'll be a better rider.
Strengths: The frame is very good for the price. The v-brake have an incredible power. Good drivetrain. Light.
Weaknesses: The cranckset is not very good.
Bottom Line:
A very good bike for someone who have a small budget. Good for dry condition, not for wet condition. Very good in town whit road tire. Just change the Rock shox for an headshock and the cranckset and tou have a very good bike
Submitted by
kathy
a Weekend Warrior
from golden co
Date Reviewed: April 3, 2000
Strengths: smallest frame is great for a short person 28 inch inseam comfortable ride, responsive, light for the$$$ you pay, great bike for someone who is just learning, vbrakes are awesome in the rain
Weaknesses: components not too durable, second ride i took it on, crashed bent the wheel and messed up the derailer, squeaky front shock dealer told me that was the way it was supposed to be?? wish it had lower gears(maybe I just need to get in shape!)
Bottom Line:
great deal for the$$$$ good bike to bash up until you learn how to ride, then maybe by then win the lottery and buy a spooky or a voodoo!!
Favorite Trail: stuff outside of moab and ft collins
Duration Product Used: 1 Year
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
tim
a Downhiller
from scotch plains, nj
Date Reviewed: September 7, 1999
Strengths: fat ass frame
Weaknesses: all the rest
Bottom Line:
if you look at this ride a whole...it sucks. but the frame is off da hook. the frame is super strong and light. and it takes abuse! being that i'm a big boy at 220 lbs. drop-offs, doubles, huge ass airs, endos, nose stands, wheelies-this ride can take it all. now the stock components are trash. i upgraded to grip shift 8.0 x-ray, a complete xt setup,magura, hydraulic brake, manitou fs-ti long travel, scott twin cam pedals, control tech stem, and sunn mammoth rims. this custom ride rocks all dh and ds courses. if you're looking to get into the sport, and want a mid-priced bike with a top-of the line frame the f-400 is your ride. this bike is completely upgradeable. you can turn this bike into a race winning ride by slapin' on some sweet parts.i give this ride 5 blazin' slugs ( for the frame)
Submitted by
Tim
a Downhiller
from Virginia Beach,VA
Date Reviewed: July 18, 1999
Bottom Line:
I am new at with all the top of the line bikes. I have finally saved up enough money to purchase the bike for me. It rides great and and i just can't get over the frame setup. I kmow it is a mb, but it is great for downhill racing. I don't see any reason for upgrades at this time. I think this is a great starter bike for anyone and can easely be upgraded when you wallet is overflowing.
Submitted by
Todd
a Cross-Country Rider
from Bossier City, LA
Date Reviewed: June 18, 1999
Strengths: The Frame. Period. Dot. Without a doubt this was an all-time great buy. You can upgrade 'til the cows come home and then you can upgrade some more. What a perfect setup for a new rider. The frame will live forever and as you learn more about what you want on your horse, you can add it. I bought mine in the summer of 97. It was actually a 96 F400 that they were selling for $570.
Weaknesses: Components, but hey, you're getting a $500 frame and $250 worth of components (you didn't expect XTR, so why whine). As I see it, there are no weaknesses. This bike can become whatever you want it to be. It can be the 28lb tank you put in the stationwagon and bring home or it can be the 23lb beast you clamp to the top of your truck for rides of your life.
Bottom Line:
Awesome starter set. Don't expect anything but a great frame with useless components. Just upgrade one thing at a time starting with things that will reduce the most weight (crankset, wheelset, seatpost, etc). If you take care of this baby, she'll be with you longer than the prom queen. I bought this bike actually expecting to be purchasing something new about now, but I realize that this frame is going to take me wherever I want to go, which is usually Ruston on the weekends and Bodcau during the week. If you don't have the patience to upgrade slowly as things go on sale, just fork out at least $1200 for a sweet hardtail with the components you want. 5 flaming equines for this cajun!
Similar Products Used: specialized rockhopper, cannondale m300 (back when dinosaurs roamed the terrazzo).
Bike Setup: Started out with the stock stuff and then started upgrading (the key is to buy last year's coponents when they go on clearance). I replaced the shock last summer with an Indy SL (which will be sadly departing in lieu of a SID on clearance- I told you). I got XT cranks and v-brakes, USE XCR shok post, new seat, new tires, bar-ends, and i cut down the coda bars that came with it. The options are limitless on this ride. You can make it the bike of your dreams piece by piece because the frame isn't going anywhere!
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ric
a Cross-Country Rider
from Arizona
You posers need to stop crying. You pay for a pinto and expect mustang performance. The frame is a CAD2. A really nice responsive frame. Sure Cannondale skimps on components but the real money is invested in the hand-built frames. There are only so many compenents that are put on a frame... do the math. I boght mine to hang my good components on from my battle-tired KillerV900. I found it to an excellent climber, excellent through switchback because of the stiffness and a little nervous on SERIOIUS downhills, but this frame is about 1.5 inches too short. Like I said, if you want a Mustang, buy a Mustang. Dont come here and bash a good product because you couldnt afford better components. anyone could put hubcaps on a Pinto !!
