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Submitted by
dukenuken
a Downhiller
from spain
Date Reviewed: May 29, 2009 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1690.00 | | Strengths: | frame quality!, good components, excelent fork (Marzocchi DJ2) all components are built to handle really hard use (pedals, cranks etc are bombproof). Good tires (kenda k-rad) | | Weaknesses: | Quite heavy, it weights 16 kilograms (about 35 pounds) but you can easily make it lighter.
| | Bike Setup: | stock, Chase 1 2009 | | Bottom Line: | I used this bike for DJ and street, I have a lot of fun with it! I love this bike | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ville
a
from Finland
Date Reviewed: March 27, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Flowy trails | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | Friend | | Strengths: | Good looking, great for manuals, sturdy, very light! | | Weaknesses: | Some forks may hit the downtube when trying to barspin (like the stock DJ did) I fixed it with file(?) 1mm from rebound cap. | | Similar Products Used: | On-one the Gimp, Dabomb, and some test rides with other bikes. | | Bike Setup: | Middleburn, magura etc. | | Bottom Line: | Very good frame! but stock cranks vore out and stem was too long. No better bike for this money! (i exhanged my gimp for this chase) | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jay
a
from denver co usa
Date Reviewed: June 15, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | lake arbor dirt jumps | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$500.00 | | Purchased At: | lbs mechanic | | Strengths: | bad ass bike i bought this built up from a lbs mechanic is came with marzocchi bomber fork race face husfeller cane creek head set easton handle bars dual duty front rim sun rino lite rear rim i tor this bike up at the skate park road bowls sweet did the dirt jump great | | Weaknesses: | sun rhino lite rym got a dent dirt jumping but with all on this bike good luck finding a deal like i got | | Similar Products Used: | non | | Bike Setup: | kick ass marsocchi bomber camo seat easton bars cane creek head set race face bash guard husfeller veanks dual duty front rim rhino lite rear rim | | Bottom Line: | i tore this bike up at the skate park killed stairs road dirt and used it as a comuter for a year and a half or so this was my only bike for the longest time i can not belive this singlespeed did everything i threw at it. i recently retiered this bike to turn it into a trail bike and got an addict cycles frame to replace this i am switching over parts and bought new mavic deetracks this bike hands down is the best bike i ever bought i am so glad i ran into this in the local shop this bike will last for ever i felt it was time for a new dj frame and wante to turn this into a trail bike | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
butters NA
a
from kelowna
Date Reviewed: March 16, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | pipe dream | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$900.00 | | Purchased At: | fresh air experience | | Strengths: | light ( compared to cro-mo street bikes) good geometry for manuals and gives you confidence on the bigger djs | | Weaknesses: | came with mechanical brakes and rims look a little skimpy but i havent bent them yet | | Similar Products Used: | transitions trail or park, giant stp, specailized p.bikes | | Bike Setup: | one juicy5 in the back holzfeller blue macniel grips :)
xpedo pedals dj3 single speed | | Bottom Line: | for the price and the quality of bike it is a wicked deal. good for beginners and experienced riders. rips the street and the djs. Stoked on this bike!!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Devin Kovach
a
from boulder colorado usa
Date Reviewed: June 1, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | the fix | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$920.00 | | Purchased At: | full cycle pearl st | | Strengths: | the geometry on this frame is what got me to buy this bike its comfy it has the over sized head tube so You have the capability to put any fork a comp requires another plus is that it is hand made which helps on over all weld strength | | Weaknesses: | the two things I would say need to go are the yokes and the accentric bottom bracket just off set a euro it the place of the accentric And the aluminum IM personaly a chromo fan but like how responsive an aluminum frame is | | Similar Products Used: | I have been rideing bmx my whole life and when I test rode this bike it felt just like my bmx frame i rode out the door and did a 180 pivot like butta | | Bike Setup: | over all the set up on this bike is awsome I sugest to the retired bmx'er | | Bottom Line: | if you like to dirt jump this is the bike you need to own I have never been so pleased with any bike in my entire life. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
