Submitted by
Blue Sugar
a Cross Country Rider
from Middletown, CT Date Reviewed: August 14, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Kingdom Trails in VT
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Purchased At:
Won in raffle
Strengths:
Stable yet nimble, flex-free chassis, great brakes
Weaknesses:
Bottom bracket a little low, brakes squeak with stock pads, bars too wide, egg beater pedals not right for me.
Bike Setup:
As-delivered but for Shimano SPD-959 pedals, Avid organic brake pads, and 1/2 inch trimmed off bars.
Bottom Line:
Well I've had the bike for over two years now, and I thought I'd comment on my experiences as far as reliability and set up. After about a year I had to send the Lefty back to Cannondale for overhaul (100 bucks) since both compression and rebound went south. I think it was my fault- I contaminated the fork with an old shock pump I was using. I also broke and replaced one rear derailleur (80 bucks) and the front shifter.(60 bucks). Other than that the bikes been totally reliable.
I've also found that this bike is very sensitive to set up, and works best when set up a little stiff in the suspension and soft in the tires. I weigh 160 and I like 95 psi in the fork and 145 in the shock. I set the rebound slightly slow. The tires work best with about 35 PSI in them- any more and they don't hook up, any less you lose too much ground clearance. You need to spend some time finding the right fork, shock, and tire pressures for you, and the rebound settings, and you need to keep them there. If you don't you will not get the best out of this bike. The fork and shock hold pressure well, but you want to check every second ride or so.
Some people complain about the bottom bracket being too low on this bike, but that's a problem with most bikes. Bigger, beefier tires like Bontrager Big Earls would probably solve it, and give you better traction as well.
Only other issue I've noticed is a slight torsional flex in the swing arm when hitting obstacles at an angle, but overall it's a very flex-free chassis.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
nope
a Cross Country Rider
from adafds Date Reviewed: May 12, 2008
Favorite Trail:
asdfsadf
Duration Product Used:
Tested or demo'ed only
Price Paid:
$3654.00
Purchased At:
66874654
Strengths:
asdfasfda
Weaknesses:
asdfa
Similar Products Used:
asdf
Bike Setup:
asdf
Bottom Line:
adsf
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
B. H.
a Weekend Warrior
from Gainesville, Florida Date Reviewed: January 8, 2008
Favorite Trail:
San Felasco
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
Bike Route
Strengths:
Great standover height, especially for an XL frame, excellent kit for this price range, frame handmade in USA, excellent fit and finish. Moving from a hardtail, the Rush rides like a dream. She feels buttery smooth down the trail, and climbs extremely efficiently. With the propedal on the rear shock and lockout on the TALAS Fork - it's almost like having more than one bike. For my style of riding, I find few compromises with this bike. Plus, the metal flake charcoal gray paint, accompanied with the gray TALAS fork, makes her pretty easy on the eyes too.
Weaknesses:
None.
Similar Products Used:
Demo'd Titus Motolite, Cannnondale Prophet, and Specialized Stumpy
Bike Setup:
Stock, except for Fox TALAS Fork, Serfas Performance RX Saddle, Crank Brothers Acid Pedals (and trimmed down the bars)
Bottom Line:
I would buy this bike again, and again, and again.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ev
a Cross Country Rider
from Alberta Date Reviewed: June 24, 2007
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1600.00
Strengths:
Great handling bike..very well balanced feel of travel. Lefty fork works great, and is complimented by the fox RP3 rear shock. Great parts-group for a mid-range bike.
Climbs like a scalpel, descends like a prophet.
Weaknesses:
Not much to complain about.
i had a bit of trouble with the front derailure, but after riding the bike for about 50 miles and getting a tune up everything was in working order.
Similar Products Used:
Giant NRS
Bike Setup:
Stock Rush 1000
Bottom Line:
Great bike. Perfect balance for the XC Racer/Trail rider that can only afford 1 bike. I race this bike and dont have a problem with it. Its light (with upgrades you could get this bike into the competitive levels of weight) and climbs great, even without messing with the propedal lever. It descends great.
