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Submitted by
Tony_PDX
a Cross Country Rider
from Portland,Oregon
Date Reviewed: October 28, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Browns Camp NW Portland | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$1700.00 | | Strengths: | Looks,Lefty headshok fork,weight,speed. | | Weaknesses: | not comfortable on rocky trails, stock components. | | Similar Products Used: | Rocky mountain ELEMENT 50
www.bikes.com/main+en+01_102+ELEMENT_50 | | Bike Setup: | I have replaced all of the components on this bike. only the lefty is stock.
Race face Deus XC crank,Sram PC-991 Chain,Egg Beater Pedals S Classic,SRAM 9-Speed PowerGlide II Cassette,Shimano XT rear and front derailers.Mavic X3.1 Tubeless rims,DT swiss spokes,Maxxis crossmark tires,Thomson Elite seat post,Porfile design stiffy stem,Race face DEUS XC FLAT BAR,Oury lock on grips,Hope mono mini disc brakes and Titec seat. so it makes the price of this bike a grand total of about $4000.00 | | Bottom Line: | Awesome bike for hard pack trails, very fast. a lot of fun to ride. has been awesome over the years. I love this bike. It's all about speed and I can fly on this baby :) | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Marco Hermes Peruzzi
a Weekend Warrior
from La Spezia, Liguria, Italy
Date Reviewed: February 10, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | 5 terre and liguria's Trails | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1300.00 | | Purchased At: | Hot Bikes - sp - Italy | | Strengths: | Light, fast and with a good geometry, extremely sharp in cross-country paths, good for races. | | Weaknesses: | Rear hub broken on Mavic Crossroc, Coda components sucks, frame too weak in hard trails (broken in a weekend trail of Liguria.. it's a road bike from big store or what? Luckly I replaced it with a Jekyll (it's not a coincidence: cannondale put this frame on road bikes after one year of its birth and abandoned MTB) | | Similar Products Used: | Cannondale Jekyll 1° serie, Cannondale Jekyll II 600, Viner Vy pro, Specialized Stumpjumper FSR. | | Bike Setup: | Upgraded to F1000: All XT components (Brakes included), Lefty DLR Air 110mm, Mavic CrossRoc, FSA V-drive, Thomson elite seatpost | | Bottom Line: | Luckly I reused all components on a Jekyll used frame so I could save money buying it. Crossroc rear hub was broken after a few months, Air Lefty needs more attention than actual Max spv 140mm of Jekyll....
and at the end frame got a CRACK on rear folder riding on a medium-hard trail.
I hoped more strenght from a Cannondale | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike
a Racer
from Vancouver, BC, Canada
Date Reviewed: January 17, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$1100.00 | | Strengths: | Appearance, Weight, comfort & handling. Lefty DLR with lockout. | | Weaknesses: | Standard components are waiting to break, Magura Julies are troublesome constantly requiring tlc. Bottom bracket went within 6 months, front CODA hub had bearing replacement after 8 months. Frame flexes under heavy loads. | | Bottom Line: | I'm a daily commuter on the bike, so it gets its share of use. Close to 7000km's in 9 months, without major problems. On trails i find it has trouble tracking a downhill line, mainly because i'm a light rider as well. Doubt the frame would stand up to free riders demands. Biggest headaches has been the brakes(Magura Julies), bottom bracket and recently the servicing of the Lefty. If you are fortunate to have a good service department near you, that you TRUST then you shouldnt have issues. I resorted to aligning the brakes myself, mainly out of frustration with the cannondale dealer who couldnt get it right. Changed dealers only to have an oil leaking Lefty come back to me(after an overhaul), ruining a set of brake pads. Coda parts are cheap and dont last. Love the bike, hate the hassles. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Timo Hokkanen
a Cross Country Rider
from Finland
Date Reviewed: June 9, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$1850.00 | | Purchased At: | Bike Planet | | Strengths: | CAAD 5 frame | | Weaknesses: | Coda components | | Similar Products Used: | other xc.bikes | | Bike Setup: | additional: xtr-rear shifter | | Bottom Line: | It's funny to read reviews by people who have had the bike for a short time and obviously those without experience rate their own bike as awesome and so on. Once you’ve hade your bike for 2000-3000 kilometres, then you are able to rate it with some degree of expertise.
Well, I've had my F800 for almost 2 year and I can tell you to put your money elsewhere. I'm positive you are able to find a better bike for the same price. Cannondale has crappy components that do not last. The brakes (Magura Claras in Europe) are not consecutive, the set up changes and is a "female dog" to set up, thus they do not work well in the cold (winter). I’ve changed them for Hopes, which are great and powerful and the set up stays. Comparing the Lefty to some other shocks almost makes me cry in regret. The various Coda wheel parts do not last.
The frame is good, but I’d rather get other parts for brakes, shock, shifters, changers, wheels, etc.
| Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dany Dany
a Cross Country Rider
from Richmond Hill, Ontario
Date Reviewed: April 17, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1200.00 | | Purchased At: | Duke's On Queen | | Strengths: | What can i say except that the lefty is the best shock i have ever ridden and that the magura julies are better then i ever expected.CAAD 5 frame is a dream even though it is a bit rigid ,you can always get a carbon seatpost or shock post as well as a nice comfy saddle to counter this.Oh! and i almost forgot that sweet matte black paint job that gets all the attention next to the lefty. | | Weaknesses: | the seat is a piece of crap as well as the creaking shimano pd-m515 clipless pedals and thats about it so far. | | Similar Products Used: | Giant XTC SE1 | | Bike Setup: | stock except for the selle italia and easton monkeylite bars | | Bottom Line: | This bike climbs like a mountain goat with the lefty locked and inpires confidence with every stroke of the peddles.For the money it can't be beat when you factor in the CAAD 5 frame,lefty shock & a good mix of components.All you have to do is wait till the cheaper parts break and then add top of the line components. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Charles Huchette
a Cross Country Rider
from Canada
Date Reviewed: March 24, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$1200.00 | | Purchased At: | Montreal Nord Cycles | | Strengths: | the lefty, light weight, frame geometry, thick coat of paint, great package overall | | Weaknesses: | the STUPID ritchey seatpost that won't ever hold your seat!, the saddle | | Similar Products Used: | many bikes from thoses brands: norco, giant, specialized, kona, proflex, rocky mountain, gary fisher, trek and so on | | Bike Setup: | stock, new saddle and a tamer tricky dick suspension seatpost | | Bottom Line: | really good bike really good package for the price and DAMN RITCHEY SEATPOSTS TO ALL HELL | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ludwig
a Weekend Warrior
from London, UK
Date Reviewed: March 14, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Any | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1100.00 | | Purchased At: | Onyourbike, London Bridge, London | | Strengths: | Light, quick and agile. Eats miles of trails and still leaves you feeling fresh. Headturning colour (Kale) and Lefty fork. Great "do it all" bike - XC, uphill, single track and light DH | | Weaknesses: | Cost (although I got it cheap), Disc Brakes loosened and bolts dropped off rotor arm, crap tires(Hutchinson Scorpion) and seat and seatpost, crank flexes like plastic and creaks/groans | | Similar Products Used: | Previous owner of cannondale, Mongoose IBOC(Steel), Kona Cindercone | | Bike Setup: | Standard except with new tyres (Spesh Ground Control & ??), Ritchey Seatpost and Ritchey Tit. Seat, Spds | | Bottom Line: | Quality bike (frame, forks blah blah see below). Just junk the seat/post/tyres (I think 2003 model is now sorted). | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Erik
a Cross Country Rider
from Huntington Beach
Date Reviewed: March 4, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | SJT, Luge, Noble Cyn, | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1000.00 | | Purchased At: | Superblow | | Strengths: | Price!!!!!! Very nice ride, climbs like a mountain goat, brakes are excellent, good on the decents, Lefty fork really works well, lock out on fork is great, fairly light... | | Weaknesses: | Coda parts... Seat sucks, you can feel the plastic shell popping in and out.. Deore shifters and LX front derailer does not shift like my XT/XTR on my HomeGrown.. | | Similar Products Used: | HomeGrown Pro, Mt. Tam, M2 Pro, S-works, | | Bike Setup: | Stock at this time, new seat coming, will upgrade as parts fail..... | | Bottom Line: | So far I have been very impressed with this C'dale product.. The Lefty feels awesome, plenty of travel, feels stiff, sucks up the bumps well.. The CAAD5 frame is real rigid but climbs and decends very well.. The Julie brakes have performed very well since day 1 and appear to be getting better as they break in.. Drive train functions well, just shifts are not as easy and smooth compared to XT/XTR.. If you want a great all around cross country bike, still like hardtails, and do not do alot of serious Huckster riding, this bike would be a great purchase, especially on close out at SG... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dan KY
a
from BC
Date Reviewed: March 4, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | 51231674icq | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Purchased At: | 0 | | Strengths: | i m having the 2000's f2000sx, v800 was sold | | Bottom Line: | i used 2 have both 2000's v800 n f2000sx, the former with super fatty D the latter with lefty DLR, both in mid-size frame, and ive measured the height between ground n BB of both bikes, THEY R THE SAME, lefty looks having a higher geom. becos it has a bigger gap between top of the tire n the bottom of BB,,,in other words, if u change 2 ultra or whatever fatty, your geom. shouldnt have any difference comparing with your recent installation of LEFTY,,,
any question, pls lemme know | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mora Luis Fernando
a Cross Country Rider
from San José, Costa Rica
Date Reviewed: March 3, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$2000.00 | | Purchased At: | Ciclo Guilly | | Strengths: | Appearance, color finish, fork, weight. | | Weaknesses: | I am having problems with the handle bar heigth, I think is too tall for technical climbing, I am thinking in changing the fork to an ultra fatty for a more "racing" geometry. the seat is like a rock tne continental tires really sucks, the lefty makes the bike too tall for easy climbing | | Similar Products Used: | Marin | | Bike Setup: | Shimano XT shifters, and derraileur, hutchinson alligator tires | | Bottom Line: | I get the felling that I dont fit in this bike. I have lowered the spander (handle bar holder) but I am willing to change the lefty to lower the handle bar height. Any suggestions??? | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Corey
a Cross Country Rider
from Asheville, NC
Date Reviewed: January 18, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Dupont State Forest | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1140.00 | | Purchased At: | roswell bikes in atlanta | | Strengths: | Climbs like a goat. Although low end, the Magura Julies have been everything they promised. Shock works well. And even with hard pounding, most of the coda stuff has stayed in place. The riser bar really makes the riding nice and upright. Hesitant at first but now I'm sold. | | Weaknesses: | Mine came with coda clipless pedals, they're horrible, the worst (getting some egg beaters soon!) You get what you expect out of the coda equipment. The lefty shock creates a L/R inbalance only really noticed when you hands are off the handlebars. The Kale Green looks very much like Bianchi's signature color. | | Similar Products Used: | Schwinn, GT, and DB | | Bike Setup: | Stock for now :-p | | Bottom Line: | This bike is a great hard tail. After seeing the prices of FS drop dramatically along with weight and not compromising details I was still giving hardtails a shot. I rode this one and right away knew it was the one to beat. Constantly amazed at how easy it is to climb over obstacles and just keep on going. Point and pedal. I'm not doing twenty foot jumps, but taking it downhill has been nice. I have noticed no compromise in the Mavic X223 rims they are still riding strong. I never thought I would be a cannondale owner, but now I am and I like it. I also got mine thirty percent off which shot the value rating off. I also got lucky and was stocked with the lefty ti vs the standard lefty of f800's 2002. I understand the 2003's come with this standard. The downhiller will be amazed by this hardtail's smooth ride but quite not up to par with the FS tanks that are customarily seen on the trail. The cc chaps will love the smooth ride, the upright seating, the versatility, and the ability to upgrade this bike into a really awesome ride (has same CAAD 5 frame as the top Cannondales). | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ed
a Weekend Warrior
from Scottsdale, AZ
