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Submitted by
Shawn H
a Cross Country Rider
from San Diego
Date Reviewed: July 16, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | anything dirty | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$1000.00 | | Purchased At: | Old Town Bikes Gig Harbour, Wa | | Strengths: | Frame, good climber | | Weaknesses: | Brakes, grip shifters, not really impressed with the Head Shock now that I know something about mountain biking, upgraded rims to Sunrims CR18 with LX hubs after I tacoed the Coda rims that came with the bike | | Similar Products Used: | This is my first bike | | Bike Setup: | Azonic riser bars, XT rapid fire shifters, Lx front derailure, XT rear derailure. Bought new brake pads (Kool stop, don't remember who the manufacturer is but they solved the problem with the weak brakes that came stock). | | Bottom Line: | Overall it's a decent bike for someone new to mountain biking, aside from the shady componentry it came with. I'm not impressed with the Headshock now that I know what to look for. Seemed like a good value at the time, in retrospect I know I could have gotten a better deal on a better bike for the price. Oh, by the way, damn you guys at Old Town Bikes in Gig Harbour, Wa for putting me on the wrong size frame!! Maybe you should go sell bikes at Wal-Mart until you learn how to size your novice riders! | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Joe
a Cross Country Rider
from Tempe, AZ
Date Reviewed: November 1, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Frame | | Weaknesses: | Everything but the frame. The rims and chain are weak, tires and seat are a joke, Cannondale does not stand behind their bikes...... | | Similar Products Used: | Trek | | Bottom Line: | If you are buying this bike for the frame just buy the frame. The bike itself is not a good value. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeff
a Weekend Warrior
from San Antonio, Texas
Date Reviewed: July 1, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | McAllister Park | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$760.00 | | Purchased At: | Broadway Bike Show | | Strengths: | Strong, Light Frame. Good mix of components. Able to take a lot of abuse, I like the SRAM 9.00, Looks great. | | Weaknesses: | Will need to upgrade some components as they wear out. | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | Stock | | Bottom Line: | Great all around bike that is good on and off road. Exceeded my expectations for a bike in this price range. I have had no problems with this bike and I weigh 210. Very high quality build and I have a long way to go upgrade wise before I would exceed the abilities of the frame. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kevlar
a Weekend Warrior
from Winnipeg, MB. Canada
Date Reviewed: April 22, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Any | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$650.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Wicked Frame with great handling. Very light and stiff. Decent mix of parts for the price. | | Weaknesses: | Stock Stem seemed too long. | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized Hardrock. Cannondale "Beast from the East" and the usual. | | Bike Setup: | Stock except Thomson seatpost and Bontrager Crowbar handlebars. | | Bottom Line: | First, for the guy who demo'd this bike and had the grips come loss and the shock sieze up etc. Here is some advice, FIND A DIFFERENT SHOP TO BUY YOUR BIKES FROM BUDDY. Half of getting a good bike is setting it up properly. The guy that did mine should be a pro mechanic, he is amazing. I have never had any problems like snapping the chain (and I am a big boy 225LBS). Went over the handle bars a number of times and nothing but scratches. Bent the outer chain ring but, I was grinding over a bunch of trees so whatever.
Lastly, wicked bike for the price. You would be hard pressed to find anything in this price range this light and nimble. Are there better components out there, no question. So you spend $2500 on a bike with better gear on it and still end up replacing it with whatever you want?(sounds self defeating to me) Get a bike with a Wicked frame and OK gear and put exactly what you want on it and save some dough. Oh......and find a good freak'n mechanic.....and thats the bottom line. 5 chili's for value for a wicked frame at a wicked price. 4 over all because some gear upgrades will make this thing sick. Anyone should buy this bike and ride the hell out of it cuz that is what it is all about, not what you ride but, riding. | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rob Borkowski
a Cross Country Rider
from Rocky Hill, CT USA
Date Reviewed: January 9, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$850.00 | | Purchased At: | Cycling Concepts | | Strengths: | Great frame, light, hubs cool for the price, SRAM 9.0 stuff works | | Weaknesses: | Coda rings shift OK at best, hubs, fork, tires, no disc mounts on fork!! | | Bike Setup: | XT front deraileur, getting XTR V-brakes | | Bottom Line: | This is a bike that's well designed for the more casual off-road rider, and is very nice for the price. The fork has absolutely nothing on small bumps, and lacks disc mounts. The 2 front IRC Mythos tires are very sketche, so i'd swap them out ASAP, along with the crankset. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
William
a Weekend Warrior
from Adelaide
Date Reviewed: December 12, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Fantastic XC frame, light weight, great colour. The internationally sold bikes must have a thicker coat of paint, no peeling or decal problems. | | Weaknesses: | Mix of coda and cheap parts, eg crank, rims and seat post etc. | | Similar Products Used: | Gary Fisher hardtail, many others. | | Bike Setup: | Upgraded to DL lock out fork, LX hollowtech crank and ES70 bb, rock shock suspension seatpost, wtb saddle, valiant and XT wheels, all up weight is 23lbs. . | | Bottom Line: | One of the best XC frames available. Great value for money because you can upgrade to parts of your choice. I can't understand how reviewers can judge a bike by the amount of play in brake and shift levers. It has been my experience that it takes a number of weeks to dial in a new bike to the riders satisfaction. Poor LBS pre-sale preparation should not be a consideration when judging a bike.
