|
|
|
| |
Submitted by
Sam
a Weekend Warrior
from Lincoln, Nebraska
Date Reviewed: July 12, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | MOPAC | | Price Paid: |
$400.00 | | Purchased At: | Bike Pedalers | | Strengths: | The oversized aluminum frame. | | Weaknesses: | Components...and I'm not too crazy about those Presta valves that came with the stock tires either. | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized Hard Rock; Giant ATX760. | | Bike Setup: | Completely stock. | | Bottom Line: | Mine was a leftover Birkenstock edition in metallic green that I got for a pretty good price considering what they were asking for new M400s at the time. I still have it and while the components are junk compared to those on my old Giant, the frame more than makes up for it. This bike has taken a pounding including a serious crash that broke my right arm and did some serious muscle damage but it still looks like brand new. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kal
a Weekend Warrior
from Edison, NJ
Date Reviewed: July 6, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$500.00 | | Purchased At: | Bikestore in NJ | | Strengths: | Solid Frame. Awesome ride. | | Weaknesses: | Components not so great. | | Bike Setup: | As was. | | Bottom Line: | I've slowly upgrading components over the years. The frame is still solid, and the bike gives an awesome ride. I use it both on the road (I wish it had higher gearing) and off road. I've noticed the newer bikes have smaller wheels... i tend to go flying by them. Great frame!!! Love it. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
wilfried socha
a
from new york
Date Reviewed: April 19, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | 500$ in 1995 | | Strengths: | Frame with specifics hidden skills
stable,balanced,with predictable stiffness and naturaly responsive
it is to me a truly machine of performances at many levels
| | Weaknesses: | bit too much trail on front wheel
mechanic component standard quality
same frame with drop out could also be nice | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | Straight fork chrm | | Bottom Line: | Bike messenger I spend my days
got that bike from my wife.she had it since 95
wonderful tool.reliable.thrilling way to work | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Adam Truchanowicz
a Cross Country Rider
from Szczecin,Zachodniopomorskie,Poland
Date Reviewed: June 24, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Baksan Valley near Elbrus(Russia) | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$450.00 | | Purchased At: | "Athletica"sports shop Slupsk Poland | | Strengths: | Marvelous frame.From -45 degrees frost up to 40 degrees heat. | | Weaknesses: | Shimano components.Specially brakes and cranks. | | Similar Products Used: | Marin Indian Fire Trail,Focus Black Forest. | | Bike Setup: | Stock | | Bottom Line: | Great!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike Dold
a Weekend Warrior
from Kansas City
Date Reviewed: February 3, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$500.00 | | Purchased At: | Tri Tech Sports | | Strengths: | Beautiful fat tubed frame with replaceable derailleur hanger. Paint (black) is powdercoat and tough as nails.
| | Weaknesses: | Bought mine as a bare frame so I don't know what the weaknesses were from the factory. I'd like to see 1 1/8 steerer on this frame for ease of fork selection. | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized Hardrock A1/FS
Cannondale mtb (freakin' old with roller cam brakes) | | Bike Setup: | The frame was a hair big for me on the trail, so I made it into a super-lite commuter, with fat slicks and fenders.
The whole bike is blacked out, or dull gray for a really sweet look. Rigid threadless fork, KORE stem, Ti bars,
XC Pro chainrings/Shifter, LX cogs/derailleur. Grip Shift,
Vetta lite seat, 987 brakes and levers w/tri-align Continental slicks, Zefal black plastic fenders | | Bottom Line: | This turned out to be a beautiful looking rig, much nicer than the factory model. Despite an eclectic mix of parts and components, it ended up performing very nicely and very
light. The oversize aluminum is very stiff and responsive and is an absolute joy to ride. I just threw this rig together, It's the Cannondale frame that makes all this stuff work so well. I don't recommend a Cannondale for just everyone, you gotta like the ride of the aluminum and
learn how to ride without a big 'ol gel seat. An awesome
bike for those in the know. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Darryl Singleton
a Weekend Warrior
from Houston, TX, USA
Date Reviewed: May 26, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | wherever I can leave more blood in my veins than on the ground | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$550.00 | | Purchased At: | Boone Cycles in Houston | | Strengths: | Frame | | Weaknesses: | Shifter/derailleur | | Similar Products Used: | 1983 Stumpjumper Sport | | Bike Setup: | Stock plus a looong stem | | Bottom Line: | GREAT!
I've commuted and trailed on it in the states and in Mexico where I lived for 5 years. I even almost took a Toyota door off its body. Someone parked on a street in Mexico opened their door in front of me...it wouldn't close after that. My wheels were trash but the frame was fine! Oh yeah, I was kind of OK too! Like someone else said, the teeth are gnarled now, but components aren't forever even though I think this frame may be!
I agree with the reviewer who wonders if putting a shock on this would be a good or bad idea!
