Submitted by
12yearSexperiencE
a Downhiller
from Thousand Oaks, CA, USA!!! Date Reviewed: April 24, 2000
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
The Components
Weaknesses:
The Frame, The Price, The Color, The Tires, The Seat
Similar Products Used:
GT Zaskar, Ritchey, Raleigh, Schwinn, Nishiki
Bike Setup:
Stock setup
Bottom Line:
Out of all the bikes I have taken out to the Dominating California Mountains and streams!!! All you Californians Know what Im talking about... We have it all, Snow, Mountains, Desert, and Surf!!! That is southern Cal... Anyway The GT was the best performer by far... Every one that races with me tells me that Cannondales are way over rated!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Russ B
a Cross Country Rider
from Seaford Date Reviewed: February 8, 2000
Favorite Trail:
Stewart airport
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
lightweight. Top of the line components
Weaknesses:
avid brakes. good but am xtr man
Bottom Line:
changed the avid brakes to XTR. Great bike. Very light. Made climbs I didnt make the first time I was on this Blue machine. Stiff, very stiff. Very responsive and explosively fast.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mike Lang
a Racer
from Richmond, Va Date Reviewed: November 5, 1999
Favorite Trail:
anything with a really large mountain in the middle (by VA standards, anyway)
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
classic aluminum hardtail-lightning fast (faster than I am), excellent sprinter(gets the hole shot every time); adjustability of headshok is great(practical and easy to access on the fly); climbs like a billygoat cause you can lock out the shock
Weaknesses:
classic aluminum hardtail-beats the crap out of you in the rough stuff; headshok is not what I would consider plush, CODA headset/stem are generic at best (although they haven't actually given me any trouble)
Similar Products Used:
schwinn homegrown w/ marzocchi z.2
Bike Setup:
CAAD 3 frame, headshock fatty SL, full XTR gruppo
Bottom Line:
Previously I have been extremely anti-Cannondale. I found their bikes, and ususally the people who ride them, to be extremely pretentious elitest snobs. However, after borrowing one of these babies from a buddy for a race, I was pretty much sold. I got the frame/fork/stem on the C'dale trade-in deal for $600, even though I did't have C'dale to trade in. When you shop around, i think you'll find that's about the best deal going for a raceworthy frame/fork combo. I added to that an XTR components kit, which I was going to mail order but the bike shop price matched (watch 'em here cause you'll get a 1 1/8 headset and stem which you can't use but should get shop credit for). Total cost $2080. Now that ain't chump change I know, but I got the bike you see at the top of this page (mavic 517 instead of the Cane Creek wheelset) for $600 less. Go XT, and you can save about $500 more. Overall, I'm impressed, the bike is quick, responsive, super light and a great climber. The headshok holds a line through rough decents like nothing I've ever experienced, it just beats you senseless in the process (especially if you forget the fork is locked out from the climb that got you there). I know people are raising holy hell about 9 speed, but that 34 tooth cog keeps you in the middle ring on all but the steepest climbs. Overall, an excellent deal for the up and coming XC race weenie. 4.5 chilies (needs sealed bearing headset to get to a 5)
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Nathan
a Weekend Warrior
from Perth Aus Date Reviewed: September 23, 1999
Favorite Trail:
Biblman
Duration Product Used:
tested or demo'ed only
Strengths:
Top class frame with all the bells and whisles Stiff as the preverbial hard on. Can climb like a monkey on it and is lighter that my wallet
Weaknesses:
The my wallet can not afford it
Similar Products Used:
DBR cadex gaint 890
Bike Setup:
head shox xtr
Bottom Line:
Top bike with all you need to ride
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jim
a Weekend Warrior
from Atlanta, GA Date Reviewed: August 10, 1999
Favorite Trail:
Anything life threatening
Duration Product Used:
less than 1 month
Strengths:
light, fast, full XTR
Weaknesses:
None that a few $$ can't fix.