Basically a great all round bike
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mark E.
a Weekend Warrior
from Manteca, CA USA Date Reviewed: November 29, 2006
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$2300.00
Purchased At:
Mike's Bike's, Sacramento
Strengths:
Fast, stable, comfortable bike. Makes a nice commuter bike during the week and a very capable trail bike on the weekend. Component spec is good for the price. The Pro Pedal settings on the shock are phenomenal. Lefty front works superbly and just looks beefy and awesome. With the firm setting on the shock and the Lefty locked out, the Rush climbs almost like a hardtail.
Weaknesses:
Fox RP3 rear shock "stuck down" after 1 month of moderate trail use (no big jumps or drops). Rebuilt under warranty by Mike's Bike's in one day! Here's hoping the malfunction was a fluke. The pro-pedal lever is difficult to reach while riding. While not necessarily a weakness, the non quick-release front wheel can limit your car-top racking options. (The Yakima King Cobra allows you to securely transport the bike upright with both wheels attached.)
Similar Products Used:
GT Avalanche Disc 1.0
Bike Setup:
Answer Pro Taper riser bar, Shimano PDM 324 pedals, Stan's sealant, & 203mm Avid rotor up front.
Bottom Line:
I would not recommend the Rush to anyone looking for a downhill/freeride/huck type bike......four inches of travel won't cut it.
I WOULD recommend the Rush to anyone who is looking for a great all-around performer. I'm 43 and find the bike to be comfortable, even on all day rides. On fast, smoothish, rolling trails, this bike really shines. It can handle the technical sections, too, but its primarily a XC ride. With a seatpost rack and trunk attached (and running near max psi), it's just as capable as an on-road commuter or a grocery getter.
Absolutely recommended!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Sean G.
a Racer
from Tampa, FL, USA Date Reviewed: October 17, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Sedona, AZ
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$2000.00
Purchased At:
Dud Thames Bike shop
Strengths:
Simplicity. Single pivot design, which we all know is nothing new, Santa Cruz perfected it with the Superlight. But this design has less for you to worry about, and that's a good thing. The geometry for this bike is perfect for it's designed use. It was designed for endurance races, 24, 12, 6 hour and adventure races, where fatigue can make a more XC race oriented bike a little twitchy at 2 am. The amount of travel is perfect and very well balanced front and rear. The Fox RP3 is multi-adjustable. And the Lefty front fork tracks like no other fork I've ever used. And I started out on a Rock Shox quad 5 many, many, many years ago. I've raced several 6 and 12 hour races so far on this bike and have loved every hour and actually have been able to wake up the next day without pain pills. And yes, I take them every day, so that's a good thing.
Weaknesses:
The bottom bracket, as others have said is low. But the reviews I read before purchasing stated this, it wasn't a surprise. But the low bottom bracket makes this bike handle the way it does, it's very stable at speed. Also, the handlebar is WICKED wide, good luck getting thru some trees with this bad boy. The 69 degree head angle already makes the bike steer a little slower than you're used too, add in the bar and it's super slow. It's actually hard to get around a tight turn. Stock the bike isn't too light about 27.5 lbs. But in 24 hour races that's not much of a concern. But I've lightened it considerably.
Similar Products Used:
Santa Cruz Superlight for 4 years.
Bike Setup:
Rush 1000, XO grip shift, XTR cranks, SRAM chain, Easton Monkey Lite SL bar (24 in. wide), Cannondale ultra light stem. Mavic CrossMax SL wheels with Continental Explorers 2.1's using Stans System. Total bike weight down to 25 lbs.
