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Submitted by
Devian
a Cross Country Rider
from Pacific Grove, Ca, USA
Date Reviewed: June 10, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | anything | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$1500.00 | | Strengths: | it does everything | | Weaknesses: | lasts longer than most bikes | | Similar Products Used: | too many bikes to list | | Bike Setup: | current: Mavic SpeedCitys with Kenda Kwik 35c CX tyres, XT, OEM shifters and front drlr, Avid mech discs w/EBC Gold pads, thudbuster seatpost, ATAC pedals, easton carbon flat bar | | Bottom Line: | I have to say that this bike is the "best" bike I've ever had. That is...I've been riding it now for 6yrs! Holly smoke! that is just crazy. I had even rode it thru my "Hobo dayz" for about 1.5yrs, when i only worked just enough to hold the job, and spent the rest of the time living out of doors, pulling a BOB trailer with anything i felt i needed. This bike has gone thru 2 wheelsets, a few drive trains, brake pads, tyres, seatposts, etc. Only once has the headshock been serviced. This is by far the most versitle bike I've had. Its been in every kind of riding, from road rides with a road group, complete with knobs, and even a seatpost rack complete with panniers, to being raced in a 24hr Solo MTB race when my Litespeed broke down. Now its shod with a set of Mavic SpeedCitys with Kenda Kwik 35c CX tyres, and a thudbuster seatpost.
it was even stolen by a local hobo, to be later in the day repo (by me)on my way home.
I havent owned a car for almost 2yrs now, and this bike has got to be the main stay of all my bikes. Ironic that out of all the $k's i've spent on all my bikes, it still proves to be THE bike. Its the bike that i'd pick "If i had to only have 1 bike".
With all that said, of all the things i wish Cdale would venture into would be the 29er market, and make the frames complete with eyelets for racks, panniers, etc.
I've spent more time on this bike than i have with ANYTHING or any person in the last 6yrs! I cant say enough about it. Its not that its the best any one thing, but overall...hands down...its everything.
peace......d | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
MacLean Neil
a Weekend Warrior
from Glasgow, Scotland, UK
Date Reviewed: April 19, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Glentress | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$1500.00 | | Purchased At: | Dales Cycles, Glasgow | | Strengths: | Frame | | Weaknesses: | Components. My inner chain ring buckled and dug into the frame...very annoying as I was in the middle of nowhere on my own! I have changed the chain rings and really should think about getting a new crank etc after 4 years! | | Bike Setup: | Standard | | Bottom Line: | Good bike...bad components (CODA) | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Troy McLean
a Racer
from Newburgh
Date Reviewed: November 6, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Canal Loop - Land between the Lakes, KY | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$1195.00 | | Purchased At: | Bicycle Loft | | Strengths: | Light weight, easy on long climbs, XT all the way around, hydraulic disk brakes. | | Weaknesses: | Saddle, seat post, straight handle bars, pedals, hutchinson tires | | Bike Setup: | Easton Monkey Riser Bar, XT shifters, XT front and rear derailers, Sella saddle, Panaracer (Fire & Smoke) tires, Crank Brother Egg Beaters | | Bottom Line: | For the price I paid for this bike I think it's a great ride but I don't have anything to compare it with. I have a Cannondale road bike also neither of which has given me any troubles. Intially had the brake pads replaced because of a Cannondale recall. Not a problem after that. I work this bike and it works for me. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dominic Eggbeer
a Cross Country Rider
from now in Cardiff - Wales
Date Reviewed: May 17, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | too many to answer in Wales | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$1400.00 | | Strengths: | As per my previous review. Most things are good - the Headshok is still fine without a service. But... | | Weaknesses: | ...The rear wheel is out of allignment! It no longer sits quite straight in the frame. Before I jump to conclusions I am having it tested, but was wondering if anybody else has had the same problem? | | Similar Products Used: | as per previous | | Bike Setup: | as per previous | | Bottom Line: | Wait a few weeks and I'll tell all. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Neil
a Weekend Warrior
from Scotland
Date Reviewed: May 8, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Saalbach, Austria | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$1250.00 | | Strengths: | Brilliant light frame,makes light work of long climbs )and easy for carrying when climbing those steep munroes).
