Submitted by
newkev
a Cross Country Rider
from Austin, TX
Date Reviewed: October 26, 2011
Strengths: Light, stiff, and can take a beating. Climbs like a goat. Able to bomb downhills and easily survive a 5 foot table drops all day.
Weaknesses: it is a rigid - I mean rigid. Hitting a hole while not paying attention transfers a good shock to the hands and wrist. But for the strength and durability, I'll live with it.
Bottom Line:
Purchased the bike brand new and will never part with it. The stock compoents served me well for many years. I have had this bike throw me off the front and watched it bounce of the trail into the woods and come out with barely a scratch. Fully taco'd front wheel - frame and fork completly intact. I have crashed this bike many times and other than scratches the bike is still in perfect shape 15 years later. Just recently took the bike off the garage wall (about 2 years ago) and upgraded all of the components and wheel set with some slicks and been using it as a daily commuter.
Strengths: Beautiful and stiff frame. I bought the bike in 1995 and never had any regrets. I will keep the bike all my life, and have completely upgraded the original components little by little throughout the years. So far the weight of the bike is down to 10kg 400.
Weaknesses: The Shimano LX hub in the rear wheel, cantelever brakes and Aheadset. Uncomfortable Alluminium Pepperoni fork.
Bottom Line:
None, the bike still catches the eye from the public today even though it dates from 1995.
Favorite Trail: Single track / Ardennes in Belgium/ Urban
Duration Product Used: More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$1500.00
Purchased At: Charleroi, Belgium
Similar Products Used: None
Bike Setup: XTR shifters, shadow derailleur with carbon cage, and brake levers, 2010 XT v-brakes, Cannondale 2010 SAVE carbon flex seatpost with Specialized Gel Phenom saddle, Syntace VRO stem and Syntace carbon lowrider handlebar, Token full carbon MTB fork, KCNC titanium skewers and anodized assessories, Mavic v-brake crossride wheelset and Giepiemme Techno mag wheels for the road. Tires used: Geax Saguaro for off road, Geax Roadster or Kenda Kiniption tires for the road
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
krisubmarine
a Weekend Warrior
from Pocatello, Idaho, usa
Date Reviewed: May 21, 2010
Strengths: This is one strong bike. I started riding it when I weighed 550 lbs, I commuted daily with it, added panniers to it and rode it about 10 miles per day, I even carried my flywheel for my jeep, it weighs 65 lbs to get it turned. I pulled the spokes out of the rear rim by riding it.
Weaknesses: the componants are not the best. i replaced all moving parts on that bike over the years.
Bottom Line:
great frame, it is my bike, customized to my liking
Bike Setup: downhill 36 spoke rims, shimano deorre xl front and rear shifters,
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Sad
a Cross Country Rider
from London, UK
Date Reviewed: February 26, 2009
Strengths: The frame
Weaknesses: The XYZ bars were a little thin...also, for long rides it could give you back ache, but I guess that was because I had my seat post too high and the frame was a little small for me.
Bottom Line:
I used to love this bike, across hills or commuting with slicks on in London. It's a very fast bike compared to other's I'd rode. This was an original killer v 2000. I can't remember what I changed, apart from the rims. All I can remember, is that i'd beat cars to 30mph from a stand still at the traffic lights....until it was stolen :-(
Submitted by
Ivan Bruckner
a Weekend Warrior
from Quito Ecuador S.A.
Date Reviewed: October 16, 2005
Strengths: Respuesta inmediata, peso super aceptable, la geometrìa del cuadro es superior, sube-baja muy bien.
Weaknesses: No sè que decir estoy enamorado de mi bici
Bottom Line:
Realmente es una gran bicicleta, la mìa la comprè en el '98, y le cambiè todo el set hace unos dos meses, me siento FELIZ de que la bici responda aùn mejor que hace 7 años, lo que prueba que Cannondale se esmerò en este cuadro. Mis respetos, obviamente soy fan de Cannondale. DE todas las bicis que he probado sinceramente me quedo con la mìa, quisiera montar una F4000 y una Scalpel team replica. Cuando eso pase les cuento si mi V900 sigue estando en el primer lugar. Pd. Gracias por dejar que el español tenga un lugar. Saludos.
Weaknesses: None so far,except for the B.B. But that is hardly the frame's fault.
Bottom Line:
I'm a big guy.It keeps me rolling over Japan's awful roads and ashphalt.I really love my bike!!If you need something to commute on a day to day basis,this is it.I feel as steady on this as if I was walking.I have added Nimbus tires and Avid brakes--stops on a dime.
Submitted by
Brad Smith
a Racer
from Neenah, WI, USA
Date Reviewed: January 27, 2000
Strengths: Great responsive frame.
Weaknesses: Odd to put on some racks.
Bottom Line:
Awesome bike, even better frame. With personalized components, there's nothing better out there. A little price, but worth every painstaking moment you see the green leaving your hands in exchange for a glittery-green, piece of rideable art.
Submitted by
Dan
a Cross-Country Rider
from Barnegat, NJ
Date Reviewed: August 30, 1999
Strengths: Love the killerV frameLightgreat handlingcheap
Weaknesses: only comes in a small frameSTX components and drivetrain suck
Bottom Line:
The bike is great to start out on as a XC mountain biker. I have had some problem with shifting due to the low quality STX components. Otherwise a great nimble, fun bike that i have put though some hard trails and held up fine. I can only give it four stars due to the drivetrain (and also i HATE coda)
Strengths: Help!!! I've got the Cannondale V500 frames and need a source for a handlebar stem. It's so friggin large that none of my local bike stores carry it. Any suggestions??? Please E-mail me at doublefresh@hotmail.com
Submitted by
Peter Grubb
a Cross-Country Rider
from Downingtown, Pa
Date Reviewed: May 11, 1999
Strengths: Stiff fasttight handling
Weaknesses: none
Bottom Line:
Got the frame free, built it up with all kinds of nice strong parts (mavic 281's on xt hubs, thumbshifters, kore stem, suntour xc pro cranks, front brake, tecktro v in the rear, xt levers, shimano cliples m535's, panaracer smoke classic in the rear, dart up front. I weight 270 and the bike does not make a sound. solid, fast and hanldes really well in the tight stuff.