Bottom Line:
After upgrades which were pretty expensive, but luckily I have a great relationship with my LBS, the weight of this bike is respectable even for xc racing. I purchased this bike strictly for 24 hour races, I'm 38 with a bad lower back. This bike is the perfect rememdy for that, it will correct mistakes you make on the trail. The geometry and amount of travel will keep you upright even during mistakes and fatigue. I would recommend this bike to anyone looking for all day epic rides or 24 hour endurance racing. I couldn't have made a better decision.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Glenn Vernes
a Cross Country Rider
from Middletown CT Date Reviewed: October 12, 2006
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
Won in raffle
Strengths:
Stiff and efficient chassis, stable yet nimble handling, great brakes, reliable SRAM shifting.
Weaknesses:
Bottom bracket is a little low, suspension can be a pain to deal with, some of the parts (wheels, cranks, seatpost) are on the cheap side. Tires lose air.
Bike Setup:
Stock but for Shimano SPD pedals, Bontrager Earl grips, and 1/2 inch trimmed off of bars.
Bottom Line:
Overall a great bike for cross-country. I just got back from two days riding the Kingdom Trails in VT and am very happy with the way the bike performed. This bike is fast. When you stomp on the pedals, you go. There is no noticable energy loss due to frame flex or suspension bobbing (as long as you're out of the small chainring). The bike climbs great, allowing me to charge some pretty serious hills in the middle ring. The Kingdom Trails have some long, tough climbs, and this bike never felt like it was holding me back. There will be some bobbing in the small ring, but it doesn't seem to slow you down. The rear shock has a semi-lockout feature that works prety well to dampen bobbing, but I rarely use it.
And once you get to the top, you can scream back down. Cannondale nailed the geometry on this bike. The handling is at once stable and nimble, which I find pretty amazing. I spent a lot of my time at the Kingdom bombing down tight singletrack and I was amazed at how well this bike carves tight turns, despite having a longish wheelbase and raked-out fork. I never felt out of control even when not firmly planted. The Lefty fork, which is amazingly flex-free, probably has a lot to do with it. The stock Maxxis Cross Mark tires have a shallow tread and were definitely designed for low rolling resistance, but they get good traction in all but thick mud. They will break loose on fast turns, allowing you to get a "Tokyo drift" going which is a lot of fun, but even then you feel in control- just touch the brakes and they hook up again. The bike will get a little squirrely at downhil speeds, but just a little.
The bike also performs great on rocky, rooted New England- style trails. Just pick a line and take it. The bike never wanders in the rough stuff, due probably to the stiff chassis and stable geometry. Large rocks, slick roots, can be steamrolled right over.
As far as the suspension, it takes rocks and roots very well, but has some trouble on stutter-bumps, and the rear shock bottoms harshly on the big fits. Tuned for cross country, not hucking.
As far as components, the feel and modulation of the Juicy brakes is first-rate, and the SRAM 9.0 rear derailleur performs very well, and seems to be less thrown off by dry and dirty cables and slight misadjustment than Shimano. The front shifting is not so hot. Going from small to middle ring can be a problem, and it might take a few trys before the chain stays up on the middle ring. Not on par with Shimano in this area.
Complaints? Just a few, and they're small. The bottom bracket is a little on the low side, but not so low as to be a problem, and it's probably one reason why the bike handles so well. Also the Mavic Crossmax wheels need truing frequently. I plan to upgrade to a better set soon. Some of the other stuff (cranks, seatpost) are on the cheap (and probably heavy) side, but you can upgrade and lighten the bike (it's not heavy to begin with) And there's the above mentiond front fhifting issue. The stock egg-beater pedals did not work for me- I went back to Shimano. The suspension isa pain to adjust because it shoots an wad of blue grease on your hand when you take the pump off. Even after 6 months it still does this.
Bottom line: If there's a better bike for long cross country rideing or racing on rough terrain i haven't found it.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Keith Ross
a Cross Country Rider
from San Diego Date Reviewed: October 11, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Noble-Bulldog-Cowles
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$2100.00
Purchased At:
Zumwalts
Strengths:
Great all around xc machine. I have the 2006 Rush (team colors). Holds lines well. No bobbing when pedaling. Lefty is a confidence builder. Can take and hold lines. Doesn't fear rock gardens and rutted SS. The RP3 shock is very adjustable and reliable. Climbs well for a 27.5 lb. bike. This is a bike that has many abilities. Geometry is more laid back than my HT Gunnar. I can fly down gnarly stuff at higher speeds. Love the Sram components. Flawless shifting. Great 24 hr. race bike if needed to be.