Happy with brakes although have had to change the pads more frequently than I anticipated. Really impressed with the Coda chainset and crank. | | Weaknesses: | Not 100% sure about the Fatty Headshocks, but probably due to the way I have them set up. Saddle is rubbish and I should really change it after 2 years.
| | Bike Setup: | Same as when I got it apart from a couple of new inner tubes. | | Bottom Line: | Well happy with my purchase. Don't believe in changing things that I am happy with just for the sake of it. Will soon start to upgrade components but the frame is for life.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dave Andrews
a Weekend Warrior
from Sydney, Australia
Date Reviewed: April 22, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | the one i'm beating you down | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$1500.00 | | Purchased At: | local shop | | Strengths: | yeah, maybe ? it's a relatively cheap cannondale
Frame | | Weaknesses: | Every thing exept the frame | | Similar Products Used: | Giant Nrs's, Other 'dales, My Santa cruz | | Bike Setup: | F800 frame, Xt v's, lx crankset/shifter/front d., XTR rear d. Atac's, Mavic X-ride wheels, CT2 stuff. | | Bottom Line: | Wow. No really. this bike is a joke. wheels are flexy, fork steers well but doesn't feel right, brakes - what brakes? and crankset- well Avlivio is better.Within 6 months, the bike was unridable, even on the road. Quite frankly, i see no reason why this bike should be sold. I managed to swap the frame and wheels with a roadie and i can't beleive how much better the Caad 3 frame with v's really is. if you want an Xc bike that is reliable, light and comfy, don't buy this bike - get any thing WITHOUT coda brakes. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kent
a Cross Country Rider
from Fayetteville PA
Date Reviewed: February 14, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | ebay | | Strengths: | this has a killer paint job, and the components work out nice. the xt derailer, and lx shifters are no xtr, but they get the job done. light frame, fast bike. | | Weaknesses: | the brakes are not the best, but they are still ok. | | Similar Products Used: | schwinn homegrown | | Bike Setup: | xt rear derailer, lx front derailer, lx shifters, kona tires, coda discs, time pedals, xt cassette, coda crank | | Bottom Line: | this is a good bike. i love it and i have only had it for a few months. i would spend the extra money and get a better set of brakes though. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeroen visscher
a Racer
from Ulft , Holland
Date Reviewed: August 31, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | montferland | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1750.00 | | Purchased At: | Wielerhuis De pedaleur | | Strengths: | Great Frame, With beautiful special paint, ist's licht , stiff and strong, the components are good for the price. | | Weaknesses: | The Coda expert disc brakes áin't good, i changed them to magura louise 2001, i also changed the wheels to Crossmax ust disc, and the deraileeurs to XTR | | Similar Products Used: | non | | Bike Setup: | Stock, accept the changes above. | | Bottom Line: | For the price it's the best bike out there, fast and light, i love it, if you just change the brakes this is one of the bes bike out there(for the price) , amzing frok frame combo,
So beautiful it should be in a museum, | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Lars Christensen
a Cross Country Rider
from Sweden
Date Reviewed: June 8, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$2000.00 | | Purchased At: | Cykelspecialisten, Gothenburg | | Strengths: | The frame is super, really stiff and the weight is OK. The Fatty DL works great, no problems at all. Coda discbrakes does their job, and are easy to adjust if necessary. I haven´t had any problems with the wheels, they stay pretty true even under the stress of my 87 kilos. | | Weaknesses: | I didn´t like the LX FD, neither the handlebar. And the cheap seatstay looked really bad on this nice bike. | | Bike Setup: | I changed the LX shifters to XT, the LX fd to XT, the saddle was changed to the Coda/Volvo team edition. I gave away the handlebar and the seatpost, and got some nice Easton CT 2 stuff instead. | | Bottom Line: | In my opinion, this is a really great bike. I´ve had it for more than a year and I just love it. Wouldn´t change it for the world (well, the F 4000 SL or the new Scalpel would make me think things over).