evan hipditch
a
from st.john's nl canaha
Date Reviewed: September 11, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$800.00 | | Purchased At: | canary cycles. bike is regular 1600 | | Strengths: | everything | | Weaknesses: | nothin | | Bike Setup: | stock | | Bottom Line: | amazing bike .. can handle anything | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
eddie couture
a Weekend Warrior
from alberta
Date Reviewed: August 18, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | north shore | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | $900 | | Strengths: | everything, frame, hubs, seat for sure, yeh everything definetly. rims are the best | | Weaknesses: | tires wear down quick. | | Similar Products Used: | p3. | | Bike Setup: | i got maxxis holy rollers. single speed. new bars. new pedals. | | Bottom Line: | Definatly a good purchase for street, park, and DJ's. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Alex
a
from Westwood, MA USA
Date Reviewed: August 18, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Any Downhill Trail | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1000.00 | | Purchased At: | Back Bay Bikes | | Strengths: | This bike is very strong for almost anything. I use it for jumping 5 foot jumps and huge drops and it stays strong. There havent been any major problems. Also good for downhill. Great shocks for jumping and the gears work very well. A great bike. | | Weaknesses: | The shocks could be a little bigger because i sometimes almost bottom out when I land off big jumps. Not a good bike for up and down trails, i figured that out the hard way. This bike is too heavy for that. Also my front disk brake squeeks like thats its job. Its probbably the fault of the bike store because the rotor is bent. Also the pedals are very grippy which can be bad if you are trying to reposition your foot at the last second before a jump, But these are just little things. | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized Hard Rock Pro, Specialized P3 | | Bike Setup: | STock (for now) getting some stuff for next years season | | Bottom Line: | This is a great solid bike for downhill and evenmore for dirt jumping. It has a solid construction and only has a few minor problems. Buy it if you want to do that. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rudi Gale
a Racer
from Slovenia
Date Reviewed: June 19, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$1600.00 | | Purchased At: | Funsports | | Strengths: | Frame (geometry, strength, lightness, look, everything)
Look
Manuerabilty
| | Weaknesses: | DJ 3 (OK for jumping, street but too heavy for racing)
Should come with chainguide | | Similar Products Used: | Elan Tumbler, Kona, Specialized,... | | Bike Setup: | Truvativ 32T sprocket, truvativ boxguide, mavic 321 rims, dmr moto tires | | Bottom Line: | Best complete bike ever made, good for racing or freestyle with some modifications... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
dave
a Weekend Warrior
from Victoria, B.C., Canada
Date Reviewed: April 27, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | uvic street | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | Fort Street Cycle | | Strengths: | Amazing frame, the components are wicked. My chase is a 2004, so it has the dirt jumper 3 forks rather than the manitou. All of the components on the chase are top notch, the avid mechanical discs kick ass. The overall bike looks and performs very very well | | Weaknesses: | I think it has changed for the 2005 model year, but my chase came with a really lame downhill seat that killed my butt. It also came with the uncommon inner tubes that have the different valves (not schrader). | | Similar Products Used: | Used to bmx, switched to jumper/street freeride | | Bike Setup: | Stock, got the dirt jumper 3s kicking butt up front, rollin on high rollers. | | Bottom Line: | This bike KICKS BUTT. The overall feel of the bike (i got a medium size frame and i'm 6'3") is very good, very agile and i can really make it fly due to its size and weight. I got mine on sale because it's last year's model, but even with the 2005 price tag it would be well worth the value for the amazing frame and components. bottom line: looking for a great dirt jumper/ street bike? get the chase, or at least consider it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jean-charles valiquette
a
from canada
Date Reviewed: February 21, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | bromont | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1099.00 | | Purchased At: | primeau vélo | | Strengths: | everything | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | chase 2 | | Bottom Line: | best bike i ever had because this thing could take me everywhere that i what .