ON the derailleurs I really only had issues with the front. The back was fine. Mine came with 3 X 7. I bought it in '97. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jim
a Weekend Warrior
from McAllen, TX USA
Date Reviewed: April 19, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$500.00 | | Strengths: | The Frame. | | Weaknesses: | Shifter | | Bottom Line: | Love this bike. Over ten years of nasty abuse and still rolling. I'd buy another Cannondale. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Darrell Cox
a Weekend Warrior
from San Francisco, CA USA
Date Reviewed: March 11, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Tiger Mountain near Seattle, WA | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$600.00 | | Purchased At: | Portland, OR | | Strengths: | The frame, the frame, the frame. And oh yeah, did I mention the frame? It sucks that you can not buy a bike these days without front shocks. Such a light bike and a pleasure to cruise through maniacal city streets or tight single track. | | Weaknesses: | Components were not top of the line but that is not what I bought the bike for. | | Similar Products Used: | I have ridden bikes by Gary Fisher and Specialized and maybe it is just the lame front shocks but I really like being connected with the terrain and you just can't get that with shocks. Why not just call up for a Hummer limo and be done with it? | | Bottom Line: | Very tight machine. If you want to actually experience your ride this bike will be great for you. If, on the other hand, you want a "comfortable ride" and are the sort of person who prefers a easy, slow, fat ride stay on the tram or go with full suspension. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Frederich
a
from Houston, TX
Date Reviewed: April 29, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | anything near verticle and dangerous | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$600.00 | | Purchased At: | Frankfurt , Germany | | Strengths: | M400 = Awesome value, 9.5 years of abuse and all I got is an annoying squeek in left crank. It's beat up but not bent. teeth front and back bent and broken, still works great. Tough and durable, plus reliable so you don't have to visit the bike shop. | | Weaknesses: | Damn squeek in left crank (on mine)
brakes kinda suck (shimano brakes, not "V"s), but gives a good excuse for a all too frequent wipeout. | | Similar Products Used: | Cannondale 1995 V900 (couldn't get over the frame resembling a "girl's" bike, so bought a 1995 M400 instead (gotta have something to hit when you slip off the pedals, right??) . | | Bike Setup: | all original with 3 x 5 speed thumbshifts (never quite calibrated, just ballpark shifting control), except just put on Crank Bros Mallet C pedals (until now I never crashed with both feet firmly attached to my pedals - cool but painful), and a new cannondale water bottle (the new ones top pops off when you hit a hard bump, so just to let you know I didn't piss myself coming down the last washout) | | Bottom Line: | If I could, I'd buy another one, and I have tried all makes, Cannondale is the best if you damage the frame, expecially if you say you are sooo disappointed, as a longtime customer, the former outstanding weld quality , ect. They will take care of you, just act nice, and sad of course.
M400 - held up to almost 10 years of abuse, I got my money's worth. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
DP
a
from Scotland
Date Reviewed: June 21, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Bottom Line: | 2 aluminium frame reviews in one here, maybe not under the correct heading but the closest place i could find.
Current frame is a red 1996 Cannondale M200 CAD1 22". Frame/forks still fine, used regularly since '96. High BB and C-of-G means the front end can slide under when braking, i've been over the bars many a time especially in the rain. Tire clearance could be better, the frame has suffered a bit of damage due to contact when using tires around 2.3" wide (it's amazing how rubber can go through aluminium over time...) Frame was a replacement after its predecessor, a black (green speckled) 1990 23" (M700 i think) Chameleon frame broke. It broke not at the sacrificial dropout (a bolt-on dropout that was meant to break in preference to the chainstay), but on the opposite chainstay, so they replaced it, thanks guys! The Chameleon had pepperoni forks and a huge diameter downtube, i still miss it, great looking frame, though the rear triangle wasn't as beefy as the front. Have the stem with the 'chameleon' logo, about the only original part i still use. Original parts were Ritchey rims & tires, Suntour XCD gears, DiaCompe XCE brakes. Parts wore out over the years and have been replaced, the rear mech, seat, and that stem, will be the last to go. The paint finish on my M200 has lasted well, the M700 Chameleon paint bubbled at the welds and was flaking badly. I don't think the M200 is really designed to take a lot of new components, disc brakes, suspension fork etc, so it'll probably be replaced in the near future, but it has lasted well. | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
T
a Weekend Warrior
from S