Need a new bike? Try the F 900, it´s a really great bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kristoffer eide
a Racer
from Trondheim, Norway
Date Reviewed: June 8, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | The Moon | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$1500.00 | | Purchased At: | Sport Extreme | | Strengths: | Light, Stiff, Fast, Stiff, Light, Fast. Wheels are nice, same as on the F2000. Climbs like a grizzly hunting. Great Fatty fork, lockout is good on concrete and in races. has helped me ALOT.
Cool Barends. | | Weaknesses: | Saddle is about to say its last words...It is also rather stiff in my eyes(or a$$)
Crank: The Cannondale mechanics destroyed the crank when assembling, causing me to shift the arms. I've had about 4(!) arms shifted by now. On warranty, of course=) Grips are WAY to hard. LX f.d. is crap. | | Similar Products Used: | '97 GT Saddleback, '00 GF X-Caliber. | | Bike Setup: | Stock except for Mavic 317 rims and WTB grips. will change saddle VERY soon. | | Bottom Line: | This is a great bike. It makes me climb like never before, many times better than with my friends' bikes. Rear wheel crapped out on me in an uphill(?). I can't believe it. had to change rim and spokes. I now ride on 317's. They're really good. The LX Front Derailleur is crap, it needs tuning all the time to work properly. Cannondale mechanics blew my crank to hell with their sweet airpressure tools. Had to switch arms about 4 times. Maybe there's something wrong with the BB? Want to thank Sport Extreme for great service! The Fatty DL fork is indeed sweet, the lockout system is great and has really helped me in races a.s.o.
Seat is about done, it doesn't take alotta abuse. Switch the grips, they're no good even with gloves.
Bottom line is that this is a fine bike for training and racing. If you see one at discount, buy it! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
David Frid
a Weekend Warrior
from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Date Reviewed: February 7, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Burnside Trails | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$1500.00 | | Purchased At: | Smooth Cycle | | Strengths: | Very lite. Very stiff. No such thing as a tough hill anymore. I found no problem with the shifting or the rings... | | Weaknesses: | Some problems with brakes but they work very well when I do a little tuning with them. The mosquito tires they came with needed to be replaced right away. They were slicks within a week. | | Bike Setup: | Changed the coda seat to Selle Flite. Changed Mosquito tires to Panaracer xcpro. | | Bottom Line: | This is the most amazing bike I have owned. I love it. I have had a few problems with the brakes but no biggie. I recommend this to anyone...Wicked paint job too. I named mine Blair(witch) | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dominic Eggbeer
a Cross Country Rider
from Bristol - England
Date Reviewed: December 6, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | Noahs Ark | | Strengths: | This is a follow up to my previous review @ 3 months. | | Bottom Line: | Fantastic bike - fast, stiff (but forgiving enough)and great up or down the hills. Nice frame and forks + I have had no real trouble with the front chain rings, which seem to a problem with some people.
The bottom line with the brakes - If they don't work order a bleed kit. Mine cost £12 from Noahs Ark. Firstly clear out the nipples of mud etc. (especially at the calliper) Move the lever around so the nipple is at the top, attach the pipes at both ends. Get a friend to hold a container to cat the old fluid. Undo the nipples a bit when the pipe and syrynge are full of fluid. Fill the hose - making sure all the bubbles have gone. This was the reason for poor performance.