berfect bike to do any kind of crazy thing
crazy as this seem 's this bike is my life
ps hope that these bikes cannondale will continue to performe even better in the furture. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bob Marley
a Downhiller
from Brewer
Date Reviewed: January 12, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | The 603's | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1200.00 | | Purchased At: | Shop | | Strengths: | the stability that this bike provides both on the ground and air is amazing. If you want to hit something and you've got the balls to do it this bike will take the abuse. | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | Kona stuff | | Bike Setup: | stock | | Bottom Line: | The bike is sick. Some people were complaining about not being able to wheelie. Maybe they're just all mountain riders that are used to wheeling in the saddle. The manuals are a lil bit hard. The bearclaws for pedals make for some rather sketchy bails when u start to float backwards. Weight really isn't that big of a deal once u start riding it. If I had to guess it's just that people arn't use to the differnt geometry. It's literaly no effort to bring the back tire up while J-hoping or jumping. bottom line is I love this bike. Deff a great buy. Oya. if u ride winter pick up some spair tires to stud cuz on snow or really wet grass u slip like crazy | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris
a Downhiller
from east yorkshire
Date Reviewed: December 26, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$999.00 | | Purchased At: | Freetown sports | | Strengths: | [Price in £!, and it's the 2005 model]Lightweight, corners nice, components are of the highest quality of any stock bike, jumps well, forks plush, hayes brakes are well sharp. Pimp Paint job; it changes colour! | | Weaknesses: | Forks have too light a spring for a hard riding bike, i weigh 11 stone and can bottom them by moving my weight over the front without pushing. tyres are useless in uk in winter, high rollers make it handle like a dream. Pointless front mech+ 26t ring. 11-32t cassette has not got the gear resolution for a 4X bike. Does not have street bike geometry with 100mm travel fork. | | Similar Products Used: | DMR rhythm, Trek bruiser, PlanetX jack flash, orange 222 | | Bike Setup: | Stock except high rollers, 12-23t cassette, | | Bottom Line: | The soft springs in the fork are the biggest let down when moving from boxxers with 100kg plus springs, they are very good all the time though and dont bottom in a nasty, overly noticable way, the only time they felt worse than Reba team was whilst pre-jumping stair sets. Take drop-offs onto flat with care. Other than that now ive got a short range cassette it is the best off road hardtail i have ever ridden, and has brought a very racey and agile style to my riding. I think if you are looking to mainly ride street make sur you can afford some longer travel forks to sort out the geometry and low BB, i may be a little harsh though as i have moved across from a DMR rhythm with 24" wheels. If you mainly ride jumps & singletrack buy this bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Griffin
a Downhiller
from Mill Valley, CA
Date Reviewed: November 2, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Eldridge Grade | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$600.00 | | Purchased At: | Cannondale Bicycle Corp. | | Strengths: | Hussefelt cranks, Avid CPS disc brakes, Maxxis Highroller tires (for the rainy seasons), ODI Lock On grips, well-built wheelset. | | Weaknesses: | The fork. The fork. The fork. Oh, and the fork. If you plan on doing any sort of serious riding, or ever picking up the front end at all, ditch that beast of a fork right now. At 7.2 lbs, the '04 DJ 3 is almost as heavy as the 888R, and not even nearly as cool or useful. Having that fork on the front is like having a ton of bricks strapped to the front of your bike. Also, the stock Cannondale platform pedals are walking deathtraps, according to the 27 stitches in my shin. Switch to something will smaller pins like Truvativ or Atomlab. | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized P.3, Azonic DS-1, Kona Roast. | | Bike Setup: | Stock medium '04 bike except for the following changes: 1999 Marzocchi Z.1 Alloy 4" fork, Hayes hydraulic 8" front brake, '98 XT v-lever for rear disc, Shimano Dura Ace rear derailleur 10/9-speed, Shimano Dura Ace 12-25 rear cassette 9-speed, Truvativ Hussefelt chainguide, S&M platform pedals, Tompson seatpost, WTB Rocket V saddle, and WTB Mutanoraptor 2.14/2.24 tires. | | Bottom Line: | The bottom line is that this bike has the potential to become one's main hardtail bike. Being able to equally conquer the slalom, mountaincross, and cross country short-track courses, while also doubling as a weekend urban assault or BMX track dominator, the Chase is the jack-of-all-trades of the hardtail world. As soon as one replaces the silly excuse for a front fork, the bike becomes something that truly shines and stands out among other meager excuses for hardtails. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Adam
a Downhiller
from Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Date Reviewed: October 4, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$99999999999.00 | | Purchased At: | Bow Cycle | | Strengths: | Solid Frame, Lightweight when I first bought it, around 34lbs. The part spec is decent, but I had pretty much everything changed to my liking. | | Weaknesses: | None really so far | | Similar Products Used: | Kona Scrap, Specialized P.3, Norco 4hun, Devinci Hucker, Norco Rampage | | Bike Setup: | 2004 L Chase, 04 Manitou Flick (Camo), Atomlab Trailpimps 26 front, 24 rear, Chris King ISO Disc hubs (gold), Hayes HFX-9 6" brakes, SRAM X-7 derailler and shifter, MRP Bones Cranks, Livid Chainguide, E.13 Black supercharger, Maxxis Hookworms, Raceface Diabolus stem, Azonic CF-1 Carbon bar, ODI Lockons, IRD Blacklighting cassette and chain, and Azonic Xtension pedals. | | Bottom Line: | This bike is super pimped with the parts I have on it now, Cannondale should've made this bike with this parts spec and called it the Chase Pro model or something.