Weaknesses:
FSA cranks are heavy. Low BB allows pedals to hit on rock gardens. Steering is a bit slow which can also be good. But I am used to a very quick Gunnar HT. FSA bars are wide and heavy. Stock seatpost was changed out ASAP. A bit heavy.
Similar Products Used:
Specialized Stumpy Pro M-4, Gunnar Rockhound, Specialized FSR Enduro, Specialized Rockhopper
Bike Setup:
Raceface Evolve crank, Answer Pro taper CF riser bar, Thomson Elite seatpost, Avid Juicy brakes, Sram shifters and stuff, Serfas dual density pro saddle.
Bottom Line:
If you like climbing and hanging with the big boys on nasty downhills then this is a bike for you. It does it all. Can be used to do 24's or all day epics. Take your choice. Not a XC short course race bike. It was made for 24's and epic rides.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Joel
a Cross Country Rider
from Taylors, South Carolina, USA Date Reviewed: September 22, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Spiderwoman III
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$2500.00
Purchased At:
Gusto Cycles, Taylors, SC
Strengths:
This is the fastest-rolling full-suspension rig I have ever ridden. Even though the bike's geometry looks laid back, when it hits the hardpack the thing just zips! On its maiden ride on my favorite local trail, I straightened out three corners before I realized how much faster I was going than on my Jekyll or Super V. The bike has impeccable cross-country handling, and the harmony between the Lefty and the Fox RP3 Float is unreal. I really like the ability to dial in both shocks on the fly, since I like to take jeep tracks and Forest Service roads up and singletrack back down. The 110 mm of travel feels like 150 mm on small to medium dropoffs. You really do want to ride this bike all day. The Rush 1000, like other C'dale offerings at the 1K level, provides the best component spec for the money. The Mavic Crosslands are dead solid, and mine hold pressure pretty well for tubeless hoops. The SRAM X-7/X-9 shifers/derailleur combo is as crisp as toast Melba. (I was so impressed that I upgraded to the X-0 derailleur and gave my girlfriend the X-9.)
Weaknesses:
The low, low bottom bracket makes off-camber sections rather more exciting than they need be (as do the very-speedy-but-not-so-grippy CrossMark meats). And the wide, wide handlebars are a real concern in tight singletrack. (Some of us still ride in the woods, these woods comprise trees spaced at less-than-ideal intervals.) I put the stock grips on a couple of old gardening tools I never use.
Similar Products Used:
Super V 1000, Jekyll 3000
Bike Setup:
Stock, except for: FSA carbon handlebar, FSA carbon seatpost, SRAM X-0 rear derailleur, Fizik Alliante carbon saddle, Ergon grips w/ micro bar ends (everyone should spec these Red Dot Design Award-winning grips!) SRAM chain. Most importantly, switched to Maxxis Ignitor tires w/ a 2.35 up front.
Bottom Line:
This is the best all-around mountain bike I have ever ridden. It reminded me of why I started riding offroad. To paraphrase Milton, it is truly a "machinery of joy."
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Chris
a Cross Country Rider
from Clementon, NJ Date Reviewed: September 11, 2006
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
Excellent part specs for the price range; fairly low weight; lots of adjustability with the Lefty shock (full lockout and rebound adjust) and Fox RP3 (ProPedal options, lockout, and rebound).
Weaknesses:
Handlebars are a little wide (27 in. spread); Crossmark tires, although very fast on dry terrain, do not hold up well in mud (they're a very good race tire, though).
Stock; added Cane Creek Ergo II bar ends and swapped Crank Brothers Eggbeaters for Smartys.