My brakes now work v well - the only quarm could be the availability of spares in the future. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jerad
a Racer
from Eau Claire, Wisconsin, United States
Date Reviewed: December 3, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Oakwood Hills | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1650.00 | | Purchased At: | Anybodys Bike shop | | Strengths: | Great bike for the money. All the components are great. Disk brakes great in all weather conditions | | Weaknesses: | New rear derailuer upgrade to somthing like a XTR. Get new rims. Did not hold up to what I expected. | | Similar Products Used: | Zaskar X | | Bike Setup: | the regular XT,LX,and CODA. | | Bottom Line: | The bottom line is that this bike is the greatest. One thing that does piss me off it that people aways say that the CODA expert disk brakes suck and don't work. THey do, I have never seen brakes work better. They stop when I need them to and only sometimes they squeek but thats normal. People out there complaining about the CODA disks are either not taking care of them. Or the people down at there shop are retards. over all I love this bike and would not trade it for anything. Thanks Anybodys bike shop for a great buy. I love the paint job it is the best. I get tons of compliments on it. I race in the WORS series and i need a good bike to help me win. The F-900 does that. I clib hills with great ease while other riders are trying to catch me. Well if you are looking for a great buy and a great bike go for the F_900. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chanie
a Cross Country Rider
from Ottawa, ON
Date Reviewed: November 9, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Anything fast and technical | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1600.00 | | Purchased At: | Rebec & Kroes | | Strengths: | Stiff _ Lightweight _ Responsive _ Fast _ Kickass Paint _ Good Brake Modulation _ Takes 2seconds to Fall in love with it. | | Weaknesses: | Coda pedals, brakes grunt now and then, front rings. | | Similar Products Used: | Nothing I've tried compares to this work of art | | Bike Setup: | Selle Italia Radius Saddle, Coda Competition Suspension Seatpost, Team pedals, otherwise stock. | | Bottom Line: | Taking into account the minor annoyance of the occasional brake noise and hesitation shifting onto the big ring, this bike is still the best thing I've ever had.
It rides like a dream, handles fast technical trails (my true passion) with scary precision, and makes you look damn good doing it. When on this bike, you're only limited by your own riding abilities. And I mean that.
My bike weighs in at 23.4 lbs, it climbs like nothing I've ever seen before, and it's by far the fastest, most balanced and well-constructed bike I've had the pleasure of riding with.
Truly a work of art. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Joe
a Racer
from Bloomington, Indiana
Date Reviewed: October 18, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$1500.00 | | Purchased At: | Bikesmiths | | Strengths: | Great racing platform! This bike screams to be pushed. Agile climber, great power transfer, precise tracking. Cannondale customer service has been damn good too. | | Weaknesses: | Coda cranks. I replaced these with a set of XTR cranks after Cannondale warrantied them out for me. LX front shifter has to long of a throw for me. | | Similar Products Used: | 1999 GT Avalanche | | Bike Setup: | Changed the crank out to XTR with Raceface rings. Replaced LX shifters with SRAM Attacks. Time carbon pedals. | | Bottom Line: | This is a follow up. I've had the bike for almost a year now and have ridden it hard. Haven't had the chance to race it as much as I would have liked (work sucks!), but when I have I can say that I can only blame myself on where I finish in the field. Cannondale has provided great customer support. I had problems keeping my rear wheel fully seated in the dropouts. After talking to the wrenches over at Bikesmiths (LBS)and a call to Cannondale technical support, seems there was a defect in the rear dropout. Had a new frame within two weeks. They had even stopped producing the 2000 model by then. Darn quick turnaround. I'm already looking forward to next season. This bike is my obsession! Now only if Mavic would get their act together and get that tubeless disc rim out (component junky). | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
David Andrews
a Weekend Warrior
from Sydney, Australia
Date Reviewed: September 15, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Bloody Mary | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1600.00 | | Purchased At: | Cyclesport, Thornleigh | | Strengths: | Light like a feather and as fast as a monkey on Crack.Beautiful
climber, stops on a dime.THE BEST HARDTAIL IN THE WORLD! | | Weaknesses: | Pedals are crap (GET TIME ATACS), BB and Crank interface destroyed in the first 3 days. Woefull bar-ends and Headshoks
rebound too quickly. Crap tyres. | | Similar Products Used: | Cannondale F1000
Giant NRS Team | | Bike Setup: | Onza bar ends, Michelin Comp S tyres, Time Atacs. All up:
- 23.25 lbs.- | | Bottom Line: | The best value XC hardtail around with an awesome frame, great brakes, good parts, light weight, good suspension (when set up properly). Light. Did i say light ?