Its a bit heavier aroung 36lbs, but it doesn't ride like it, wicked trick/street bike, I've learned a ton on this bike, and am still learning.
THE Best looking bike out there for sure! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ken
a Weekend Warrior
from Cedar Rapids
Date Reviewed: September 20, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1100.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Once you get used to the uniqueness of this machine you realize it is one of the most bad a$$ bikes around. Comes in no nonsense matte black. Parts spec is top notch for the $, ready to pound right out of the box. | | Weaknesses: | Coming from the world of XC this bike comes off on the heavy side, especially the front end. Hubs are okay, expect to replace wheelset eventually. Avid mechanicals, even when set to the strongest setting don't quite get it done when it comes to trials moves. Had some troubles with the bottom bracket coming loose, sealed pretty tired which doesn't contribute to this thing rolling easily. | | Similar Products Used: | Nothing really, I've always modified typical mtb rides. This is my first dirt/street niche bike. | | Bike Setup: | Stock. | | Bottom Line: | Did I mention that this is simply a bas a$$ bike? I love it, by far my favorite bike to ride right now. The Chase has improved my riding style; guess I better start drinkin' beers, riding backwards, and blowing stuff up with firecrackers. But seriously, Aaron Chase should travel abroad (Japan) to promote this bike, it rulz... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
david bruce
a Downhiller
from guildford UK
Date Reviewed: September 9, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | DH, drops, tricks, trails | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$750.00 | | Purchased At: | Evans Cycles St Pauls | | Strengths: | Great to ride, great to look at, confidence inspiring, great spec, paid £750 not $!! Had £150 discount. Almost every component works amazingly! | | Weaknesses: | Wheels have gone out of shape fairly quick; need sorting out by a good wheel builder! I don’t think it’s the fault of the components, also the seat clamp seems to have to be tighten very tight to stop the seat from moving around, but don’t let this put you off!! | | Similar Products Used: | GT Zaskar downhill setup | | Bottom Line: | AWESOME bike the model I have is the Chase II,DJ3, hayes hydro disks, so much fun and great to ride, everything seems top quality, have yet to take it for a real, REAL hardcore ride, used to love my zaskar but it got a bit long in the tooth this bike is more than worthy replacement! Every component seems great so far apart from the seatclamp which I will probably replace and the seatpin but this does the job fine! These are minor criticisms, I am quite amazed how well specced the bike is for the price! Even before the £150 discount, I rode the bike once in the shop it blew me away and there was no way i was leaving without it :D | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
geff
a Downhiller
from quebec
Date Reviewed: August 26, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | bing bang | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1100.00 | | Purchased At: | abc | | Strengths: | frame, fork, just about everything | | Weaknesses: | rims; they were bent within 3 softcore rides, tires | | Bike Setup: | marzocchi dj3, mavic 321 rims, maxxis high roller supper stiky, odi ruffian grips, truvativ hussfelt crankset, avid disc brakes | | Bottom Line: | Holy moly this bike is great! its like flying in an airplane when its in the air, relativly light considering size, great pedaling efficiency and cornering, smooth dirt jumping. a great bike for who ever loves to street ride and dirt jump and likes to have hte occasional trip 2 a downhill installation | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brad
a Weekend Warrior
from Vancouver, WA
Date Reviewed: August 22, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Urban, Skateparks | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1100.00 | | Purchased At: | River City Bikes | | Strengths: | Frame is stiff, strong, and it feels completley comfortable in the air. 1.5 headtube, ISCG mount. Also the barbaque black color is pretty cool. Stock component spec is very good, and durable (although I had to change some to my liking). Did I mention what a great value it is for the complete bike? | | Weaknesses: | Although the dirt-jumping specific geometry is great for that, the long stays made it hard to manual and even wheelie. Brake levers aren't good. The funn stem seems to slip every time I biff, no matter how much I tighten it. | | Similar Products Used: | Santa Cruz Chameleon, Jeff's Banshee Morphine | | Bike Setup: | M Chase, 04 Shiver SC, Atomlab Aircorp Wheelset, 8 inch Avids, Thomson DH Stem, Full Metal Jacket brake cables, Avid Levers, Hookworms, A-Frame Pedals, Deore shifters(alivios broke), everything else stock (handlebar, drive-train, saddle) | | Bottom Line: | This is a fabulous bike which I highly reccomend. Midrange components combined with a topnotch frame at an unbelievable price. I can't emphasize enough how great the frame is, unfortunatly it is not as popular as similar frames, such as the le toy and imperial.