Date Reviewed: January 14, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1700.00 | | Purchased At: | Landis | | Strengths: | Solid ride on various terrains, great fork, looks great. | | Weaknesses: | Seat, pedals. | | Bike Setup: | Stock except I upgraded to XTR front and rear derailers, and shifters. I also changed out my seat, for the stock model is way too uncomfortable. Egg Beater pedals were just added over the weekend. | | Bottom Line: | This is my first mountain bike and I'm pleased with it. Lefty is great, along with the bike's feel and smooth shifting. Although I can't compare the frame to any others, it seems to be quite stable and light. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
kurt
a Weekend Warrior
from austin tx
Date Reviewed: October 24, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1400.00 | | Purchased At: | VA bike store | | Strengths: | Frame, Lefty, Disc Brakes | | Weaknesses: | seat/seat post
color, but its growing on me | | Similar Products Used: | 2001 f600 | | Bike Setup: | only added a suspension seat post. | | Bottom Line: | This bike is great. Climbs extremely well, very light bike. The seat and seatpost have got to be changed. The post was cheap on nashbar and definitely worth it. The hydraulic brakes are a great. I havent taken it to the mountains yet but this bike has performed great on some serious trails round here. Still not sure if I like the riser handle bar. Some people complain about the $, but the frame performs and looks great. For a good hardtail your gonna have to pay, you get a lot with this bike. I havent yet seen anything to make myself second guess buying this one. Definitely worth it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
kurt
a Weekend Warrior
from austin tx
Date Reviewed: October 24, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1400.00 | | Purchased At: | VA bike store | | Strengths: | Frame, Lefty, Disc Brakes | | Weaknesses: | seat/seat post
color, but its growing on me | | Similar Products Used: | 2001 f600 | | Bike Setup: | only added a suspension seat post. | | Bottom Line: | This bike is great. Climbs extremely well, very light bike. The seat and seatpost have got to be changed. The post was cheap on nashbar and definitely worth it. The hydraulic brakes are a great. I havent taken it to the mountains yet but this bike has performed great on some serious trails round here. Still not sure if I like the riser handle bar. Some people complain about the $, but the frame performs and looks great. For a good hardtail your gonna have to pay, you get a lot with this bike. I havent yet seen anything to make myself second guess buying this one. Definitely worth it | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
kurt
a Weekend Warrior
from austin tx
Date Reviewed: October 24, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1400.00 | | Purchased At: | VA bike store | | Strengths: | Frame, Lefty, Disc Brakes | | Weaknesses: | seat/seat post
color, but its growing on me | | Similar Products Used: | 2001 f600 | | Bike Setup: | only added a suspension seat post. | | Bottom Line: | This bike is great. Climbs extremely well, very light bike. The seat and seatpost have got to be changed. The post was cheap on nashbar and definitely worth it. The hydraulic brakes are a great. I havent taken it to the mountains yet but this bike has performed great on some serious trails round here. Still not sure if I like the riser handle bar. Some people complain about the $, but the frame performs and looks great. For a good hardtail your gonna have to pay, you get a lot with this bike. I havent yet seen anything to make myself second guess buying this one. Definitely worth it | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Billy Boy
a Weekend Warrior
from Sydney, NSW, Australia
Date Reviewed: October 24, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Anywhere | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1600.00 | | Purchased At: | Bike Addiction | | Strengths: | Light, very stiff frame, unique and awesome lefty, good looks. | | Weaknesses: | nothing really other than some components are a little heavy. | | Similar Products Used: | Kliens. | | Bike Setup: | All as stock for now, Black BBQ.
wishlist: xlite carbon seatpost, ec90 99gsm bar, selle italia slr seat. | | Bottom Line: | It's a great bike to ride, it handles the rough stuff very well for a hardtail. It would suit a XC racer or Weekend warrior and the amazing frame and fork can be easily accompanied with upgraded components later on (it's futureproof). I would'nt hesitate in recommending it to anyone. It really does climb easily, I'm ridng the same hills as before with half the effort.
R.I.P. GIANT ! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
LOZ
a Racer
from DERBYSHIRE
Date Reviewed: October 23, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | all of them | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | LL | | Strengths: | Lightweight, stiff, strong, high quality frame and fork, superb tyres and good quality componants. Magura brakes are VERY powerful once bedded in, much better than Hope Mini's!! Lefty fork delivers 100mm of PLUSH travel that will eat up any terrain it encounters. all round incredible ride. Cannondales lifetime frame warrenty | | Weaknesses: | I had some initial problems with severe topping out on the lefty due to bearing migration. However this was sorted quick by a mechanic who swapped some of the bearing plates for thicker ones. Also had a few problems with cranks coming loose, creaking etc but again this was soon sorted and has not returned. Hutchinson Scorpion tyres although very good in all conditions do wear down incredibly fast, had to replace rear after a month or so. | | Similar Products Used: | Working in a bike shop means I have tried the majority of equivilent bikes avaliable in the UK. The F800 is easily the best looking and best value for money bike in the cannondale range and out rides any specialised or trek at similar price points | | Bike Setup: | Currently set up pretty much as stock but will be upgraded as and when budget allows! | | Bottom Line: | This bike is awesome, have used it to race XC, where it accellerates and climbs with the minimum of effort, long day rides are comfortable due to the upright riding position (no back ache), handles fast winding singletrack superbly cause of the stiff 100mm travel fork, riser bars and short stem. It is a great all round bike despite the initial problems I had with fork.
Even better considering I only payed trade price, ahh the joys of working in a bike shop!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mark Hansen
a Cross Country Rider
from New West BC Canada
Date Reviewed: October 22, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | BSP | | Strengths: | I enjoy how light the bike it the derailers shift smoothly but i wish more bikes had a regular rear shifter and a grip shift front so there is no occasional chain rub. Bike does small jumps quite nicely. | | Weaknesses: | Lefty bottums out ocassionally for heavier riders. Coda parts. MIne came with Continental Explorer tires the are almost worn out with little serious riding. Cranks one came clean off and is now being repaired (warrentied) The discs screwed up the first time i took the cranks off. The seat is terrible | | Similar Products Used: | i tested a Norco Sasquatch a Kona Caldera and a Rockymountain | | Bike Setup: | new seat, mosh bmx platform pedals, soon to be new cranks and new tires probably Maxxis Highrollers or Mobsters, or Panaracers | | Bottom Line: | Might be worth it at a lower price. Sure i enjoy riding it, but for the price i later realized i could get a much better bike. For the XC i doing its ok but my money could have been better spent i could have possibly gotten a full-susp bike. If you want a Cannondale get a Jeckle not this bike. It is my bike and im stuck with it so i might as well enjoy it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
richard
a Cross Country Rider
from hamilton, ontario, canada
Date Reviewed: October 11, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Strengths: | great frame, great stiff steering from the fork - a nice setup that feels perfect under my bigger self (200lbs). | | Weaknesses: | well, the component spec seemed a little weak, but i had just ridden the new 2003 f1000sl. | | Similar Products Used: | c'dale f1000sl ('03), f600 ('02); khs, norco, and kona equivalents. i've also tested out a santa cruz superlight, a jekyll 800, a fisher sugar 2+, and a stumpjumper as i search for a new ride. | | Bike Setup: | stock. | | Bottom Line: | well, this isn't the bike i enjoyed riding the most, but it is the bike i'm likely going to get, and i do love it.
i've been looking for something to replace my '99 kona manomano (short travel full-suspension) since the spring, checking out this and that.