Bottom Line:
I just got my 2007 Rush 3 (replaces the 1000 series) this weekend and it's everything I hoped for and then some. This bike would be an excellent choice for an intermediate rider who enjoys all-day weekend rides up through competitive 24-hour racers, and everyone in between. I have a size M that weighs in just over 28 lbs; less than my old hardtail. I was torn between this and the Prophet, however, due to this bike's geometry (shorter front fork) and lockout abilities it climbs much more efficiently with minimal loss on downhill abilities.
The bike shifts very well (X9 rear)and has excellent brakes (Juicy 7's). The Lefty shock is impressive in its adjustability and its low weight. The paint scheme, although not the most important thing, is much nicer than it looks in the catalog, with the white decals also being reflective (for the 24-hour riders).
There is a huge performance jump from the Rush 4 to the 3 (Shimano LX up to SRAM X7/X9; Crossland wheels; RP3 shock; Juicy brakes), and a huge price jump up to the $4500 Rush 2 (full carbon fiber frame, XT parts). I think this is the best Rush in the line (and the best bike on the market) for its combination of price, versatility, and performance. I'd definitely recommend riding this bike if you have a chance.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
James
a Cross Country Rider
from Sydney, NSW, Australia Date Reviewed: August 10, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Killingworth
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$3200.00
Purchased At:
Cranks N Sydney
Strengths:
Suspension is great, giving a pretty plush ride downhill, but enough lockout/adjustability to climb, in fact it climbs as well as my old hardtail (as far as this amateur can tell!). I'm now scaring myself with how fast I can go downhill, although I've noticed that having a duallie means I'm not as careful picking my lines anymore. . .but I'm having more fun which is what it's about right?
Weaknesses:
In mud the crossmark tyres are crap. Little tricky to reach the rear shock on the trail, but other than that nothing.
Similar Products Used:
Rush 2000, Giant Trance
Bike Setup:
Stock 1000 apart from FSA laid back post
Bottom Line:
After getting the new seatpost the bike is sooo comfortable I can't wait to use it for a long race. I'm like a kid with a new bike, boosting off the smallest bobble in the track. If you find yourself on a hardtail at 3am during a very wet 24hr race cursing the slightest bump and swear to yourself that next year you'll do it on a duallie this could be your bike.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Chuck
a Cross Country Rider
from Pennsylvania Date Reviewed: July 10, 2006
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$2400.00
Purchased At:
West Liberty Cycles
Strengths:
Extreamly stable, confidence inspiring ride. Great bike for all day rides. Eats up rocky, "rooty" terrain and begs you to push it harder. Has minimal "bob" while climbing and you can lock out the Lefty which helps even more. Tracks very well and will hold a line without any noticable frame/fork flex (I'm 6', 190 lbs). The stock bars were HUGE (supposedly for better bike control) but I cut a half inch off of each side which made it react better in tight singletrack.
Weaknesses:
The bike isn't light (28+ lbs)and since I had to add Slime to the tubeless tires to stop the constant air pressure loss, it added an additional half pound. Adding Slime did solve the air leakage problem though. I also wasn't in love with the egg beaters. I've ridden Time's for the last 8 yrs and I just didn't get the same feel from the egg beaters. But that's just personal preference. The bottom bracket is a little low but if you've ridden Jekyll's or Blur's it's pretty similar and shouldn't bother you.
Similar Products Used:
Jekyll, Blur
Bottom Line:
If I were still racing this bike wouldn't be my first pick but as a 37 yr old ,whose lower back doesn't enjoy hardtails anymore, and is more into 4+ hour all day rides this bike is tough to beat. The bike feels perfectly balanced and is very predictalbe in any type of terrain. Even though it's not the lightest bike on the planet it still climbs very well and decends even better. The bike begs you to push it hard and regardless of the type of trails that you ride, the bike is a pleasure to be on.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Leo Fitzsimon
a Cross Country Rider
from Annandale, VA Date Reviewed: June 25, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Fountainhead, Fairfax VA
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$2300.00
Purchased At:
REI
Strengths:
Great overall bike. Very fast and stable. The Rush has a very aggressive feel to it, begging to be ridden fast. It climbs well, sprints great and handles downhills very well. The Lefty is very stiff and responsive and the front of this bike feels very lite and nimble. It is also well built. I have been riding mine non-stop since October, including several races, and have had no major maintenance issues. I am extremely pleased with this bike.