Similar Products Used:
GT, Specialized, Nishiki, Diamond Back
Bike Setup:
99 USA stock model
Bottom Line:
This bike is excellent. People should stop reviewing Cannondale (as a company) ie. warranties, frame trade-ins, and color mix-ups. Start reviewing the bike. That is what this Product review is for! Please write a letter to Cannondale about your tragic events.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Patrick Taylor
a Cross-Country Rider
from Centerville, Ohio Date Reviewed: June 27, 1999
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
components all xtr super light weight the new ultra sl is great
Weaknesses:
the pedal coda 900 great pedal unless there is mud, IRC Notros ware quickly and good for hard pack trail
This bike rocks climbs like a beast super lite weight Caad 4 frame(the bike is so lite it floats in water). Seeing the bike in the catalog does not do the color justice. The bike seemed slow until I got used to the double chain rings up front; now its the fastest, quickest and most responsive bike I've ever riden. the only thing i didnt like was the pedals (coda 900) they gum up with mud quickly but that is easily fixed with a switched to speedplay frogs
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Patrick Taylor
a Racer
from Centerville, Ohio Date Reviewed: June 27, 1999
Favorite Trail:
Beginning Racer long time rider
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
components all xtr super light weight the new ultra sl is great
Weaknesses:
the pedal coda 900 great pedal unless there is mud, IRC Notros ware quickly and good for hard pack trail only
Similar Products Used:
Being a Bike Shop employee (Bike Source, Centerville, Ohio) I was able to test ride Raleighs, Schwinns, Cannondales, And Mongoose
This bike rocks climbs like a beast super lite weight Caad 4 frame. Seeing the bike in the catalog does not do the color justice. The bike seemed slow until I got used to the double chain rings up front; now its the fastest, quickest and most responsive bike I've ever riden
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Andrew Shannon
a Racer
from Ch'Town P.E.I Date Reviewed: June 27, 1999
Favorite Trail:
Pollymountain
Duration Product Used:
tested or demo'ed only
Strengths:
It's all good
Weaknesses:
Nott A
Similar Products Used:
You name it
Bike Setup:
fatty sl cane creek wham yellow xtr/coda competition caad4
Bottom Line:
WHAT KIND OF PANSY WORRIES ABOUT COLOR WITH A BIKE THIS GOOD A YELLOW BOOTY AH YOU POOR BABY
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mark
a Cross-Country Rider
from San Jacinto, CA Date Reviewed: April 15, 1999
Duration Product Used:
less than 1 month
Strengths:
I just upgraded my F2000 28.8 series frame (with a 98 Fatty SL) to the new F3000 SL with the new Fatty Ultra. The bike weighs in at 21.7 pounds out of the box. The component set up is tops ... XTR and CODA. The new C'dale rides great ... both up and down the mountain.
Weaknesses:
The color must grow on you ... black clearcoat which looks more like green or brown.
Bottom Line:
If you want a race ready bike, the F3000 SL is it!
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Tyler Rodd
a Racer
from canada,p.e.i Date Reviewed: April 10, 1999
Favorite Trail:
hillsborough,N.B
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
Everything on this bike ROCKS.This is the best bike i have ever rode before!!!!
Weaknesses:
Not a thing!!!!!
Similar Products Used:
Nothing compairs
Bike Setup:
The F3000,fatty sl,cane creek wam wheels.
Bottom Line:
THAT FRUIT CASE WHO WROTE A PARAGRAPH ABOUT HOW HE DOESNT LIKE THE YELLOW BOOTY IS OUT OF HIS MIND!!! SIMMER DOWN BIG FELLA,GET A NEW BOOTY IF U DONT LIKE IT!!!!!!!!!!
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Roger
a Cross-Country Rider
from Nashville Date Reviewed: March 27, 1999
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
Frame, components, weight, stiffness, welds, and everything else, not a reverse pull rear derailleur.
Weaknesses:
I've been looking but haven't found any yet.
Similar Products Used:
Trek, Schwinn, Gary Fisher.
Bottom Line:
This is the best bike I have ever ridden. There isn't anything to not like about it.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dustin
a Cross-Country Rider
from Minnesota Date Reviewed: March 22, 1999
Favorite Trail:
Burro trail
Duration Product Used:
less than 1 month
Strengths:
Stiffness, weight, looks, components, it's a c'dale.