of everything i've tried, the santa cruz was easily the nicest bike. it was fantastic, if a little flexy on the back end - even on my easy test ride the back tire was rubbing all over the place when i pushed it.
i didn't like the feel of the stumpjumper, and the sugar was not at all worth it, in my mind. it felt sticky and heavy, especially compared to the superlight which had an identical spec (the shop had stripped a sugar frame and built it up). the jekyll i liked - it wasn't the superlight, but it was nice; however, i ultimately decided it just wasn't going to be worth it.
see, i decided that none of the fullies were really necessary for me. the f800 has an amazing frame which can handle my riding pace and the jumps and drops i take easily. admittedly, i don't hammer away like mad, but try having both of your shoulders rebuilt with titanium, be forbidden from biking for two seasons, and see how it effects your mindset concerning break-neck speeds and 4-plus footers.
still, i do like long, hard, challenging rides over technical terrain, and i think the f800 will fit the bill nicely. the frame handles unbelievably well - noticably better than the caad4, but i must admit i wasn't able to notice much difference frame-wise in the optimo-equipped f1000sl. the spec was a lot better on the f1000sl, but without a 100mm travel fork my shoulders get pretty sore, and with my heavy butt i run out of travel quickly. besides, as nice as the tubeless tires, marta brakes, and new xtr rear were (and they were sweet) they aren't worth the extra $500 canadian, plus tax (which means $650) for me - ditto concerning the jekyll 800's rear suspension.
something i've learned from my wife is to avoid excess in one area, because it means you can do more in others. this from someone who alpine ski-raced at the provincial level - so we're not talking just any old unsporty cheapskate nag.
i've got my nice c'dale cross bike for commuting (bought on sale this past spring), i've got some new and decent snowboarding gear, we can pay for the new tires our vw jetta needs, my wife got to take a few months off and road trip between her masters and finding a job, and we'll be able to afford to continue my pursuit of graduate studies debt-free. ours is a consumer culture: the idea is to sell everyone on more than they really need. fight the power, boys and girls. or, at least, choose your excesses wisely. if all goes according to budget (and plan), i will hopefully be getting the 2003 f800 in time to begin next season, if not finish this one. i like the idea of owning a bike that i might actually be able to approach the limits of, not a bike that i'll never come close to. besides, the '03 has the titanium hub for the lefty - which appeals to my own alloyed self. live hard, but live smart.
i'm giving the bike ratings that are perhaps better than i would rate myself as a biker - so relatively speaking, the bike still rocks for me.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andy Rumming
a Cross Country Rider
from Exeter, Devon, England
Date Reviewed: October 8, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Coed Y Brenin Mbr | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1450.00 | | Purchased At: | Muddock Exeter | | Strengths: | The fork is excellent. Super stiff, with lockout, and loads of travel. Its a real fiddlers fork with lots of tuning possibilities, something I'm only just exploring. The frame is light, you feel that all your power goes straight to that back wheel. Those rear seat stays do not flex! The brakes are excellent, so much control, no adjustment ever needed, and very quick to change pads. Being out of the mud they wear alot slower, but beware those rotors get very very hot!
4 free services a year for life from Muddock is very useful and a major plus. | | Weaknesses: | I dont find the saddle very comfortable, but thats an individual thing. The tyres are not designed for England ie, mud or wet rock. Quite a lot of that on Dartmoor, so I'm upgrading for the winter. Seat post too short which was annoying. | | Similar Products Used: | Looked very hard at Marins,Specialized,and Cannondale. Choose the F700SL, but rode the F800 and got carried away with the extra travel on the lefty........(and the magura rather than CODA brakes) | | Bike Setup: | As stock, but with an X lite lay back seat post to get a better position. I am 6ft tall and seem to be inbetween the medium and large frame sizes. I went for the medium but have a slightly longer stem and now a lay back post. Time pedals. These are fantastic, I will never go back to shimano ones ever!! The shop threw them in with the bike but it took some haggling. | | Bottom Line: | I went out looking for a light racing style XC bike with front suspension to win the Polaris on. I had never considered riser bars or the more free ride setup of the F800. I asked the shop to put a flat bar and bar ends on the bike, but they strongly reccomended that I try the riser set up. Its excellent. More comfortable (no back ache) better visibility, climbs soooo well.
The bike goes exactly where you point it, climbs superbly, and loves going fast. You feel completely in control with the suspension absorbing all lumps and bumps. Also it looks beautiful and is beautifly crafted. Get one now for 1100 pounds in the mags which is an absolute steal.
One last thing, Cannondale dealers will say they dont compete on price, but push them, get a few quotes, let them know that YOU know what you're on about. You can get deals out of them if you are persistant! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ben aka: Stephenson Kid
a Weekend Warrior
from Rockford, IL
Date Reviewed: October 2, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1000.00 | | Purchased At: | From a guy on the net | | Strengths: | The lefty fork is great its light weight and has adjustable damping and lockout. Over all the bike is light 24lbs. Nice XT Deore derailleur it has clean fast shifts. Great brakes the hydros are sweeeet! | | Weaknesses: | None, everything is holding up just great! | | Similar Products Used: | Had an Ironhorse kind of a beater but not bad. | | Bike Setup: | All stock except for pedals and I have a bunch of other parts that I dont have on right now. | | Bottom Line: | This is a great bike I have had no problems what so ever. If you are thinking about buying it buy it! Its a great bike for advanced riders and even beginner. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Forest Shostite
a Cross Country Rider
from Austin, Texas
Date Reviewed: September 24, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Hofftie | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$1900.00 | | Purchased At: | Austin Bikes | | Strengths: | Super light, seamless frame, feeling of efffortless ride, LEFTY!!! | | Weaknesses: | Tires, that's it! | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | Factory. | | Bottom Line: | Every f800 rider will say the same thing: an hour into the ride, you feel like you're walking on air. This is the most incredible bike ever produced. People gape at me as I ride by (WTF????? they wonder)...
Awesome bike. I will never sell this baby! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dan Gilligan
a Weekend Warrior
from So. Burlington, Vt, U.S.A
Date Reviewed: September 16, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | anything that takes balls | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$1300.00 | | Purchased At: | ski rack, Vermont | | Strengths: | nice light frame, lefty is kick ass, good for going big, what more can i say its killer | | Weaknesses: | the crank set isnt the greatest broke it in a week, tires suck just hook it up with some 2.5 maxxis mobsters and u will be alset, also a new seat its hard as a rock | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | maxxis 2.5 mobsters, speed v seat, easton monkey handlebars, primo pedals | | Bottom Line: | Nice Ass Bike, Great for going big and stepping it up! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brendan R
a Racer
from Hudson Quebec Canada
Date Reviewed: August 15, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | rigaud | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1500.00 | | Purchased At: | VCH | | Bottom Line: | This is an update of an earlier review.