Weaknesses:
I am 5' 11" and got a large frame. I got a shorter than stock stem, which makes the bike fit me perfectly in most situations. In very tight, twisty single-track, however, the bike feels a bit too long. Also, RP3 shock is a bit difficult to adjust while on the fly.
Bike Setup:
Stock except for new tires. Stock tires were great but I went with something a little wider and with better grip.
Bottom Line:
Awesome bike. I think it is a perfect overall bike for everyday trail riding, cross country riding and racing. I'll ride it for life.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ryan
a Racer
from Fairfax, CA Date Reviewed: June 22, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Kent
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$850.00
Purchased At:
local dude sold me the frame
Strengths:
Lots of travel for it's weight. Doesn't climb like a billy goat but definitely gets the job done. It never bobs on the up hill when sitting, but does a little when you're standing up and crankin it. In a good way though because it compresses a little to get you that extra little grip on loose climbs. Rips the DH (It really proves its self on those fun tight trails). EXELLENT all around
Like the scalpel but twice the travel, weighing half a pound more.
Weaknesses:
uuhhhh........ I really havent found any yet
Similar Products Used:
2004 scalpel 2000
Bike Setup:
Rush 1000 frame, FSA k force crank, Lefty DLR, monkey lite SL, XO triggers and rear der, XT front der, XT hydraulic disks, Weirwolf front, moto raptor rear, rocket v stealth
Bottom Line:
I had a scalpel 2000 for acouple years. It worked well for my races but the kind rides me and my homies were doin trashed the thing after acouple years. I had a chance to get this frame at a low price so I took it, I havent had any regrets with it since. It matches my riding so much better than the scalpel, I ride the same trails and harder at much faster speeds. All riders owning a scalpel wanting more travel, simply buy a rush frame (every model has the same frame, just different colors)
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Glenn Vernes
a Cross Country Rider
from Middletown, CT Date Reviewed: June 8, 2006
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
Won in raffle
Strengths:
The Lefty fork is unbelievably flex-free. The frame is also flex-free and pedalling is very efficient. The ride is good, the tubeless tires are great, and the feel and modulation of the Juicy brakes is first-rate.
Weaknesses:
The bottom bracket is a little low, and the Egg Beater pedals did not work for me. In stock trim the bars are too wide.
Similar Products Used:
Gary Fisher Sugar 1, Cannondale Prophet (parking lot ride)
Bike Setup:
Stock except for Shimano SPD-747 pedals.
Bottom Line:
I was very lucky to win this bike in a trail maintenance raffle, and I want to thank Cannondale for donating this high-end bike and supporting the sport. Coming off an old Gary Fisher Sugar, this is my first bike with disk brakes and tubeless tires. When riding this bike, the first thing you notice is the amazing rigidity and tracking ability of the Lefty fork. You find yourself riding trough rock gardens rather than going around, because the bike just tracks right through, strait as an arrow, with no noticeable fork flex at all. The frame is also flex-free and efficient, with the large aluminum swing arm channeling your pedalling energy to the rear wheel with no noticeable loss. As with any high-pivot bike, there is some bobbing in the small chainring, so you want to stay in the middle ring whenever possible. The best strategy for climbing on this bike is to charge the hill in the middle ring. The feel and modulation of the Juicy brakes is fantastic, and the tires work well in everything but thick mud. The cockpit is roomy, comfortable, and allows good breathing, and the stock seat works well for me. As I said above, the stok Egg-Beater pedals did not work for me, and the bars are too wide, although it looks like you can trim at least 1/2 inch off of each side and still have room to mount everything.