As far as performance, the compact geometry and low bottom bracket make it feel agile, responsive, and alot lighter than it really is, even with the dirt jumper III. I use this bike for all my dirt jumping and urban needs, but also as a perfectly satisfactory trail bikem although my old chameleon worked much better as a trail bike. Although the chase isn't the most versatile bike, in my opinion there is none better for what it's made for. I could summarize this review by simply saying Aaron Chase is the best dirtjumper in the world and he uses this bike, so it should be good enough for anyone else. If you have any questions, or want pictures or something like that, please feel free to send me an e-mail. 5 and 5 flamin' chilis. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
mike o
a Downhiller
from toronto
Date Reviewed: July 18, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | whatever | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1300.00 | | Purchased At: | dukes | | Strengths: | stiff, reacts super quick, think left it goes left, fun fun bike. lots of potential for rider skill development, feels like i'm 10 yrs old on a bmx again | | Weaknesses: | i broke the dj3 but they replaced it with a dj1 slider. marzocchi kinda freak me out, their forks always give em grief. i'm gonna steal my wifes sherman b+ and try it on, see what its like-prob too big | | Similar Products Used: | lots of dh bikes, a few hardtails. our family owns quite a few bikes, i love the gemini 2000 but my wife won't stop riding it. | | Bike Setup: | stock with the dj upgrade. | | Bottom Line: | first of all the other reviews are pretty bang on. but i think that the mech actuated brakes are sweet, i lengthened them and i can tailwhip and barspin no sweat. well ok i crash too but its my fault not the bikes. i have hydros on my dh bike and i can't figure spinning the lines. one thing tho don't buy this bike unless you only really want to jump stunt and urban assault bike park stuff. trail riding is no fun unless the end of the trail has great stuff- this bike pedals worse then my RM7. hey why do all these euro guys get the slick lefty and we only have the italian shtuff? | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
dieter daemen
a Downhiller
from Belgium
Date Reviewed: June 5, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | street | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1399.00 | | Purchased At: | Pro Bike (Tervuren) | | Strengths: | Marzocchie Dirt Jumper 3
solid feeling
| | Weaknesses: | Hayes HFX 9 Disc Brakes | | Similar Products Used: | CHASE I | | Bike Setup: | shimano alivio, shimano Lx,hayes HFX9 disc brakes,Mavic XM321 rims, DJ 3 fork | | Bottom Line: | A very good bike with a solid feeling, at first it feels strange to ride on and you need getting jused to it but when you are you'll never want anything else again. One thing however when you buy a CHASE II ( linke me) put on other disc brakes because the hayes SUCK, mine started leaking after a week or so and I' ve had them fixed 3 times now and they still leak, get some MAGURA LOUSIE FR's or SHIMANO SAINT's for some good breaking power. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
James Dallaway
a Weekend Warrior
from Cobble Hill B.C. Canada
Date Reviewed: May 27, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Chicken run and skulls | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1400.00 | | Purchased At: | experience cycling | | Strengths: | Frame is strong, nice shocks (needed to be pumped up), rims still straight. Great brakes. Grippy tires. | | Weaknesses: | Needs a chain guide because the chain always skips, front and back. | | Similar Products Used: | Kona stuff
Norco 125 | | Bike Setup: | Stock now but Im getting a front fender | | Bottom Line: | This bike is the best. I use it for jumping, downhill and riding some trials. It's good if you like to ride everything. It is a great price considering it has so many good components on it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rudi Gale
a Weekend Warrior
from Logatec, SLOVENIJA
Date Reviewed: May 23, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Bežigrad, Elan | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1500.00 | | Purchased At: | Funsport | | Strengths: | Lifetime warranty for frame, geometry for trails, street, look (completly black - nice) | | Weaknesses: | DJ III are pretty heavy | | Bike Setup: | Only one front sprocket (Truvativ 33T)
Chainguide Truvativ (only bottom guide due compatibility)
Tioga White Tiger 2.5 Tires
Alivio rear shifter (Good enough for smashing down the ground :)) | | Bottom Line: | I've also tried few other bikes for street, DJ, but the geometry of this one really impressed me. It handles like nice girl. It has a lifetime warranty for the frame so don't be afraid of breaking it. The price is the same as for the other bikes of this style. Cannondale made yet another amazing product. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Huey s
a Weekend Warrior
from Galway
Date Reviewed: May 22, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | street | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1400.00 | | Purchased At: | In Ireland | | Strengths: | Wicked stem & headset. Quality brakes. Pedals stick to your feet. This bike oozes quality. | | Weaknesses: | disks tend to rub slightly | | Similar Products Used: | p2 | | Bike Setup: | stock | | Bottom Line: | A really sexy looking bike! I compared it to the specialised bikes in the shop but they didn't have the same quality. It's built for for taking knocks. The front end is a little heavy but you get used to it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