Apart from the cranks and BB (which were replaced free of charge) this bike is the best hardtail ever. To prove this until July '99 this was used by the VC team.
Better for light-to-medium weight riders it still wins many Sport class races under my 210 pound frame.5/5 | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Guiness Stout
a Cross Country Rider
from Mays Landing, USA
Date Reviewed: September 4, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | CrackHeadBob Trail, MD | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1599.00 | | Strengths: | Light weight, a great HeadShok (finally), disc brakes, suberb handling. | | Weaknesses: | Rims appear to be weak. From day one they got tweaked and are getting more tweaked.
Problems with the freewheel included locking up, not engaging and a clang after a hard uphill. Shop replaced the assembly. No problems since.
Disc brakes are real noisy for the first couple stops in a ride. Then quiet down.
| | Similar Products Used: | SuperV 1000, DeltaV 500, Trek 700 | | Bike Setup: | Flipped the stem (negative rise) to better attack the hills. Swapped the Hutchinson Mosquitos (probably a good dry terrain tire, but its been a wet summer) for Hutch Alligators. Put on a RaceFace XY seatpost (for a better fit)with QR collar. | | Bottom Line: | I'm a lousy uphiller, but this bike is sooo good on the uphills, it has me attacking all the hills I see. The handling is superb, quick without being twitchy/spooky. A great bike for all types of single track. (From technical rock hopping in PA to South Jersey sand and mud. And the root and rock laced hillside trails in MD and DE.)Pick a line through a section and it will go there and stay there.
I like the Coda discs. Good modulation on the way to locking up, not an on/off type of brake.
Disapointed with the weak rims. And hopefully the freewheel problems will not return.
If you want a light, great handling XC bike to feel like a hero on (especially the uphills), this is it. If you want to cruise around with the wife and kids, look at something else. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Erik Aagesen
a Racer
from Huntsville/AL
Date Reviewed: August 1, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | bankhead antional forrest, monte sano mountain | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | This bike kicks for the money , I work in an shop and have my choice and this is the one i chose! The f900 climbs like nothing ive riden before, and the stering perscision of the head shock system is far superios to any double bladed fork out there! and the CODA disc brakes work flawlessley as long ast hey are set up correctly which any respectable shop should be able to do. | | Weaknesses: | NONE | | Bike Setup: | CODA 2x9, and XTR rear deraller, Continental explorer pro rear and mythos irs Front tires. otherwise stock | | Bottom Line: | This bike rocks and is a great buy!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dominic Eggbeer
a Cross Country Rider
from Bristol, England
Date Reviewed: July 25, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Around the Ashton area of Bristol the Welsh Valleys | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Great climbing ability, handling, makes you feel fast, even if your not! The fork is mostly great, but not so good at comfort from the small, repetative bumps at a low speed. | | Weaknesses: | I'm sorry, but I really am un-impressed with the disk brakes. I had a few doubts before I brought the bike after reading reviews, but thought they would be OK. The rear one has been good (but not great as the adjstment ceased and is being replace under warranty as I write), the front (having been serviced twice) still squeeks madly and stops like the disk is made of butter! I have avoided at all cost getting it greasy in any way, and it has had plenty of rides to bed in. Anybody else have the same problem?
The front rim was writain off in a low speed crash, the back is now buckled, but I think that is more my fault rather than the components.
The front shifting is OK, with the odd chain suck. | | Similar Products Used: | 1994 Team Marin with Quadra 21R susp. | | Bike Setup: | Same as when purchased - except mavic 317 rim on the front. | | Bottom Line: | A fantastic bike with great all round ability. Well suited for speed amongst the most technical of tracks, good in the British mud (not brake calipers for mud to collect, also making cleaning easier, great climber, good forks and great looks.....all let down a bit (In my experience) by mediocre brakes.