This is one sweet frame which flies up hills and across country, buy something else if you want a downhill ride. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Marty Curro
a Weekend Warrior
from Clifton Park, NY, USA
Date Reviewed: December 11, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Skidmore Stables | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$750.00 | | Purchased At: | Plaines Sports | | Strengths: | The frame is awesome. This is my first alluminum bike and I can't believe how tough it is. If you are looking for a great entry level machine, then this is your bike.
| | Weaknesses: | I think that Cannondale definitely skimped on parts. I was surprised that they could provide such a great frame with cheap components. I broke the chain, 2 spokes, and un-trued the rims twice. It's like a BMW suspension with a Ford engine. The rear derailer often skips and the grip-shift is difficult to get used to. | | Bike Setup: | All Stock | | Bottom Line: | A great entry level bike. Although I was ready to upgrade by the end of the season, I had to respect the beating that the F500 took throughout the summer and fall. That included some trips to Gore Mountian Ski Resort. I would recommend this bike to anyone who is an aggressive first timer. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Stephen
a Cross Country Rider
from Castle Rock, CO, US
Date Reviewed: November 30, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Strengths: | Uhhhh... Not much here. I like yellow paint? Possible problem with assembly, at least I hope. | | Weaknesses: | Start with the fork. I only demoed (emphasis on the demo as in demolition) this bike but it was brand new, I was the first to ride it.
Shock- headshock started to sieze on me and had a annoying grating sound, eventually it totally siezed up and would not move
Parts- my stem came loose and my handle bars started to slide back and forth. Shifter pods drifted in different directions, brake leves followed suite till one was sticking straight up, and the other straight down. The would swing when I hit a bumb.
Rims- got bent
Brakes- seeing as how I couldn't reach them, I don't know
| | Bottom Line: | Way overpriced for how it performs. My first impression was not a good one. I hope it was the shop's fault, but they of course denied having even built the bike. Look around for some other bikes, you can find much better ones for less. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
SJ
a Weekend Warrior
from Upstate NY
Date Reviewed: September 20, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | The local quarry | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Strengths: | -The CAAD3 frame is absolutely incredible!
-Excellent Headshok
-Beautiful handling geometry
-A Cannondale is a Cannondale,right? | | Weaknesses: | -Cannondale skimped a bit on components with this one
-The price just about knocked me on my ass
-Not terribly plush-a real XC beauty though | | Similar Products Used: | I now own a Specialized A1 FS. Wasn't as nice as the Cannondale, but I'm satisfied with it considering I paid only $550. | | Bike Setup: | See above | | Bottom Line: | Okay,I know a demo is a demo. I had a chance to blast this steed around a rough,rutted bike shop parking lot for 15 minutes, and I was impressed. The Headshok responds great over small bumps and I had ample opportunity to test this. The frame is a real looker--and its beautiful ride lives beyond its looks. However I was a little disappointed with the slightly below-par components--especially when I found out the price and almost had a frickin' coronary!