mark
a Weekend Warrior
from NL, Canada
Date Reviewed: May 9, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1400.00 | | Purchased At: | canary cycles | | Strengths: | the bike is speced out really well for the price. really nice frame as well. i love the stem and pedals, very nice! | | Weaknesses: | the new dj series is a bit heavy, and the geometry doesn;t make for a good trail bike, but its do-able. | | Similar Products Used: | giant rainier | | Bike Setup: | stock. | | Bottom Line: | if you have a tight budget like me, and you want a freeride, urban freeride, dirt jumpe bike, go with this bike. my final choice was between this and the norco sasquatch, and i picked this because the spec was sooooo much better, and the frame is much nicer. don't be pulled in by the hydro's on the norco, this bike is so much nicer if you look at all the other parts. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
max zurmuhlen
a
from westmoreland, NH, USA
Date Reviewed: April 25, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | streets in Keene | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1100.00 | | Purchased At: | banagans | | Strengths: | the frame is awsome, it feels great in the air and the bike is quiete when you land, no rattleing. the fork is strong. it has a 1.5 head tube wich is really nice, and the headset is great. | | Weaknesses: | none, other than the brakes. they are great brakes but the front brake scratches the disk somtimes, and i bent my rear disk(crash)but dont let that discourage you. | | Similar Products Used: | specialized P.3, Kona Roast | | Bike Setup: | stock | | Bottom Line: | its a fine bike, by far the best hardtail I have ever ridin. if you are into dirt jumping and urban assault this is the bike for you. i havent taken it to MT. Snow yet but im sure it will be great. All in All it is the perfect bike. go out and buy it, it feels a bit wierd in the store but once you get used to it, you will never ride another bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
chris
a Weekend Warrior
from covington va usa
Date Reviewed: April 20, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | my downhill track | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1000.00 | | Purchased At: | extreem sports in wv | | Strengths: | un brake able the parts are worth more seprate than on the bike. all the best parts you can fill the shocks with air. the maxxis tires are the best. the stem is the badest.and it has a cool name. | | Weaknesses: | the stem is to short fore climbing hills. but thats not y i got it. needs 8 in discs in the front. | | Similar Products Used: | it is the best. you cant compare it to amything | | Bike Setup: | stock i have to put a bottle rack fore a light | | Bottom Line: | the best fore a bargon. the niche thing if you brake it cannondale will replace it. its made in the best place in the world (the usa of course). it is awsome | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Steve
a Racer
from Oceanside, CA
Date Reviewed: April 13, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | San Luis Rey River Valley | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1200.00 | | Purchased At: | Bike Shop | | Strengths: | Strong, Burley Bike. It feels very solid underneath my 6'6" 270lb frame. Handles steep drops into semi-soft pack well with out any uncontrollable detours. Although it feels a bit heavy riding on flat ground, surprisingly, it climbs hills considerably easier than my old-rigid Trek Antelope. Has lots of get up and go for short distances. Dirt Jumping actually feels much more comfortable knowing I am on a reliable-rugged bike. | | Weaknesses: | Front disk makes little squeaky noise from time to time...still have not tried to adjust it. Still, way stealth compared to the noises traditional brakes can make when your creeping down a steep single track. | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized P series bikes | | Bike Setup: | Slanted Thomson Seat Post | | Bottom Line: | The best bang for your buck if you're into free riding and are worried about putting good money after bad. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
someone
a Weekend Warrior
from zimbobway
Date Reviewed: April 9, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Gordon College campus | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1100.00 | | Purchased At: | Bay Road Bikes | | Strengths: | The Chase is a strong bike right from the shop. I havent had mine that long so I can't tell right now if anything could be changed. | | Weaknesses: | Nothing I can tell so far, except the dj 111 is a little to soft for my liking, but everything else is most excellent | | Similar Products Used: | kona roast | | Bike Setup: | stock | | Bottom Line: | Great bike, if used for what it is intended. Dirt jumping, urban assult and those types of biking flieds is what it excells in. The bike its self is awsome. go and buy one from Bay Road Bikes in Hamilton right now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
matthias gielen
a Downhiller
from Belgium
Date Reviewed: April 8, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Park Michotte :) | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$2799.00 | | Purchased At: | ProBike Belgium (tervuren) | | Strengths: | - The frame is a light one ... but terrible strong !!!