A good bike for the Xcountry mad who like to climb - fast, decend - fast (although stopping can be difficult and noisy) and go throught the technical stuff - fast!
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Steve Edwards
a Weekend Warrior
from Perth, Western Australia
Date Reviewed: July 6, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Mundaring/Kalamunda | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Feather-like weight, steering response, disc brakes | | Weaknesses: | front rings/stock derailleuer, chain suck, pedals/clips | | Similar Products Used: | 1998 Cannondale F1000
1998 Giant ATX
1999 Specialized Rockhopper FS/A1 | | Bike Setup: | Pure except for Thompson Pro seatpost and Sachs chain | | Bottom Line: | This bike nearly totalled me after 3 days - chain snapped under normal conditions then got wrapped up in the rear cassette, sheared the rear der. which then locked up the rear wheel (at 30kph) causing a big off - major league pi**ed off (as well as cut n'bruised). Problem identified as a non-standard linkpin in the Shimano chain (Cannondale's responsibility). Was appeased with full repair plus 400 bucks worth of gear but shouldn't have happened in the first instance.
Anyway since then the bike has settled down and it is really starting to impress me in the climbs and the discs have yet to warp (and repeatedly bite like a bulldog with mustard on its ass) under the hardest braking. Headshok is as impressive as ever. Front shifts take a couple of years to happen which is no good when you're looking for THAT gear at THAT moment - can't live with this much longer and will look at either Shimano or SRAM upgrade rings/derailleuer. More plus points include the demonic acceleration and laser like steering. Tough paint job has resisted a great deal of rock/cinder abuse.
Kick-ass frame and shock let down by sub-standard factory component preparation - wake up Cannondale, you charge too much for this to happen! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Paul Cowley
a Cross Country Rider
from North Yorkshire, Great Britain
Date Reviewed: June 14, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Anywhere on the North Yorkshire Moors | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | The bike is lite and stiff, it climbs so well i hardly notice the hills. | | Weaknesses: | The front rings are crap, the changes are rough and often hang up. | | Similar Products Used: | Orange EVO 'O' 2 (A great bike)
Orange P7, Treck 6500 | | Bike Setup: | Standard apart from eastern monkey bars and Shimano 545 pedals. | | Bottom Line: | In general I think this bike is great, it handles fantastically, accelarates like nothing else and it looks great. I was worried about the discs at first but they have settled in and are working well. With all the new compounds available from EBC i should be able to get perfect braking in all conditions. I think I will change the front rings if they dont improve, apart from that its the best bike I have had so far.
Id recommend this to any rider, Trail or cross country.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jens
a Weekend Warrior
from Norway
Date Reviewed: May 18, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | The frame is excellent, stiff and light and the Fatty fork seems to work very well | | Weaknesses: | The Coda pedals are not good and should be replaced before you leave the shop. The brakes felt bad in the start but have improved, however they really need to be adjusted "just right" to work OK. The crank is making a lot of noise. I hope it will be fixed during the first service. | | Similar Products Used: | KHS | | Bike Setup: | Standard setup except Syncros seatpost and Shimano 747 pedals | | Bottom Line: | I ride in all types of terrain on all types of roads and the bike works very well for me. Going fast on single tracks is a dream due to it's responsive steering. The stiff frame and responsive steering also makes the bike av very good climber, especially in more technical trails.
The original pedals anoyed med a lot, the crank still does. The disc brakes get's better every day and I like the feeling they give compared to traditional v-brakes that's either on/off. However I miss the v-brakes ability to brake really hard.