Great bike--only wish I could afford it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Wade
a Racer
from Waterloo,Ontario,Cananda
Date Reviewed: August 31, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$850.00 | | Purchased At: | Ziggy's | | Strengths: | The frame is wicked. Super stiff and very fast. The fork on this bike rocks. Anyone who's new to the sport will enjoy this bike greatly. I'm use to a C-dale 2000SX but this bike rode pretty much the same just different in the front end. This bike impressed me for a $800 bike. | | Weaknesses: | Weakness..... There weren' too many. I don't like the shifters but those can be changed and the saddle wasn't the greatest but nothing that can't be chaned with eas. | | Similar Products Used: | Trek 7000, Cannondale F2000SX, Schwinn Moab 1 | | Bike Setup: | Stock | | Bottom Line: | If you are a new comer to the sport go with this bike if itsn't in your ranged! it rocks. Pound for pound you will not find a better ride then this gem of a bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jon
a Cross Country Rider
from Ayer, Ma USA
Date Reviewed: August 7, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Don't have a "favorite" yet | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Looks, color, weight, frame, shock. | | Weaknesses: | Brakes suck! I have Avid Arch Rivals on order. Grip shifter sucks! I cut most of it off with my Dremel tool. Coda pedals. Can't get into them. Stock stem was way too long. Wheels, cause I keep bending them and breaking the spokes. | | Similar Products Used: | First bike | | Bike Setup: | Mostly stock. Shorter stem. New seat. Ti rear brake booster. | | Bottom Line: | This is my first bike and I absolutely love it even though I've had so many problems with it. They don't seem to be the bikes fault though. I've had this bike for a month now and have already broke the following: Derailer hanger during a bad crash. Snapped the chain during a climb. Front wheel came out of true. Rear wheel came out of true twice and snapped two spokes each time for a total of four spokes. My dealer thinks the rear wheel might be defective, so were trying to get a new one through Cannondale. Over all I still love this bike and would suggest it to anyone. I'm giving it a value rating of 4 because of all the stuff I had to fix so far, and a 5 for overall because this is a great bike! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris Budzinack
a Weekend Warrior
from Vacaville, CA.
Date Reviewed: July 22, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | china camp, rockville, tahoe | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Frame. Fatty. It's a cannondale! | | Weaknesses: | components are a little weak for this price range. Rear "D" slips from time to time. | | Similar Products Used: | Schwinn Moab1, D-back Apex, Giant Iguana, Trek 4500(?) | | Bike Setup: | out of the box(for now) | | Bottom Line: | I wanted a bike to take me to the next level. I shyed away from c-dale cause of the fatty(didn't have much experience w/ it) and components. When I started shopping, the guys at Ray's cycle convinced me to give the C-dale a shot. This bike was greased lightning compared to my old bike. The fatty was GREAT. It tracks like a rigid but soaks every bump I come across(and that happens alot). It makes you feel like a pro. This bike is also eye candy. It's beautiful. The customer service is helpful and PROMPT. If you're in the market for a h-tail in the $1000 range, this HAS to be on the list. The CAAD3 frame alone is worth price of admission. And the fatty will make a convert out of you. Viva Cannondale! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kirk
a Weekend Warrior
from Fort Lee, NJ
Date Reviewed: June 1, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | i'm new at this | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Your buying this bike for the frame. The frame is great, I love it. You also have the ability to upgrade to disc brakes at a later time. | | Weaknesses: | The overall componentry is average. I actually had a problem with the rear deraullier already. Nothing big, just a pain.
| | Similar Products Used: | F400, F700, Trek 6000, Trek 7000 | | Bike Setup: | Out of the box. | | Bottom Line: | I think this is a great bike for someone who is seriously looking to get into mountain biking. The frame is great, you can upgrade the components when you feel more comfortable with riding. I'd like to thank the guys at Cosmic Wheel in Rigefield Park, NJ.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tony Walters
a Cross Country Rider
from Maldon, England
Date Reviewed: June 1, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Still looking | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Frame, Frame, Frame ! | | Weaknesses: | Some Components a bit naff (STX RC front mech)
Gripshift Halfpipe shifter (unexpected shifts while hopping/pulling up on bars etc.) | | Similar Products Used: | GT Backwoods, Kona Muni Mula, Scott Comp racing, Specialized Rockhopper A1 FS | | Bike Setup: | Stock with exception of Ritchey Rizer Pro Bars, Gt clipless pedals and a sexy Salsa QR seat clamp | | Bottom Line: | As someone getting back into the saddle after a bit of a lay off, this was a superb buy. I just can't wait to get home from work, and get her out for a blast. Handles like a dream, climbs superbly, looks good, light what more can you say. As the CAAD3 appears further up the range I took the F500 with the intention to up grade. Worthwhile unless you really like the spec of the more expensive 600, 700, 900 and 1000.