- The Headshok Lefty JAKE TPC+ Forks are incredible stiff
- The standard Tubeless rims : EX 823 MAVIC
- The brakes are super !!!! The bike will stop in NO time
- Shimano SAINT crank is beautifull andstrong ( 2x XTR)
- cool cartoons at your bike :) | | Weaknesses: | - the Fi'zi:k Nisene is to soft for me :(
| | Similar Products Used: | None , this is unbeatable | | Bike Setup: | Shimano Saint , Magura Louise FR 180mm , CHASE 1 frame (silver) , tubeless tires , ... | | Bottom Line: | If you are looking for a good quality/price bike go for a CHASE 2 , its even more beautifuul then the Chase 1 .
I've bought it some weeks ago , still nothing broken
i'm very happy with the lefty JAKE but it's ugly ...
Pupil who need a bike for extreme dirt or street go for chase I , the others should go for a chase 2 ...
they are 1399 euros here .
still any Q's ?
mail me :p | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
phil
a Weekend Warrior
from Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Date Reviewed: April 1, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | T-FS-B / MOC | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1100.00 | | Purchased At: | Primeau velo | | Strengths: | Frame, Fork, Crank, Brakes, Stem | | Weaknesses: | Rims | | Bike Setup: | Stock | | Bottom Line: | It's a great bike. It feels very solid ! There's choice components on it like a strong dirt jumper 3 fork, a good crankset, somme very nice cable disk brakes and a stealthy black frame with a 1,5 headtube. The only weakness i can see is the rims which are not the strongest i think. Just change if it's break but it won't because i do not do 10 feet drop to flat :p Go buy one , it's cheap!!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeff
a Weekend Warrior
from Longview, WA, USA
Date Reviewed: March 14, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | Employee Purchase | | Strengths: | This bike is really fun. The frame is very compact and extremely stiff. It is also very VERY compact. I really like the geometry for urban riding and jumping and stunts in the woods. I really enjoy riding on it. | | Weaknesses: | The spec is very good.......but i am going to change the fork to a DJI and swap for a wider wheelset just due to the type of riding i do in the woods. Also, the frame size and geometry takes some getting used to, but once you are used to it, any other bike feels really big and becomes hard to ride. It is heavy tho............ | | Similar Products Used: | Santa Cruz Chameleon, Cove Stiffee, Haro Escape 8.3.......I went to interbike, so i rode pretty much everything. | | Bike Setup: | Stock | | Bottom Line: | This is an awesome bike. It will feel strange at first, but once you get used to it, there is no going back. It rocks. From a shop standpoint, it is hard to sell because people think it feels weird on test rides. JUST BUY IT and get used to it. It is a fun bike, and an awesome bike. Some parts could be swapped, but just replace stuff as it breaks. The stuff it comes with is very durable. I have been doing some 5, 6 and 7 foot drops and have not broken anything (with the exception of the rear der. on some rocks, not doing any drops) and the wheels are still fairly true. I love it. Buy this bike only if you are using it as a playbike. It excels as one. It rides fairly well as a trailbike, but many other bikes ride much better, but this one is way more fun. It does feel its heavy 32+ weight | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
christian schulz
a Weekend Warrior
from berlin, germany
Date Reviewed: February 23, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | everywhere you have fun | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$800.00 | | Purchased At: | bike market berlin | | Strengths: | only bought the frame. quite light, very stiff, cool geometry. good tire clearance, suitable for 8" rotors, suitable for any kind of fork: 1.125 / 1.5 / cannondale system. warranty system. | | Weaknesses: | first i thought maybe the chainstays are too long (424 mm)- but no problem | | Similar Products Used: | rocky mountain / rotwild | | Bike Setup: | marzocchi FR 130 mm 2003 / hayes 8 " / rear wheel 24" with gazzaloddi 2.6 / race face cranks with truvativ gigapipe bb/ | | Bottom Line: | ohh i like that black thing a lot. i use it for anything (downhill/dirts/urban/slalom/park/even trails with long seatpost). it corners quite easy because of the deep center. jumping and dropping is alot of fun.i recommend it to anyone who wants just a fun bike and nothing else.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Petter Björklund
a
from Helsingborg
Date Reviewed: February 2, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | the streets | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$5000.00 | | Purchased At: | Cykeldoktorn | | Strengths: | Wonderful frame, i have been wating for Cannondale to make a bike like this forever,when the time finally arrived i went for it.Stock spec list is sweet (on both bikes, i have the European Chase 1 model).