Despite the problems I have had so far I really like this bike. The price in Norway is high, therefore 4 chilis on value. Overall it's a very good bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Fraser Moffatt
a Racer
from Ottawa
Date Reviewed: May 14, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | MO | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | As stated in my previous post below | | Weaknesses: | Ditto | | Similar Products Used: | Ditto | | Bike Setup: | Changed stock Hutchison Mosquito tires for Michelin Wildgripper XC Comps | | Bottom Line: | Well, only about 6 rides in, I managed to destroy the left crank/BB interface. This was due to an initial shop assembly problem that they rectified immediately with no cost to me (or the shop, I hope). Well done. Other than that, the wheels are holding up, the fork setup is great and super-precise (super-beau) and the bike climbs like a monkey on crack. I'm loving it even more every day (even after scratching up the frame a bit). I'll upgrade my rating to a 5 flaming meadow muffins. I think that anything I destroy after this point will be ALL my fault. the brakes are well worn in, adjusted and perfroming flawlessly. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Stephane N.
a Cross Country Rider
from Montreal
Date Reviewed: May 6, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | bromont | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Cadre : legerete, confort, rigidite
Fourche : Legerete, confort, afficacite | | Weaknesses: | Freins s'ils ne sont pas bien ajustes.
Peut etre bien les roues mais l'avenir me le dira??
Pneus d'origines (Mosquito) | | Similar Products Used: | M4
| | Bike Setup: | Flite (titanium), Pedalier Race Face, Guidon Easton MonkeyLite, Pneus Ritchey WSC, derailleur AR ESP 9.0, shiffter esp 9, pedales Time ATAC Carbone | | Bottom Line: | La geometrie du cadre est extra, rigide , leger , la puissance passe a la roue arriere ce qui permet lors d'ascensions techniques de passer tout en douce. JE pense qu'avec un peu d'entrainnement je devrais pouvoir monter aux arbres ;-)
Bien qu'en Alu le cadre est tres confortable et filtre bien les chocs.Quand a la fourche elle est d'une precision remarquable le velo se place ou l'on veut.
Les freins m'ont inquietes au debut mais apres un bon ajustement il n'y a plus rien a dire le confort des freins a disques et fort aprecible et ce dans toutes les conditions. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Fraser Moffatt
a Racer
from Ottawa
Date Reviewed: March 14, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Multiple Orgasm | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Light weight - 24 lbs and change
Stiff, especially around the BB/Crank area
Solid climber
Disk brakes - power and modulation | | Weaknesses: | Disk Brakes - constant adjustment required
Perhaps the cranks/rings - will find out soon enough. | | Similar Products Used: | 1997 Giant race HT (XT/Bomber Z2 equipped) | | Bike Setup: | Stock except for WTB SST.K saddle, Easton EA50 bars, Shimano 535 pedals, GripShift Plasma shifters. Will probably throw in XTR derailleurs when a good deal appears. | | Bottom Line: | i like the acceleration and climbing ability this bike affords. I dropped over 5 lbs switchint to this bike. Although its hard to tell what the durability of the parts spec is going to be like (especially brakes and wheelset), I am extremely please with the performance enhancements this bike has allowed me.
Will amend my rating sometime in the middle of the season....but 4 for now is OK, I think. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Joe
a Racer
from Bloomington, IN, US
Date Reviewed: March 2, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | light and stiff. killer acceleration and climbs like a cat. the fatty fork is great if your looking for a minimal travel race fork. great tracking through the corners. almost forgot the disk brakes. have been great in the ever changing weather ant trail conditions here in hoosier land. | | Weaknesses: | those coda rings are questionable on the ex3's. the arms feel stiff but those front shifts sound like i'm grounding a pound of coffee. i'm definitely going to upgrade at least the rings before racing gets under way. | | Similar Products Used: | cannondale f700, schwinn sierra | | Bike Setup: | stock except for swapping out xt fronts for the lx's (i actually thought i'd key in those front shifts there alone...not!), wtb saddle, coda expert disk brakes and best of all time attacks (the carbon variety) | | Bottom Line: | This bike is ready for race day for beginners like me. I've heard some negatives about racing xc with discs due to the weight penalty, but hey I'm not a pro and the weight savings probably isn't going to cost me a race. Training at my level is more likely to put you on or off the podium. Very few upgrades really need to be made unless you want to personalize the bike or are a component junky like me. I'd give this bike five chilis if it wasn't for the coffee grinder rings up front. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
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