Never buy a c-dale worst sevice ever the BB bracket stripped itself my dealer can't figure out why and the stupid company won't do anything about it. I've lost 2 races just because of this bike. personnaly i hope c-dale goes bank rupt they make the US look bad with their horrible excuses for mountain bikes and now they spend all their money on making Moto cross bikes and quads which from what friends of mine who race MX say they are horrible worse than their mountain bikes.
Basically if you ride XC this bike can't handle it i'm 170Lbs and am a very smooth rider i'm not harse to bikes.
Just please i'd hate to see someone else go through what i have please don't buy this bike.
I'd give it less Chilis if i could! | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Régis Jacquemin
a Weekend Warrior
from Hayling Island, UK
Date Reviewed: July 29, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | Sensible Bike Co. | | Strengths: | The highlights have to be the frame and Lefty. Good geometry and top quality fabrication for the frame. Superb performance from the Lefty whatever the trail. Brakes very good too. Fantastic acceleration potential. | | Weaknesses: | The paint ain't that strong and in black it's impossible to keep clean. Lefty tops up on very steep climbs - you need to watch that front wheel. Finishing kit is a bit disappointing. I wish the bike came with a shock pump like others do... | | Bike Setup: | Upgraded crankset to XT (perfect), changed stem for longer model (from Cannondale), saddle didn't fit me so tried a Spesh' BG Comp but bent it, now trying Fizik Plateau, so far so good. I reckon the seatpost will have to go too. European bikes fitted with Hutch. Scorpions: great tyres with excellent cornering grip but soft compound means they don't last.
| | Bottom Line: | Perfect bike for mixing XC riding with gnarly trails and flowing singletrack (plus a bit of road to link it all together thx to the lockout). Lefty is easy to setup and just eats everything in its path without flexing (I only weight 70kg though!). No wonder Gracia rides a Lefty-equipped Gemini in 4X.
And it looks good too. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Terry Borgoff
a
from Vancouver, BC
Date Reviewed: July 26, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Okanagan | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1500.00 | | Purchased At: | Some bike shop in Vancouver | | Strengths: | Incredible frame, Lefty is super duper. | | Weaknesses: | No weaknesses. I am baffled by some of the commenst below. They're clearly not sane: This bike is such a sexy ride, especially an hour or two into a ride, it just feels better and better | | Similar Products Used: | Tons. My uncle owns a bike shop in Montreal, and while I lived there, I tested everything in the price range, and few bikes come close to this one. | | Bottom Line: | Stupendous bike. People gape at it when I ride by. If they only knew what it's like to ride. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brendan R
a Racer
from Montreal
Date Reviewed: June 26, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Any Trail | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1200.00 | | Purchased At: | Village Cycle Hudson | | Strengths: | Every thing,Brakes, Frame's seat stays really absorbe bumps , the color (kale), Lefty,Contenental tires, the Coda stuff but by the end of the year i'll proble upgrade to XT and XTR | | Weaknesses: | I don't like the pedals i think they have to much flowt but you can get different cleats to fix that. But i'll probly just get time atac pedals | | Similar Products Used: | Trek 6700, Scalpal, Fisher bikes | | Bike Setup: | Everything stock it came with contenental tires | | Bottom Line: | In the catalog it said hutchinson sqorpion tires but it came with contis that are way better.
I love the disk brakes they have no drag, I'm kinda worried about the stregnth of the frame but just because i heard so much about crack'n'fail from people but they're loosers.
I love the attention you get from everyone cause everybodys amaxed by thge lefty and disks
and best thing was the price since i'm sponsored by my LBS I got alot of money off
3 weeks ago i hated C-dale but now i'll probly never buy any other companys biks. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dave
a Weekend Warrior
from Antwerp, Belgium
Date Reviewed: June 25, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | forest | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1850.00 | | Purchased At: | Local store | | Strengths: | Lefty, a dream to ride!! Weight and simple but attractive looks | | Weaknesses: | Almost all the CODA-stuff!! Hutchinson tires. the tires went 'flat' about 5 times in the very first week, while nothing was wrong! Michelin solved the problem.
Crank is irritating, Magura Klara brakes and seatpost are already making much moise.
In the first few months my bike spend more time in the bike shop (fot warranty complaints) than on the track! | | Similar Products Used: | Cannondale Beast of the East | | Bike Setup: | Standard except for the Michelin tires | | Bottom Line: | Except for the tires (that I adjusted myself), the Lefty (way to expensive but GOOD) and the CAAD 5 frame, this bike really sucks. On top of that cannondale's customer service even doesn't take the effort to answer at my complaints!
My advise: Do not buy this bike, if you have already bought it, sell everything except the Lefty... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Scott
a
from Austin
Date Reviewed: June 19, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1500.00 | | Strengths: | Light, stiff frame. Lefty rocks. Made in USA. | | Weaknesses: | Anything with CODA on it. Actually, the stem is ok (a little weak but not too bad) and I haven't any problems with the hubs but I've been warned to watch out for them. The cranks are horrible, the seat's cheap, the seatpost creaks, and I hated the riser bar. I think that's about it. Oh, pedals weighed the same as a brick but worked well... | | Similar Products Used: | Cannondale CAAD 4 Custom | | Bike Setup: | Thomson Elite Seatpost, Selle Italia Flite Trans Am, SRAM Grip Shift Rocket Shifters, Easton EA70 Handlebar, Profile Design SOS Bar Ends, Truvativ Stylo Team Crankset, XT Front Derailleur, Crank Brothers Egg Beaters Pedals, Tioga Factory XC 1.95, Cateye Enduro 2... | | Bottom Line: | I raced in the mid to late 90's and built up a nice Cannondale in 1998 but it got ripped off and I waited for a few years to buy something else. I was going to buy the framset and then thought I'd buy the F800 and build it up. Good move. The difference wasn't that much. I eBay'd the CODA stuff and bought new swag. The bike was great stock but it truely flies now. I got the weight down to under 24 pounds and it handles great. The Lefty is perfect and you'd never know it's missing one side by riding it (ie STIFF) This bike is great stock for anyone looking for a good ride. If you wanna race, upgrade a few things and you're good to go. Five stars for value since the frame is built inthe USA. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Soupy
a Cross Country Rider
from Hamilton, ON, Canada
Date Reviewed: June 12, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1500.00 | | Purchased At: | Sporting Life | | Strengths: | CAAD5 Frame is quite stiff and strong. Excellent power transfer that is particularly noticeable on sprints and climbs. Lefty suspension has unparalleled performance: 4 inches of very plush travel; needle-bearings significantly reduce stiction and drag; Infinitely adjustable air pressure. Magura Julies are nice brakes - relatively inexpensive hydraulic discs with excellent moderation and stopping power. | | Weaknesses: | Magura Julies are not perfectly flat, so occasionally some drag can be heard. I had a small problem with one of the bolts popping out of the chainring, however I'm not sure if this should be blamed on the components or the bike shop...maybe neither since its not uncommon for
bolts to loosen during the new bike break-in period. | | Similar Products Used: | Kona AA, Marin Team Issue, Cannondale F600 | | Bike Setup: | Factory setup. Switched tires and inverted stem (personal preference) | | Bottom Line: | This bike is a quality ride. I did a good amount of research before buying this bike, and am confident saying that the F800 is the best bike for the money. The Lefty and CAAD5 frame make the bike. Cannondale also did a good job selecting components to keep things affordable without sacrificing performance. Some CODA components, but they are decent...certainly not as bad as some reviews will lead you to believe. Probably not the right choice for DH or freeriding. But if you're looking for a light, powerful and fast XC ride, this is the bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tom Gunther
a Weekend Warrior
from Toronto, Canada
Date Reviewed: May 28, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1450.00 | | Strengths: | Incredibly light, very strong frame and Lefty combo. The Lefty is just awesome, especially the on-the-fly switch between full suspension and none. The bike just flies! | | Weaknesses: | Can't find any yet. I replaced the seat, which seemed crummy. | | Bottom Line: | This is a spectacular bike. It does take some time to settle, especially the brakes, but once it does, it is truly amazing. Super light, very tough, and silky smooth. There are no faults in this bike for me. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jazzabell
a Weekend Warrior
from Ishpeming, MI
Date Reviewed: May 28, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1500.00 | | Purchased At: | Downwind Sports | | Strengths: | This is a great looking, great handling, light fun, fast bike. Sure, the components could use an upgrade, but it works fine for me. When stuff breaks or wears out I will upgrade then. If you're a serious racer, you'll probably buy a much more expensive bike (the F2000 is pretty sweet) but for the rest of us I think the components on the F 800 will do. | | Weaknesses: | The front brakes haven't broken in properly for me, but that's probably just a fluke...they are Magura's low end brake. | | Similar Products Used: | An old Gary Fisher Paragon with RockShox worst ever fork. | | Bike Setup: | Stock...new Kore stem coming. | | Bottom Line: | I love this bike. I almost bought the F2000 or the F1000, but decided that I'm not serious enough for those bikes. Like I said before, as stuff breaks I'll upgrade it and eventually my bike will be even sweeter. I don't think you'll find a better XC bike for this price. If you do, let me know! If not, buy this bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bill Blass
a Weekend Warrior
from Clemson, SC USA
Date Reviewed: May 2, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Issaqueena Forest / Tsali | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1600.00 | | Purchased At: | local shoppe | | Strengths: | Super Lightweight, It can take a beating. This bike is fast and the LEFTY rules. Way better than a 1998 Specialized Stumpjumper M2 Comp IM(superior)O. | | Weaknesses: | The seat is crap. Mine broke on the first ride. | | Similar Products Used: | Stumpjumper 1998 m2 comp (sucks!)
2001 Cannondale F1000
2002 Cannondale F900 | | Bike Setup: | Stock, Lefty Rules | | Bottom Line: | Get this bike, the lefty cuts the weight down and makes it ride like a champ. 5 chilli's hands down. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
James Leader
a Cross Country Rider
from Camborne England
Date Reviewed: April 18, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | cliff paths | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$3000.00 | | Purchased At: | My shop | | Strengths: | Fantastic stiffness under load, outrite design. | | Weaknesses: | ????????????? None yet | | Similar Products Used: | Mongoose Carbon, Fulldynamix Mini Mig XTR | | Bike Setup: | CAAD 5 Lefty, Full XTR | | Bottom Line: | Put XTR on the bike as it really deserves the best, I have been racing at a high level for years, although the geometry of the dale is more relaxed, gone with the back pain?? Fantastic bike all round, brakes are good too just give um time to settle. The Lefty is simply stunning, i thaught it had bedded in after a few months, but behold the 4 month mark after 3000 miles the fork is simply unparalleled in performance. Just ride one and you will buy. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Julien van den heuvel
a Cross Country Rider
from helmond
Date Reviewed: March 25, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Zeddam | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1749.00 | | Purchased At: | John Knoops,(mierlo) | | Strengths: | Stiffness of the frame and fork! | | Weaknesses: | The tires are crap in mud, and the rizer bar sucks too. | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | Tioga factory XC tires, selle italia oktavia sadle, woodamn carbon bar-ends,woodman carbon bottle cage, ritchey wcs bar,shimano clipless pedals. | | Bottom Line: | This bike is great ia am in love with it its my SEX-MACHINE!!!
But put other tires on it. And i dont like a rizer bar so i changed it. And the brakes they make very much noise but they brake good i am thinking too put other brakes on it. but for the rest its a real racing bike you can do anything with it downhill,xc,trial its a cool bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Richard Porter
a Weekend Warrior
from London, England
Date Reviewed: March 25, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | All over west country and Wales | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$2000.00 | | Purchased At: | On your bike - London | | Strengths: | Looks great, handles superbly, very fast. Love that lefty. | | Weaknesses: | Brakes scream in the wet but nothing else so far. | | Bike Setup: | XT front mech, Xlite carbon seatpost. | | Bottom Line: | I love this bike, thrash the hell out of it and so far it handles everything. (so far no frame catastophies and I weigh 200lbs).
Buy one and dont look back. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andrew
a Weekend Warrior
from Somerset, England
Date Reviewed: March 23, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | Johns Bikes Bath | | Strengths: | All day comfort, lightweight and agile handling. Lefty fork eats enormous bumps, attention to detail and build quality. Disc specific frame. | | Weaknesses: | Tyres poor in mud, coda crankset is an unknown quantity. Love or hate Magura Clara's. | | Similar Products Used: | Marin Team Issue | | Bike Setup: | U.S.E. sx shockpost (recommended), Flite genuine gel saddle, XT cranks, Time ATAC pedals, PC69 chain | | Bottom Line: | The vast majority of the price of the F800 goes into getting you a fantastic frame/fork combination, expect to upgrade a few parts as they wear. The bike is great for extended rides with good comfort, this is definitley one for the cross country brigade.
Kale is the only colour to have...... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
harris dunlevey
a Weekend Warrior
from Rockpoint, AZ
Date Reviewed: March 18, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Chinle Arizona | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1500.00 | | Purchased At: | local store | | Strengths: | Looks good. Status symbol. | | Weaknesses: | Very over rated bike. I hate the thing and wish I could get me a better bike. The price is so out rageous and out of control. Frame sucks like none other. If you're a little dude who is under 140lbs then this might do for you; I'm 180lbs. Over that U will need to get something that is made to last. I can already feal the frame about to bust. I don't jump the thing anymore cause I'm afraid it will give. The reason why, I have learned, is cause Cannondale grinds their welds down, that gives the bike a defect(look at it). In other words the grinding puts scratches in it that hurt the tubing and the weld job. Compare: A pro climber never uses a carabener that has been dropped or scratched; Why??? Beause there are microscopic cracks that will break under pressure or constant pounding. Same applies to Cannondale's little cosmetic job. Supposedly that is to make the bike look smoother or aero-dynamic. Just like our little carabener alittle pressure, time, and a mean jump will break you and the frame. Don't compromise. That "cosmetic job" will put you in the hospital. | | Similar Products Used: | 1998Fisher, 2001Klien, oldschool GT Zaskar | | Bottom Line: | If you want a bike that will be for one use get if you dare. But if you want to use this bike for over a year you better be under 140lbs(fly weight wenie) and not do any big jumps. Super Lite Cannondale will give you a too much hassle. If you want something with killer weld jobs and lite choose a Klien. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Michael
a Cross Country Rider
from Stockholm
Date Reviewed: March 6, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1600.00 | | Purchased At: | Cykelspecialisten Stockholm | | Strengths: | Fantastic frame;lefty DLR fork with rebound control;Good stiff cranks and nice Mavic disc rims. | | Weaknesses: | none so far | | Similar Products Used: | Kona, Trek | | Bike Setup: | Standard factory setup | | Bottom Line: | This is a fantastic hardtail for XC or just running around town. I think that anyone would be impressed with it. I use my bike year round instead of a car. Put on some Nokian WXC300 studded tires and you have a real performer in winter weather.
The CAAD5 is a work of art. The frames back triangle has an impressive shock absorbing effect. The cost of buying only the frame and the lefty shock almost equals the total cost of the F800. Good value for money. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Simon
a Weekend Warrior
from London
Date Reviewed: March 1, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | south downs | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1500.00 | | Purchased At: | Evans | | Strengths: | Stiff, light, v.agile. Looks mean in black | | Weaknesses: | seat, seatpost, coda cack, duff deore shifters but then you're paying for the frame and fork - upgrade the cheap bits, and brakes scream like hell in the wet | | Similar Products Used: | last bike - 1999 Stumpjumper, tested 2002 model as well as f800 - no contest! Kona before that. | | Bike Setup: | flite saddle, raceface post, turned stem other way up - better position. Wish list - carbon bars, xtr cranks and xt shifters | | Bottom Line: | best bike I've had by far. Almost went for the safe option and get another stumpjumper - damn glad I didnt. If you're thinking about one then don't delay, buy one today! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tony
a Weekend Warrior
from Gainesville,Florida
Date Reviewed: February 23, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Santos | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1600.00 | | Purchased At: | The Bike Route | | Strengths: | very good looks,frame is stiff,mavic wheels,very fast on or off trails,it climbs very well and the Lefty Headshok is great,it can handle anything I dish out.the Lefty feels much better than any other fork...TRUST ME ! | | Weaknesses: | the stem could be better and the seat post. soon I will have a Kore stem and X-lite carbon seat post. | | Similar Products Used: | many Trek bikes and Jamis | | Bike Setup: | Pedals-Tioga surefoot-mx pro, Tires- Continental Explorer-pro, Seat- Terazzo Serfas titanium cutaway | | Bottom Line: | I love this bike!!! I have been more than happy with this bike so far. It has been great around campus,trails,down hill or up hill. It's great when I'm going up hill and the biker in front of me is 1 block away & I pass them before they reach the top...HAHA I'm kinda scik of the silly questions about the Lefty Headshok. this bike is GREAT!
www.thebikerouteonline.com | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
ACL
a Cross Country Rider
from Cedar key, Florida
Date Reviewed: February 17, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1700.00 | | Purchased At: | X-mas gift | | Strengths: | Lefty headshok is great...Frame is very stiff...Mavic X 223 disc wheels are killer...the cannondale grisp are very gripy...Chris King King Discotek Rear hub...Magura disc brakes are cool and this bike looks kickass in BLACK! | | Weaknesses: | the headshok stem is not very strong... the Hutchinson tires are lame I made an upgrade to Tioga factort extreme XC's...CODA HUBS ARE SO LAME ! Cannondale should just have Chris King hubs for this kinda of MONEY! | | Similar Products Used: | Cannondale Jekyll 800 and Giant NRS 2 | | Bike Setup: | Tioga factory extreme XC tires...Tioga surefoot-mx pro Pedals...Chris King King Discotek Rear...Yeti hardcore grips | | Bottom Line: | very fast bike...so far it has been ok on the trails...It has been a blast in the swamp. I already blewout the cheap Coda rear hub.make sure you get a better rear HUB. this bike is very nice , but $1700 for this kind of bike is a bad deal. I like my Giant NRS 2 much better and I paid $400 less.
........................................................
DOES ANYONE BUT CODA MAKE A HEADSHOK DISC FRONT HUB???
send me an e-mail if you know.uf_football@hotmail.com | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Sprocketeer
a
from Narashino, Chiba, Japan (native New Yorker)
Date Reviewed: February 11, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | This one | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Purchased At: | Japan Aerobic Center, Chiba | | Strengths: | The road race geometry frame is obviously made for speed, and it's not a bad design for technical moves and tricks. | | Weaknesses: | Cannondale reputation for breakage
CODA components--c'mon Canondale! Get real and start putting quality components on your bikes, everyone knows CODA components have the mechanical durability of a Saturday night special, and with the "crack and fail" nickname tagged on your frames by mountain bikers everywhere, you'd do well to give us all SOMETHING undeniably reliable on your bikes.
Price: but only because of the CODA components. | | Similar Products Used: | Many Treks, a few Peugots long ago in a galaxy far away, and some Kleins. | | Bike Setup: | Trek frame, with components I chose and mostly installed myself. | | Bottom Line: | FINALLY!! A Cannondale I would actually consider purchasing--if it weren't so overpriced. When I say overpriced, I'm really talking about the CODA components. I'd sooner trust hubs sporting the brand name Huffy!
Though I'm sure the frame would not hold up, I'd be willing to risk riding this bike for a couple of years to prove myself wrong, even though all accounts of Cannondale frames testify to their fragility.
Honestly, I don't like the geometry of this bike for mountain biking, but I think it's good and I could get used to it--maybe even get to liking it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andreas Gamborg
a Weekend Warrior
from Aarhus, Denmark
Date Reviewed: January 18, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1600.00 | | Purchased At: | City Cykler, Odense | | Strengths: | Frame it stiff and light.
Lefty fork. | | Weaknesses: | Hutchinson Scorpions tires are very bad in mud. They might be good in the summer!
Low BB only 11,5" | | Similar Products Used: | F700 97, F700 01, Jekyll 700 and a lot of non-cannondales like Gt and Kona | | Bike Setup: | I swapped the tires with Tioga Dh factory 2.3" and 2.1" | | Bottom Line: | A fun bike, a great climber that can take nearly all downhill.
I also thought of swapping the brakes with marta and buying a suspension seatpost. I will do that when I get the money for it.
Change the tires, they are crap. Buy some bigger tires like I did it really improves the bikes handling. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Simon Hall
a Weekend Warrior
from Birmingham, UK
Date Reviewed: January 11, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1500.00 | | Purchased At: | UK Dealer | | Strengths: | Light frame, stiff with lefty locked off, looks good. | | Weaknesses: | none yet | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | Standard | | Bottom Line: | First decent bike I have bought, winced a bit about the price but now I've had it for a bit I reckon it was excellent value for money, top frame and fork. Other parts are fairly basic but at £1500 I had enough money left to easily upgrade if needed. Thought about getting the next model up with the ELO but glad I didn't as the manual switch is dead easy to use on the go, sounds like an unnecessary luxury but it really is excellent on climbs..... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Yfly
a
from Phoenix, Arizona, US
Date Reviewed: December 17, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1800.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Very good frame and fork | | Weaknesses: | As usual nat the best components for this kind of price. | | Similar Products Used: | Trek 7000. Balance 550. Specialised Stumpjumper. | | Bike Setup: | Swapped Clara for Marta. Selle Italia TT saddle. XT shifters. XT/XTR spd. | | Bottom Line: | The frame is truly outstanding. Only remark is that BB height feels to be a little but low (didn't measure yet) but I have the feeling I hit stuff more often. And yes this thing really climbs like a mountain goat.
Lefty is amazing. All forks should be like this. I have plenty of experience with Rockshox and Manitou but I only understand their mediocre performance by riding Lefty now. Would never ride anything without an easy lock out system like the Lefty anymore.
Clara's felt okay but a little bit mushy. Brake performance was okay. Took the decision to swap for Marta because I could not get over the plastics on the Clara. Even though I have only used Marta for a short while now I can truly say it is worth the upgrade (that is if you are as keen on breaking as I am). I now have the firmness of the XT V-brakes and the weather performance of the discs.
Hutchinson Scorpions are CRAP. Pardon my French, MAJOR CRAP. I have never had so many flats as with these tires. BURN THEM!
Value as shown below reflects the outstanding frame and fork you will get when buying the F800. However be prepared to spend more money on swapping parts.
Overall rating reflects the fun factor of this bike.
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Submitted by
Partialsuccess
a Weekend Warrior
from Sydney, Australia
Date Reviewed: December 3, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Red Hill | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1750.00 | | Purchased At: | Bike Addiction | | Strengths: | awesome paint coat, stiff, light, good brakes, lefty! | | Weaknesses: | lefty fork boot is fragile. | | Similar Products Used: | Kona King Kikapu was my last bike. | | Bike Setup: | stock standard except for quick release seat tube clamp (a must), oury grips and shimano spds. | | Bottom Line: | I went for the green colour (called Kale) and it looks great. The catalogue doesn't do this colour justice, it needs to be seen in the flesh. The lefty fork works really well and gets tonnes of attention. The frame is stiff yet surprisingly compliant. Bombs the technical stuff and charges up hills. Quality is amazing. Beats the Taiwanese made stuff by a mile. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Francisco Sarrat
a Cross Country Rider
from Santiago, Chile
Date Reviewed: November 29, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1786.00 | | Purchased At: | Dealer Cannondale- Chile | | Strengths: | Design, weight, Lefty, black Color, Brakes, everything in general.
Diseño, peso, Lefty, Color negro, Frenos, todo en general. | | Weaknesses: | Weak frame(caad 5)
Cuadro delicado (caad 5)
| | Similar Products Used: | All "F" cannondale 2002 models
Todos los modelos F de cannondale 2002 | | Bike Setup: | Factory original
Original de fabrica | | Bottom Line: | Excellent mountainbike, fast, good at climbing and even better for going down, the Lefty has very good suspension and great stability. The Continental Explorer tires hold on very well in dry land.
Excelente mountaibike, rapida, buena para subir y mejor para bajar, la lefty es muy buena en suspención y estabilidad. Los neumaticos continental explorer se agarran muy bien en seco | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
spencer
a
from brooklyn, ny
Date Reviewed: November 28, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | bellview (santos) orlando, fl | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1650.00 | | Purchased At: | high gear cycle | | Strengths: | super-lite, fast, pretty tough, it's just a sick bike for the price. | | Weaknesses: | coda parts... but, this model doesn't have that many and i wish the geometry was a little more slack. | | Similar Products Used: | i was looking at the kona roast, jamis komodo, mongoose black diamond, khs bi tch, gt ruckus 1.0. | | Bike Setup: | black matte paint, all stock except: 50mm stem, shimano spd515 w/cage, continental explorer tires, rockshox seat post, race face northshore drive train. | | Bottom Line: | best bike i've ever owned, i ride to work everyday (brooklyn to manhattan), ride trails a couple times a weak, and a little urban assault. kick's as s on climbs, and can take all the techincal downhill i can throw at it. it's a great all around bike. i searched on the web and in bike shops for months, and it was a toss-up between this, the jamis and kona.
if your thinking about buying this bike, do it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
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Photo Caption Contest
(sponsored by Maxxis)
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Enter here
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$ 1763.99