Weaknesses:
Not a reverse pull R-derailleur
Bottom Line:
I have the F3000SL with the new Ultra Fork. I love it. This bike climbs and accelerates like a missle. This is by far the greatest bike I've ever ridden. Thank you Cannondale.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
GG
a Cross-Country Rider
from London, England Date Reviewed: March 16, 1999
I have now owned my F3000SL since July, 98 and continue to say one thing - AWESOME !Yeah it's expensive, but weighing in at under 21lbs, crossmax, avid arch supreme, CAAD4 frame set, Fatty SL front shock, Thompson post etc, etc, it is just a stunning bike to ride and look at.I've done all sorts of rides since purchase from muddy weekend run arounds to 100 miles plus on road/off road, day/weekend rides. The Cannondale has proved the most comfortable bike to ride, with no problems other than cable stretch, which os to be expected.The inclusion of a titanium 9 speed cassette, coupled with the Coda 44/28 chainset avoids duplication, and saves weight.I had not used grip shift before, but I am now a convert. Quartz 9.0 with the XTR rear mech changes instantly. It climbs like a monkey, XC it goes where you want it too, and downhill is no problem at all ! Just watch those brakes - they are very powerful.Conclusion: If you have got a spare £2,500 - Order one now. You will not be dissappointed.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jack
a cross-country rider
from Hopkinton, MA Date Reviewed: March 9, 1999
Bottom Line:
Regarding the warantee issue...Don't believe your bike shop! I've been in final approach to landing an F1000 or F3000 and 3 shops told me 3 things..5 years, 3 years, 5 years converted to lifetime recently. So I e-mailed Cannondale and the verdict is... All CAAD 4 frames have a lifetime warantee to the original owner.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
GetReal
a racer
from Toole, Utah Date Reviewed: February 22, 1999
Bottom Line:
My God is that yellow accordian boot ugly, or what? Looks like the kind of plastic sheeshee that you'd see on a Walmart Huffy! And anyone stuck with the little gem has to deal with a million fork parts or a big shop bill to put a black one on it. Too bad such a nice bike is such a dog's breakfast to look at.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
william moritz
a racer
from Houston, texas Date Reviewed: February 18, 1999
Bottom Line:
THIS JUST IN.............this is the third time cannondale has screwed me! i just got my cad-3 frame and fatty d fork today!!! i ordered team blue and had cannondale confirm this color six weeks ago when i orderd the frame! what came out of the box!!!!! iris blue the dealer called cannondale and they said the cad-3 only comes in black, yellow, orange, iris blue! but...........i was told by the cannondale people @ 1.800.bikeusa six weeks ago ! that the team blue WAS avalable for the cad-3 with fatty d fork. NOW either the bike shops gotta eat $$ the bike or i gotta wait 6 more weeks for another color OTHER than team blue ( i know this is alot of whine'n about a color but jeez...i want what i payed for! ) they screwed me before last year when i ordered my last cad-3 too. one week before the new cad 4 frames were introduced , i was told that the frame trade in program was for cad-3 frams only! when i got my frame the!!!!shop had just gotten a cad-4 frame for another customer, who had orderd his 2 days after i had orderd mine! the other i have been screwed was when i bought my 97 super-v 2000, i was told the raven was not coming out for another year BY CANNONDALE! guess what! 1 month later what do i see on the show room! a friggin raven! THIS IS ALOVE HATE RELATIONSHIP! the bikes are great but the communication between the dealers and the company sux! FYI the frame trade inprogram is for a cad-3 with fatty d = $489 and the cad-4 with fatty sl = $715 the .25lbs in weight savings of the cad-4 wasnt' worth $226 bucks to me! my cad-3 bike is 21.3lbs w/XTR & cross-max. so the weight savings wasnt worth it. once again, the bike is great the service sux! thats why they gettn' uno stars!!!