I'd like to thank Matt @ Chelmer Cycles for sterring me towards my first 'dale. Nice one! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Alan Gabriele
a Weekend Warrior
from Ft Myers
Date Reviewed: May 29, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Those seen in magazines | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Really light, Quick-Precise steering, Nice components for the price. I paid 779.00 | | Weaknesses: | The saddle is a bit hard and the tires are a bit much for anything less than a dirt trail.(I sometimes ride on the bike path& boy are these things slow on asphalt.(But they REALLY DIG in the sand and dirt!!) | | Similar Products Used: | Canondale M400le | | Bike Setup: | stock except for Coda bar ends and platform pedals.(I like to beable to stop and walk around without slipping and falling. | | Bottom Line: | First, you must shop around for price. Once you get a good price (I paid 779.00) you get alot for your money. Second you need to remember that this is an ENTRY LEVEL bike.The bike is absolutely smokin to look at and I rate the performance per dollar spent high. Did I mention that it looks good too?? | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kevin H
a Cross Country Rider
from Winnipeg
Date Reviewed: May 19, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Any | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Light, fast stable strong did I mention it was light | | Weaknesses: | Some of the Coda stuff is a little wonky | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized, kona trek gt and others | | Bike Setup: | Stock with Thomson Elite seat post. | | Bottom Line: | I love this bike. Could I have spent more and got better, of course. This bike has the same frame as the F700 and 900 and 1000. The only thing different is the hardware. The frame is the same so buy this one and put the stuff on it that you really want. Versus paying more up front and then upgrading (boy wouldn't that be dumb). For what you get for the price this thing screams (paid $1200 canadian) | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Matt Parton
a Cross Country Rider
from England
Date Reviewed: April 4, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Karrimor n wales | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Frames nice, Looks stunning, Feels stable, Accelerates well reasonable value | | Weaknesses: | Naf nine speed, Not very impressed by the grip shift, Tyres nasty in mud and worryingly thin. Straight bars. | | Similar Products Used: | Kona cindercone, Kona kula, Dawes team, Orange p7, Specialized rock hopper etc. | | Bike Setup: | Changed bars to xc risers, Put lx v`s on, Conti tyres, flite saddle and removed inner chain ring. | | Bottom Line: | Blinding once niggles got out, Blinding for all day stuff yet races well to, respectable price and just keeps getting me up the hills. In love. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Nancy R
a Cross Country Rider
from Montreal, Québec, Canada
Date Reviewed: March 29, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Bromont, Québec | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | VERY confortable and fast | | Weaknesses: | The front suspension is a little noisy! | | Similar Products Used: | 1999 Gary Fisher Merlin | | Bike Setup: | From out of the box | | Bottom Line: | I just love my bike.
It responded very fast and is very easy to ride!
I do lots of very interesting cross country rides on my bike and will do lots in summer 2000!
Very good choice... but it's true that for a little more money I would have had the F700 but... where is the line...? | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mundo
a Cross Country Rider
from Roger, AR USA
Date Reviewed: February 28, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Leatherwood | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Sweet Team blue color; light weight | | Weaknesses: | Front/Rear derailers
M-Head Shock
9.0 Grip Shift | | Similar Products Used: | 99'Raliegh M-80
00'C-dale F700
00'C-dale F900Z
| | Bike Setup: | Out of the box. Dealer added shimano chain. | | Bottom Line: | I did not like this bike. I am a fairly new rider who wanted to upgrade to an intermediate race bike. The rear derailer was slipping like crazy. The 9.0 sram grip shifter was unreliable. The M head shock was not impressive, travel was ok but noisy. It had a medium cadd 3 frame and I am 5'7" and felt a little cramped. I think by moving the seat back and getting a longer stem, I would have been in good shape. I cross country rode the bike for one day and took it back(ozark bike shop/good guys)shelled out an extra $400 and got a F900Z(crazy nice). Bottom line, a quick bike on staight aways, but; if you plan on riding hard, fast technical climbing and jumping get at least the F700, it is worth the extra $$. Two flamin jesus slippers for weight and color. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
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