I have only two other bikes to compare this one to, my old Sugar (short travel), and the Prophet I rode in a parking lot. On the Sugar I was always plagued by chain suck and pinch flats, two things that will never happen on this bike (due to the elevated swingarm and tubeless tires), and of course the bike is much more capable due to the longer travel and bigger tires. It pedals just as efficiently as the Sugar. And compared to the Prophet, it's faster, lighter, and has a roomier cockpit. That's all a parking lot ride will tell me.
I haven't been able to ride the bike much, due to the near-constant rain we've had in New England, so I can't comment on the reliability of the bike, and I haven't done much with the suspension. I'll update in the future.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jaimison Baker
a Cross Country Rider
from Chapel Hill, NC, USA Date Reviewed: May 20, 2006
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$2375.00
Strengths:
I love the Lefty fork. Definitely more lateral stiffness than conventional shocks, pretty smooth ride over rough stuff, excellent damping adjustment and lockout. I love the Fox Float RP3. The bike climbs great when setup correctly. The ride can be quite plush at the lowest setting on the pro-pedal, to very firm on the highest setting on the pro-pedal. Under leisurely riding the conditions, the fox float rp3 lockout noticable peddle bobbing. Under race conditions, you start to notice some squishiness. The avid juicy-7 breaks are awesome, they have adjustment on the levers. The handling of the bike is excellent. I love the tubeless tires, when they are not flat.
Weaknesses:
LOW bottom bracket height! Watch out for stumps and rocks. I hit stuff all the time with pedals and chainrings. No one told me about this before I bought it. The bike is heavy for the money. Even with the crossmax wheels it weighs about 27 lbs. I have also had difficulty with the rear shock pressure. Cannondale gives you a great table for shock pressures, but I think the pressures are for leisurely riding. I have raced the bike twice and added 20-30lbs of rider weight to get it more race-worthy. The suspension design would completely suck without the Fox Float RP3. There is nothing innovative about the suspension design. I think it is similar to the Santa Cruz Superlight, with the low bottom bracket height. I also didn't like the stock wheels. With the tubeless tires the crossland wheels leaked air through the spoke holes, part of the reason I got the Crossmax SLs. The stock handlebar is incredibly wide. I had trouble navigate twisty trails without hitting trees. This is why I changed out for the carbon fiber riser bars.
Similar Products Used:
Giant NRS, Specialized Epic, Whatever you call that other specialized dual suspension bike, Rocky Mountain
All suspension designs are a compromise. This is NOT a race bike and don't let anyone tell you it is. It is too heavy and it is a pain to get rear end right. However, I wouldn't want a race bike for day to day riding. This is a very versatile bike with 4 inches of travel in front/rear. Even though this review might sound negative, I love the bike the way it is currently setup.
Buy this bike if you want an excellent all-around trail bike. I would still choose this bike over most bikes.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Phil Esempio
a Racer
from Akron, OH Date Reviewed: May 17, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Mohican Loop
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$2600.00
Purchased At:
Eddy's Bike Shop
Strengths:
Great suspension system, all aluminum frame (no carbon), Lefty Fork, awesome brakes, good SRAM component mix.
Weaknesses:
Long wheelbase, wheels are a bit heavy for this class of bike, tires are very dry-condition oriented.
Similar Products Used:
Trek Fuel EX 9, Specialized Epic Marathon, Fisher Cake 2
Bike Setup:
Stock except for change to Time ATAC XS pedals, ODI lock-on grips, and cut down bar from 680mm to 640mm in width.
Bottom Line:
I purchased this bike to replace my 2001 Sugar which was stolen in March. Since I was planning on doing mostly 24-hour and marathon distance races this year, I opted to go to a 4" travel setup, instead of the 3" setup I originally had on my Sugar. My first choice would have been a Specialized Epic Marathon; however, Specialized was out of stock of this bike by the time I went to order it, with no stock expected in until mid-June. So, they missed out on an easy sale! My second choice was going to be either a Fisher Cake 1 or a Trek Fuel EX 9; however, after reading multiple reviews which mentioned the fragility of carbon frame components in rocky terrain (which is all we have out East here), I narrowed my selection to those bikes which had non-carbon frames. I originally skipped over this bike when doing my initial research; however, upon further review, it was looking like this bike was exactly what I needed. And, so far, my initial impression is very positive.