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
GRubin
a cross-country rider
from New York City Date Reviewed: February 14, 1999
Bottom Line:
This is a beautiful machine. Takes off like a bullet and begs for hills. The frame is light and nicely stiff and the headshock tracks solidly. At 6'5/235 I've never bottomed out. I don't jump more than a foot or so but I definately put it through it's paces. Between the XTR gears and Cane Creek/Ritchey wheels, this is a swift,silent ride. I ordered a jumbo frame and replaced the boot and grips with black ones. The yellow was a little too 'team' for me. I replaced the bar stem with one that fit me better ($50) and got clip pedals for the city. My only complaints are leaves and twigs getting caught in the brake arch (they still stop on half a dime) and waiting for the seat to break in. The tires also slip some in loose dirt, but more than make up for it on solid ground. One Badass ride!
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Bob
a racer
from Columbia, SC, USA Date Reviewed: January 28, 1999
Bottom Line:
This BIKE IS DA SH#T!!!!! i love it ... i've had it a week and i've ridden every day.... The saddle sucked, but they made a good effort on it.... ti rail and real leather.... the crankset will go too, but for now... it's da dope a$s Shit!... the wheels were lighter than i thought they'd be too... they're the Shit though.... It's not aROUGH rider either, it was all good... the headshock is awesome too... i like it just as much asmy old a Bomb.... If you have da cash... BUY IT!!!!!!!!
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
GrandMasterFlash
a racer
from Can Date Reviewed: January 25, 1999
Bottom Line:
Hey Chad don't pull down the review average of this bike because you don't like Cannondale's warranty. Go spew your banter in Tech Talk of in the Chat section. For the money this is the best bike of the year. Full XTR cane creek weels, full Cannondale team bike. If you want to be an Alison Sydor or Cadel Evens this is the bike! Go buy one now!
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
chad
a
from cross-country rider Date Reviewed: January 19, 1999
Bottom Line:
caad 4 frame is now covered for 2 years by cdale! the coverage was 3 years but was reduced to 2 at the first of the year. want to buy a bridge?
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Andreas
a cross-country rider
from Linkoping, SWEDEN Date Reviewed: January 15, 1999
Bottom Line:
My lovely Cannondale F3000 DISC is a superb bike in all ways. Its handling very good thanks to the new ultralight caad4 frame and fatty SL fork. The crossmax disc whellset is a goodloking and working real well in all conditions so far. The brakes is coda compact disc, Coda Tarantula cranks. From the beginning was the bike equept with Coda steam, handlebar and Thomson seatpost. But a have changed it to Roox steam (Yellow of course), handlebar, barends and a long Syncros seatpost. I am racing on Ritchey Z-max tires witch is working well all time. So all boys and girls around the World go to your Cannondale dealer and by a Cannondale and you will not be dissepointed i can promise you that for sure.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Bill
a weekend warrior
from Long Branch, NJ Date Reviewed: December 26, 1998
Bottom Line:
I was pretty happy with my last bike, but it was fairly heavy. I had a Trek 970 frame with a Manitou SX fork, Mavic Crossland wheelset, Thudbuster Quadrapivot suspension seatpost, XTR shifters and V-Brakes, XT pedals and derailers, etc. It was a great bike but it weighed more than 30 lbs. This year I wanted to buy a new frame to lighten it up. With major professional assistance from Michael and Don at the Peddler (many thanks gentlemen), I finally decided to buy the F3000 frameset. So far, buying the F3000 appears to have been one of the best decisions that I ever made. I put my old wheelset, shifters, brakes and pedals on the bike. I added new CODA Tarantula cranks, a Thompson seatpost and some other stuff. The bike weighs about 20-21 lbs and it flies. I still cannot believe that there is that big of a difference between this bike and my last one, but there is. This bike is in a whole different league. The F3000 is shockingly fast. I went from dragging my sorry ass up the big hills with my lungs on fire to rocketing up them barely winded at the top. Accelerating on this bike is like getting shot out of a slingshot. Steering with the Fatty SL is remarkably precise. The Fatty SL is also extremely smooth and very adjustable. After riding the F3000 riding my last bike felt like I was riding underwater. The F3000 is great.
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
John Holland
a cross-country rider
from Thompson, MB, Canada Date Reviewed: November 10, 1998
Bottom Line:
I received my new F3000 today and it is incredible. If first impressions are anything to go off then I have many years of hard-core riding to look forward to. Its inagural ride is a two week holiday to Moab planned early this spring. Junk the rest...buy Cannondale.
Overall Rating:
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