A sweet surprise was that insead of FSA cranks it came with SAINT Cranks wich was a nice tuch (eaven if i changed to Profileracing cranks).
the 1,5" standard headtube is awesome! | | Weaknesses: | Would be nice if it was sold as a frame kit only, but that is something one realy cant hold against it.
Chainstays could be slightly shorter but i have gotten used to it now. | | Similar Products Used: | 24bikes, Spooky, BeOne, KONA, Giant, Crescent etc
(none of them can realy compare to Cannondale) | | Bike Setup: | THe full on Aaron Chase style setup with, Evil SRS, Profile cranks, Hayes HFX-Mag, Easton parts, DT Freeride rear hub, Lefty Jake TPC+ etc etc..its pimped out baby! | | Bottom Line: |
Totaly sweet bike, eaven though i had to wait for almoast 5 months to get it.
It performs so much better than any bike i have had this far. The only one that comes close is the Spooky wich craked after a good year of abuse.
The geometry is stretched out wich is real nice for a long fellow like my self (i have the L size and im 191cm tall).
It still was a little hard to manual with it at first due to the "longish" chain-stays.
The frame feels realy solid (the Le Toy isent eaven close in stiffness), 1,5" headtube and gemini frame tubes seems to work super fine.
The frame also has ISCG tabs wich is nice, but i had to drill new mounting holes in the Evil backplate to get it back far enough.
Lefty forks are awesome too, after breaking 2 DJ1 -03 forks i was getting more than a little frostrated. I wanted to ride something that can take a beating. The Lefty is stiffer and has taken so much more abuse than the Marzocchi forks ive had ever did, and it still comes out laughing....
The only realy drawback is that you dont get Aaron Chases skills with the bike, but at least now you have the platform to start working on them... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
atl sxe
a Downhiller
from atlanta
Date Reviewed: January 27, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | Employee purchase | | Strengths: | seems strong for how light the frame is... all crazy internal butting so there are no external gussets... if thats your thing. definetly the nicest quality dirtjump frame i have ridden. geometry is wonderful if all you ride is DJ and street. came with mavic 321 rims, maxxis tires, and a f.u.n.n. stem, ODI ruffian grips | | Weaknesses: | not a good choice if you want to use for 4x or trail riding due to geometry but those weren't the reasons i bought it.
the cheap cannondale brake levers have no pull... hardly any power to the avids. mech. disk brakes are ok for DJ but to soft for street and trials tricks..get hayes or somethin'. new marzocchi dirtjumper forks are very durable but also weigh seven pounds... the bike's fulcrum is skewed towards the front of the bike due to having a seven pound single crown fork on such an otherwise light bike | | Similar Products Used: | azonic, rocky mountain | | Bike Setup: | mostly stock for now...big plans for later | | Bottom Line: | this bike has the potential to be amazing... geometry is great for street and dirt. i am going to EP one of those Sherman-DJ 90 mm dirtjumping forks which should lighten up the front end considerably making it easier to manual and
j-hop. this bike is really light which is really scary but it feels solid on landings and stairs and cannondale has one of the best warranty policies i have ever delt with as a bikeshop employee... i'll post later if it breaks. it needs an evil chain guide. took the left shifter off my bike and tightened down the front deraileur limits all the way to make it a makeshift chain guide until i can buy a real one. gonna put some hayes hydros on and maybe a 20mm front hub... otherwise i am very happy with the bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
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