Strengths: FRAME Upgradability Warranty It's a Cannondale Stiff price color (black)
Weaknesses: components stiff fork (rock shox? they suck)
Bottom Line:
The F400 is a very good buy. The components on it suck, obviously, but it's an entry level bike with a race-able frame. You pay for the frame. It's beautifully crafted, and weighs about 4 lbs. I have my bike down to 23lbs (from 28?), and it rides and races great. I raced it for the first time yesterday, and improved on my previous time by about 10 minutes. Great Frame. Crap Components. Good buy.
Bike Setup: I have the F400 frame, and have upgraded EVERYTHING except the Bottom Bracket, seatpost, and seat. XTR deraileurs, XTR wheels, XT cranks. Sachs shifters. Headshok DD60 (excellent), KORE clipless pedals. XT brakes/xtr levers.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
dave carver
a Weekend Warrior
from san diego,ca
Date Reviewed: April 19, 1999
Strengths: looks cool. everyone says, cool bike.
Weaknesses: shifter,derailer, all components. clicking noise.
Bottom Line:
i moved from ft lauderdale to san diego. now i am riding a more serious incline and still have to suffer with clicking because it never stays in gear correctly. it seems to be off a hare. to stop the clicking i have to keep adjusting the gear while riding. pain in the ass. i think it is time for an upgrade. i dont ride that hard or often. how can this bike already need to be upgraded? now that i am in san diego i ride more and want have to put up with noise and unreliability. time for a better bike. forget the upgrades. anyone want to buy a cannondale?
Submitted by
mike
a weekend warrior
from na joisey
Date Reviewed: February 20, 1999
Bottom Line:
Why the hell do you complain about crappy components and a stiff ride? Aluminum (especially C'dale) will always give you a stiff ride; and for $600, you won't get XTR. So shut the hell up and ride. five ass burnin horse cocks for this rig
well I have used the f400 to ride trials and jump down tables and I really thought that the bike was well made but the whieght factor the thing whieghs a ton like 30 pounds and it was real streched out you have to really try to get the handlebars.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
espinete
a cross-country rider
from Louisville, KY
Date Reviewed: October 24, 1998
Bottom Line:
Ok, it's me again. I had my F400 for over a year now. I still think that is a good bike for the money but I need a better bike. I know somebody that has had an f400 for a year and looks brand new. On mine, here is a list of what I have replaced: I bought barends, I changed the rear derailleur (xt now), new shifters (lx rapidfires), conix headset cup, new rear wheel (I tacoed the other one, was cheaper to buy a whole new wheel than to rebuild it), new rear tire( ok ok, too much skidding but only on concrete), new derailleur hanger ($20 is too much for a hanger), new grips, new pedals(icon clipless). I am planning on upgrading the front derailleur to a xt, and i want to get a headshock. If I had the money a year ago I would have bought a higher end bike. I didn't. I pay $500 for this one. Had I known better I would have save some more. If I sell this bike now I won't get what is worth so I am going to keep it and upgrade to a headshock sometime next year. The adaptor system sucks. Now is creaking and no one has been able to tell me what's wrong. I now i will get rid off the problem when I get a headshock. Indy S is crap, I am sorry Indy S is shit, Indy C is crap. I won't ever buy any rockshox product again. I've advised some friends on buying a new bike. It's worth it to spend the extramoney on a higher end bike. I think Trek has good prices but if you really want to get a kickass bike for around $800 get a Spooky Cycles. I know i would if I could get a good amount for my current bike. Moral: the bike has behaves as I expected when I bought it. I should have save some more and bought a better bike. 3 pimientos.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
MadRider_98
a weekend warrior
from Georgia
Date Reviewed: October 16, 1998
Bottom Line:
I've had my F400 for about 6 mos. I caught the bug big time and went insane on the upgrades. It went to full XT components, USE XCR shockpost, Judy DH shocks, panaracer/kevlar tires, presta tubes, kevlar saddle, and a Club Roost DH bar. This puppy is tricked, light(er), and fast(er) It got a bit pricey but it's all worth because....The beast fits me like a glove.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Clyde Bracey
a downhiller
from Virginia
Date Reviewed: October 12, 1998
Bottom Line:
This bike has O.K. components with a great frame. I paid $589 for my 1998 F400 two months ago and have no regrets or major complaints. Rock Shox sucks when compared to Headshok and this is Rockshox's 2nd worst shock. Components while not top of the line are working properly and are very responsive. No upgrades planned except for shock sometime this year. Great bike!!