I was very concerned about the slack 69° head tube angle; all of my other race bikes have run 71° head angles. This, coupled with the very wide (680 mm!!!) riser bar, meant that the intiial turn-in response of the bike is a bit slow in twisty conditons. However, I found this to be more than compensated by the bike's excellent downhill manners, something that is very important in a marathon race when you've been going for 10+ hours on a hot and humid day. I did end up cutting the bars down by 40mm in order to increase tree clearance; more than that wasn't possible due to the fact that the bar (an FSA XC281OS) flares out in diameter significantly due to the 31.8 mm clamping area. I'm going to try a few races with it this way, and see how it works; however I may be forced ultimately to switch to a narrower bar due to the nature of many East Coast XC courses. I also am concerned that the long (1131 mm) wheelbase is going to cause problems when it comes to negotiating tight switchbacks; however, only time (and a few races) will tell the tale on this.
The Lefty fork, despite it's bizarre look, has been great so far. The lockout is easy to reach, the range of rebound adjustment is excellent, and lateral flex is nonexistant. The Lefty has been around almost 10 years now, so I really didn't feel I was taking a huge chance when it came to this fork.
One of the reasons I opted for the 1000 model over the only slightly pricier 2000 model was due to the parts pick. The 1000 came with what are arguably the best hydraulic discs on the market - Avid Juicy 7's - and SRAM trigger shifters with X-9 rear derailleur, while the 2000 came equipped with XT Dual Control shifters and hydraulic brakes. In my book, this is no upgrade - the XT Dual Control shifters are functional but fragile, and the Avid Juicy brakes have better power and modulation than the XT hydros.
The Mavic Crossland wheels are OK at this price point, but I have a set of CrossMax SL's on the way for race day usage. And the Maxxis CrossMark tires are useless for anything but dry hardpack; in Grade 3 mud (on the Dave Carr Mud Index - http://members.aol.com/napavelo/mud.htm) the tires filled up and packed in so badly that the bike was nearly uncontrollable, even once you reached hardpacked trail. Also, while I have nothing against Crank Brother's Egg Beater pedals, I'm a fan of Time's ATAC pedals, so I made that switch immediately as well.
Overall, I have a very positive impression of this bike. I'll post an update once I get a few races and some serious trail miles under my belt with this bike.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Devin D
a Cross Country Rider
from Folsom, CA Date Reviewed: April 23, 2006
Favorite Trail:
r32dub@mac.com
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$2300.00
Purchased At:
Bicycles Plus in Folsom
Strengths:
Very fast for the weight of the bike. I have the Large frame size, which comes in at just under 29 lbs. The dimensions of the bike gives you a semi-cross country slant but not uncomfortable feeling. The suspension is perfect. The RP3 Fox rear shock is just wonderful. Being able to make it firm when going up hills is what makes the bike. Not to mention the travel of the front and rear suspension allow you to fly on the downhill.
Weaknesses:
Don't buy this bike if you want a pure cross country racer. If you want a trailbike that can keep up with any cross country racer and also take the occasional drops and bumps, this bike is for you...
Similar Products Used:
Specialized Rockhopper, Trek 6800, GT i-Drive Team and GT i-Drive 3.0
Bike Setup:
Rush 1000 stock except for Titec Pluto Carbon bar.
Bottom Line:
A perfect trailbike for most trails out there. You can ride this bike for longer periods of time than most other bikes, the suspension and geometry is perfect for comfort and long distance. Not heavy but not light either, making it very stable at high speeds but also very maneuverable in the tight stuff. If your going to make a big investment on a MTB, the Rush is very good choice for the all around bike.
$
Overall Rating:
Overall Rating:
Overall Rating:
