Submitted by
Andro Galero
a Weekend Warrior
from Butuan City, Philippines Date Reviewed: September 15, 2004
Favorite Trail:
anywhere there's dirt
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$1100.00
Purchased At:
2nd hand from a friend
Strengths:
carbon fiber skin easy to maintain and keep shiny. single pivot swingarm still very strong, no flex and play despite being more than 5 years old.
Weaknesses:
my bike could use a better rear shock, i still use its original Fox Air Vanilla... maybe an upgrade to newer Fox Pro Pedal shocks or anything with better anti-bob.
Similar Products Used:
cannondale jekyll, diamondback xls
Bike Setup:
Shimano XT/XTR drivetrain, Avid Arch Rival brakes, Amoeba Scud seatpost, handlebar and bar ends, Headshok Super Fatty fork, Tank Lights hubs on DT Revolution spokes and mavic X517 rims...
Bottom Line:
Bought this bike 2nd hand from a friend more than 3 years ago. I like the Cannondale Raven because of its distinct look, good quality, lots of stand-over height, low maintenance because of its single pivot swing-arm and that wonderfully flawless Cannondale attention to detail and finish. Its still a head turner despite not being a new bike, it's still shiny even though its already more than 5 years old. Polished the swingarm so its better than new.
There are lighter and better performing bikes out there but i'd still choose this one... its good, comfortable and reliable. I forsee riding this bike for many years to come, i'm keeping my antique, who knows, it might be a collectors item in the future.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jesse
a Cross Country Rider
from Charlottesville,Va Date Reviewed: January 19, 2001
Favorite Trail:
Panarama Farms
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$1600.00
Purchased At:
Extreme Sports
Strengths:
Overall excellent XC bike!!! Love the way this bike climbs. Bike is very tuneable, corners better than anything I've been on. Eats up the track and you don't feel like you've been beat to death when the ride is over. No complaints at all on handling.
Weaknesses:
Comes with entry level components, seat is the worst I've ever sat on. Might as well be sitting on the seat post.
Similar Products Used:
Super V carbon full suspension, Fisher hardtail, Specialized
Bike Setup:
Kept the Fatty Head, I like this shock, first time for a fatty head and I'm impressed with its capabilities. You can turn this shock off, which is a nice feature when you pop on to the hard surface. Kept the fox rear shock, disk brakes, and wheelset. Everything else is XTR. RaceFace XY post, Avocet 02 saddle.
Bottom Line:
25lb setup. Thought I was going to have problems with the rear shock. Over a year now and it doesn't leak. This is the second Cannondale I've owned and I haven't been disappointed. To old to race anymore, but love to push this bike to (my/it's) limits.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jim
a Cross Country Rider
from Aspen, CO Date Reviewed: August 21, 2000
Favorite Trail:
Maah Daah Hey
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$1700.00
Purchased At:
Dakota Cyclery
Strengths:
Smooth ride; lightweight; responsive.
Weaknesses:
Componentry needs to be upgrades; no shock lockouts.
I really enjoy this bike. It's much more responsive and lighter than the Super V series. I do miss the Headshok lockout and wish I had a remote rear lockout as well (only for road climbs). Active suspension keeps my wheels on the ground so I can concentrate on climbing some amazing stuff. It is pricey if you don't get a deal somehow. Great for cross country but lacking travel for serious downhillers. Can be problematic depending on what type of car rack you use (Yakima and Bike Tights work wonderfully).
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Stephen Richard Litt
a Cross Country Rider
from Kitchener, Ontario, Canada Date Reviewed: March 3, 2000
Favorite Trail:
Homer Watson Park
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
The '99 Raven 900 frameset is the best riding frameset on the market. In stock form, the 900 is a very good value as far as componentry is conserned. This frame offers superior rear end rigidity and suspension plushness with a good rising rate of travel. This bike climbs like a hardtail and descends like all out DH bike. Compared to the 2000 Raven 2 frameset this bike kicks ass. Grab one while you still can!!!!!
Weaknesses:
Problmatic Magura Louise Disc Brakes. Magura was good enough to replace the defective offerings free of charge. Buy Magura brakes and feel the power!!!!!!!!
Similar Products Used:
Not one bike on earth holds a candle.
Bike Setup:
Stock setup includes: Magura Louise Disc Brakes, Mavric 221 Disc specific rims, XT and LX component mix. Immediate Upgrades Include: Rock Shox SID XL fork (the blue color kicks ass), Profile Carbon Fiber Riser Bar, Shimano 545 Platform pedals, Race Face Turbine LT Crankset (in SID blue color).
Bottom Line:
No other bike rides like an original Raven frameset. If you can still find one jump upon the chance. Soup the bike up like mine and you can ride anything including some mild DH riding (it does have 5 inches of rear wheel travel). You can also lighten her up for cross country racing. You owe it to yourself to try one out. I only have one thing left to say, LIVE TO RIDE A CANNONDALE, RIDE A CANNONDALE TO LIVE!!!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Theo
a Weekend Warrior
from Houston,texas Date Reviewed: January 23, 2000
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
Nice ride
Weaknesses:
The "Magnesium Frame" BROKE!!!!!! under the seat post
Similar Products Used:
Diamondback, Specialized
Bike Setup:
Lefty with Vanila xc
Bottom Line:
The new designed frame broke under a regular ride.No jumping or downhilling involved.Very dissapointed.:(
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Theo
a Weekend Warrior
from Houston,Texas Date Reviewed: November 16, 1999
Favorite Trail:
Ho-chi-min , Memorial
Duration Product Used:
less than 1 month
Strengths:
Exellent suspension system,perfect steering, confidence inspiring frame of 2000 model
Weaknesses:
expensive
Similar Products Used:
diamondback x6, specialized
Bike Setup:
Lefty in front , fox vanilla r in rear
Bottom Line:
The best ride you can ever have besides a motorcycle
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mark
a Cross-Country Rider
from Ridgefield, CT Date Reviewed: June 30, 1999
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
lateral stiffness, Headshok tracks like an arrow, full suspension is like riding your sofa
Weaknesses:
heavier than my bike,climbs like full suspension
Similar Products Used:
Pro Flex 957(?), Klein Mantra, Ibis Bow Ti
Bike Setup:
Raven 900 frame,Fatty SL,Gripshift/XTR, Graftons, Mavic 231's w. Hugis, Fox Alps 5, V brakes, etc.
Bottom Line:
Getting used to this after my bike. Downhilling is a blast; the bike just floats. (Line? What line?) Hooks up really well on super slow, super steep climbs, otherwise, I'll take my hardtail for climbing. Doesn't bob, but still feels like it's sapping your energy. Tracks very straight-confidence inspiring. Seems to have no handling quirks. It seems to like being steered rather than snapped into hard corners. The new Raven 2 is significantly lighter. Hmmmmm.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Scott Ansay THE RAVEN
a Cross-Country Rider
from North Vancouver, BC Date Reviewed: May 24, 1999
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
Frame strength, disc brakes, shocks
Weaknesses:
none so farOh, THE SEAT
Similar Products Used:
Rocky Mountain Vertex TO Brodie Catalyst
Bike Setup:
replaced the seat
Bottom Line:
Even though this is an American bike, I really have begun to enjoy it. The brakes are great in the rain (oh yes it rains in BC), the suspension is about right, (any more travel and you lose feeling for the terrain, especially on the North Shore). Get one if you want a rocking XC racer, buy a triple clamp fork for more travel, although the headshock does well in the bad weather.This is truly an awesome, forward thinking bike designed by YANKS! I Hate to admit it, but it really, really is great fun to ride, precise to steer and great to climb with.fIVE SEVERED FINGERS ALL THE WAY
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
MEAT
a Racer
from GAINESVILLE ,GA Date Reviewed: May 23, 1999
Favorite Trail:
CHICOPEE
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
NO FLEX ,MAGURA BRAKES, HEAD SHOCK
Weaknesses:
NONE YET
Similar Products Used:
SUPER V 900 ALUMINUM
Bike Setup:
USE BIKE AS IT CAME , EXCEPT ADDED XTR REAR DER.
Bottom Line:
THERE IS NO BETTER FULL SUSP. THAN C'DALE. THE RAVEN IS LIGHT ENOUGH TO RACE, BUT I USE IT TO TRAIN AND THEN RACE MY CDALE TEAM REPLICA ( WHEN I GET TO RACE WHICH IS NOT TO OFTEN) THE RAVEN HANDLES GREAT WHEN PUT INTO CURVES FAST OR ON THE ROCKY STUFF. THE TIRES STAY IN CONTACT WITH THE GROUND, EXCEPT WHEN BIG AIR IS PLANNED THE IT LANDS LIKE A DREAM.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
FunBoy
a Cross-Country Rider
from Neverneverland, Ca Date Reviewed: May 14, 1999
cannondale m2000 Trek OCLV Pro issue Specialized M2 Avanti Pro
Bike Setup:
as it comes
Bottom Line:
Great bike for the price (got it for $1650 new) shocks work well, as do brakes Rides like a dream. Then again what would i know? This is my first full suspension bike. I don't race, I ride purely for fun with freinds who are self-proclaimed freeriders. i try to keep up and I think this bike will help. For the price and technology, you cannot go wrong. Although I would like to try a GT XCR, a URT, an AMP and then I would know what I was talking about
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mark
a cross-country rider
from CT Date Reviewed: March 11, 1999
Bottom Line:
Built this bike as a frameset, so it is a 900, but with assorted parts. Currently weighs 25+ lbs., about 1 1/2 lbs. more than my hardtail bike. This is some machine. Absolutely NO lateral flex. Climbs well, descends well, tracks like an arrow. Most of the time I forget I'm on full susp. until things get really rocky, and you float over the hits that would have previously required a trip to the chiropractor (or the E.R.). Very, very nice.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Don Nywening
a cross-country rider
from New Jersey Date Reviewed: December 27, 1998
Bottom Line:
This bike is awesome! I've been riding it for about two months and love it. It came with Magura Louise brakes instead of the cable actuated Hayes brakes, which, in my opinion is better. If you can only own one bike, make it a Super-V!
Overall Rating:
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