I bought a Killer V two years ago now I think so much of it I kicked the dog out so I could keep the bike in the house!The paint is the only problem with a couple of blistered areas, with a few scratches as well. Cannondale the best bikes ever, though why in the U.K. do we have to pay almost £500 more than the U.S. or Canada?
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
S.J. Newcom
a cross-country rider
from Sacramento
Date Reviewed: March 1, 1999
Bottom Line:
I purchased this stallion 5 years ago from a bike shop in Atlanta for $700(my 2nd mtn bike, first was a Giant Iguana. Durable bike, too heavy.). Blew out all the major components in two months (cranks, fnt.+rear derailleur, btm. bracket, head set, pedals, seat x 2,front wheel, etc.) Fully upgraded everything, mostly top o' the line (chris king, xt cranks, xt wheelset, sachs new success,un72, onza pedals, vetta tt., Manitou 4 [best at the time] etc.. After mtn. biking for these past years, I've come to realize the faults (some of which I knew going in) that comprise a Cannondale frame -- the frames can snap in half like a toothpick and the welds are sanded down because they slop them together. Aside from that, this is one of the lightest, stiffest, most responsive frames on the market. You can really jam on it and because I'm not an expert rider by any means, I know this bike can be crashed, slammed, kamikazied and all around fully abused. Paint's chipped in some places (chain slap and grind, dropouts, etc.), got a few minor dents but otherwise fine. I think to cleave it in two you must nail it at a sharp angle on a rock.Made a few upgrades to it recently including XTR V-brakes, a Performance Ti saddle and some old M-727(?)pedals. My opinion of the mtn. biking industry? Too much hype about what you need to be a better rider. Just grind it out and shut the hell up!
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
tl
a cross-country rider
from Denmark
Date Reviewed: February 26, 1999
Bottom Line:
I´ve had my Killer V 900 since jan.1995 and I still love it, or rarher, I still love the frame and the forks, because most of the components have been changed, the Force 40 brakes sucked, the stem was mis-aligned, and the rest just lost out to sexier parts along the way. But the frame is woth it all, and upgrading is quite nice in many ways, a little unharmfull hobby, oops... 5 stars to C´dale, I would buy another one if I had the money
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Grega Stopar
a cross-country rider
from Ljubljana, Slovenia
Date Reviewed: January 11, 1999
Bottom Line:
I own '98 Killer V 800. It's simply great. The most of all I like the frame. It's not the lightest I've seen, but it's great for rideing. I've upgradet front fork to fatty SL. It's not quite what expected. LX group rules. STX-RC brake levers sucks. I will upgrade them to XT. I usually buy new bike every spring. Not this jear. I will keep this bike. When I'll buy new bike it will be killer V for sure!
I purchased the Killer V 500 in 1995 when it was still in its own semi CAD 3 category & had a life time warranty on the frame. The frame is extremely light, very fast, a quick climber with precise tracking handling & extremely durable frame. I built up on the Forest Green color frame I purchased with Mavic 217 Rims w/White Industry Hubs, King head set, XTR Front Derailer & ESP 9.0 Rear, Scott Carbon Flat Bar, 1996 XTR 5 Arm Cranks & Rings, Kore Seat Post, Avid Arch Supreme Brakes & Real Design Brake Levers, Grafton Clipless Pedals w/ Ti Spindle, XTR 12-32 Ti Cog Set, Sachs PC 51 chain Manitou SX fork, flat black Coda Stem 90 mm, Serfas Women's Racing Saddle & WTB Velociraptor 2.1 Kevlar Tires. On the average, I leave far better riders than myself behind eating my dust regardless of gender or age. The 17 inch frame weighs in @ 21.2 lbs. I've learned a few expensive lessons such as I will stick to a Shimano XTR/ XT rear derailer next time & a thinner Shimano Chain & a Steel Cog set opposed to a Ti cog set that wears to quickly for the $. This Killer V frame has proven to be the fastest bike I have ever ridden even over the other Cannondale bikes I own. My only complaint about this frame is that Cannondale blew it when they made the SEAT TUBE (not post) on ALL of the 1995 17 Killer V frames that year with a 19.8 Seat Tube. This throws the whole bike off for an average to tall height Female riders like myself (between 5 ft 5' & 5 ft 7.5). Who, on the average have about 4 inches of standover clearance or more on that 17 size frame & a comfortable top tube length of 22.3. So the 15 inch 1995 Killer V was way too small for me @ 5ft6 tall. (Average height for many women.) Bunny hopping and unloading/ lifting the front wheel was difficult or impossible @ times. Even though this BLUNDER is in print in the 1995 Cannondale catalog specs where they specify the size 17 Killer V frame seat Tube is higher on the 17 frame than on the 19 frame (go figure). What really got me angry was the attitude of Cannodale's male dominated, cocky know nothing, do nothing technical dept. which refused to admit to this mistake or better yet..... Manufacture's Defect of that 1995 particular model & would not stand behind the manufacture's defect or lifetime warranty they boasted about. I have owned and still own a few Cannondales, but because of this experience with the company & the refusal to back their products lately I don't think I will purchase another Cannondale; & can only rate the frame @ 3.5 Chili peppers due to improper seat tube sizing.