Date Reviewed: May 14, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$550.00 | | Purchased At: | a bike shop in Northern NJ in 1996 | | Strengths: | To repeat the words of every reviewer: the CAAD 2 frame. It truly rocks. Not only is it sturdy and light, but it's so stiff that you can feel every crack in the road and pebble on the ground. Mine's taken quite a bit of abuse over the last 7 years, and it's holding up like new. | | Weaknesses: | As already stated in other reviews: the biggest drawback are the original components, which do not do justice to the potential of this bike. I've been gradually upgrading over the years, and now have mostly LX+ components, which make a HUGE difference (you definitely need to upgrade the derailleur and breaks). The other drawback is that it's hard to find a suspension fork for this bike, but I always wondered whether suspension would kill the thrill of the ride and the control that you have with the stiff frame (it's nice to feel the ground underneath you). It makes for a challenging downhill experience. | | Similar Products Used: | 1995 Trek 920; 2002 Cannondale Silk Trail 400; mid 1990's Cannondale Super V700; mid 1990's Cannondale Killer V900 HT | | Bike Setup: | original CAAD 2 frame, lx components (the upgrade to v-brakes was key) | | Bottom Line: | I love this bike, and wouldn't replace it even if I had the cash. I constantly bike on city streets, bikepaths and off-road trails, and it's always a great ride. The frame seems to be indestructible, and, with decent component upgrades, it's a perfect mid-range bike for any enthusiast looking to thoroughly enjoy their rides. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
The Locust
a Weekend Warrior
from Rosamond, CA
Date Reviewed: January 9, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Salmon Falls Road | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$500.00 | | Purchased At: | Reseda Bikes | | Strengths: | - Handles great. A nice blend of agility and stability
- Light frame that has beautiful fading green-to-black paint
- The components, brakes excepted, have held up well | | Weaknesses: | - Shimano Alivio brakes. The spring stays break, resulting in dragging brakes
| | Similar Products Used: | - Cannondale F700 (95)
- Cannondale F500 (02)
- Diamondback Sorrento (94) | | Bike Setup: | Stock 1995 model | | Bottom Line: | - A bit pricey, but the bike has held up extremely well for the past 7 years
- The light weight and paint job alone made the price of admission worth it | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
yooper
a Weekend Warrior
from Colorado Springs CO USA
Date Reviewed: July 1, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Any singletrack | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$500.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS in Grand Forks ND in 1996 | | Strengths: | CAAD1 Frame, riding position, durability (has lasted over 6 years!), Schimano Altus Components (lots of people complain about them but they have held up great for me!) | | Weaknesses: | Weak brakes, hard to find a suspension fork for this bike! | | Similar Products Used: | Scwinn Moab 1991 Model | | Bike Setup: | Stock | | Bottom Line: | Next bike will be a Cannondale! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tony
a Weekend Warrior
from Ridgewood, NJ
Date Reviewed: May 1, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Old Croton Aqueduct | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$475.00 | | Purchased At: | Bikeworks, Rochelle Park, NJ | | Strengths: | Frame, Brakes, Appearance, Weight, Grip Shifters | | Weaknesses: | None | | Similar Products Used: | Cannondale H500 Hybrid | | Bike Setup: | Stock | | Bottom Line: | I say "bah humbug" to all front suspension and full suspension bikes. This bike screams - no one can keep up with me once I get rolling. Suspension bikes are for wimps! Cannondale makes a great product and this is the best mountain bike they ever made. I feel in total control when riding this machine on any surface and in any weather conditions. If you have not ridden this bike yet, you're missing one of life's greatest pleasures. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike Marshall
a
from Portland, OR, USA
Date Reviewed: August 2, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Barbur | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Durable light wieght frame
Great for commuting 100 miles a week over varing terrain. | | Weaknesses: | Components garbage. My rear hub siezed and snapped the rear quick release. I had to run the rest of the way. Front derailer sticks and won't always change gears immediately. Now my crank set is loose and making a hell of a loud clacking/squeking nosie. | | Bike Setup: | M400 CAAD 2, rigid frame, Shimono Deore XT | | Bottom Line: | Frame's tops. I bailed on it a couple of times and the frame has stayed straight without any cracks. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John Smith
a Weekend Warrior
from Wooster, Ohio, Usa
Date Reviewed: May 8, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Vultures Knob | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Stable frame, good for the long hauls | | Weaknesses: | bad derailers. make tons of noise and is not responsive | | Similar Products Used: | trek 4500, 820 | | Bike Setup: | shimano deore all aroud | | Bottom Line: | great bike for the sport mountainbiker. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
David Yi
a weekend warrior
from CA
Date Reviewed: May 18, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
AWSOME BIKE!!!! But the components are really crummy.
My front derailer sucks! It already needs adjusting
after the second ride. I really wanted the M900 but hey,
I'm only 14.I cant spend 1000+ dollars on a bike!!!!
Changed shifters to rapidfire. Going to upgrade derailers
to shimano xt or hopefully xtr. Great bike for enty level.
5 XTRA LARGE CHILES. CANNONDALE Rules | | Overall Rating: |
| |
|
Photo Caption Contest
(sponsored by Maxxis)
|
Enter here
|
|
|
$
