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Submitted by
retro-newb
a Weekend Warrior
from farmington,mo usa
Date Reviewed: September 5, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | st joe state park | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$300.00 | | Purchased At: | lbs | | Strengths: | looks us handmade light for old fs | | Weaknesses: | cramped cockpit for med frame headshock | | Similar Products Used: | raliegh | | Bike Setup: | hehe all stock cept for truative hullesef cranks/bb | | Bottom Line: | i havent rode in 14 yrs and got this bike on the cheap.
it has gotten me back in shape and in the woods. never failed me yet.i want to upgrade front forks and get disks/as i wanna ride in the winter other than that i just keep taking it out and jamming!!!! | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Adam Leiter
a Cross Country Rider
from Mission Viejo, CA United States
Date Reviewed: August 12, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$850.00 | | Strengths: | Frame is very stiff, and durable, great build quality, and paint. Designed to hold two water bottle cages. With this frame you have the opportunity to use any fork on the market. | | Weaknesses: | Below par components, Short top tube, cable routing needs work, the rear suspension locks up under heavy breaking | | Similar Products Used: | Cannondale Raven Super V 700, Cannondale F500 | | Bike Setup: | Candy apple red powdercoated 1998 Super V 2000 SL, swingarm replaced with a caad4 for 135mm travel. Fox float R with stable platform dampening upgrade by PUSH. Up front we have a Carbon/Titanium Lefty with electronic lock out. Rear wheel is Chris King hub, Double butted spokes, Mavic rim. XTR Crank, cassette & Front derailuer. Sram XO rear derauleur and attack trigger shifters. Easton Monkey lite carbon bars, Avid brake levers, Avid mechanical disc brakes, Full metal jacket brake lines, Thompson elite seat post, Selle Italia SLR Saddle. This is now a 4" front travel with lock out/5"rear travel with stable platform bike that wighs 25.5 pounds | | Bottom Line: | I bought this bike as a demo from my LBS in 1998. The components were just about done, but the frame was solid.
6 years and over 5,000 miles later this bike is in its 2nd complete build up and I wouldn't part with it for the world.
The frame is so robust and flex free it will probably last me another 6 years. It took a while to get the perfect length, and angle stem to strech out the short cockpit, and the shock upgrade by PUSH industries helps to make this the "one" bike. I can race it, I can trail ride it, I can ride all day epics, and I can even downhill it.
The combination of plush/effecient suspension, the flex free frame, and the ultimate flex free fork blows my mind, and makes me a much better rider than I am on any other bike.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Grant A
a Weekend Warrior
from Bothell
Date Reviewed: May 14, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | NW Timber Trail, Tiger MTN | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$1500.00 | | Purchased At: | Woodinvile Spoke & Ski | | Strengths: | [1999 SVActive 120 Frame] Awesome standover clearance. Nearly zero maintenace. Wide, dual-cartrige bearing single-pivot design has yet to develop play or creak. Good trail feel and "cockpit" geometry. Plus, nothing looks nearly as cool! | | Weaknesses: | Disk-ready swingarm was designed around CODA brakeset, the caliper mounts are 3mm too far outboard for my XT setup and I'm running far too many shims to compensate. Some ankle-clearance issues on the vertical "seat boom" supports. | | Similar Products Used: | Earlier-model KillerV900 (hardtail). | | Bike Setup: | Finally have upgraded to full XT groupo - including the 4-cylinder hydralic disks (love the lever feel!), MAVIC F219Disk rims on Hope hubs... and 8 speed cassette/RapidFire (far more durable & reliable than the 9spd crap!), HeadShok Fatty 80 fork (wishing for a Lefty) and TruVativ cranks. Very sano. ;-) | | Bottom Line: | This isn't the lightest frameset, nor am I running the lightest build. The bike is a bit hefty at 29lbs... but that's a lot to do with parts. As you can see from my parts selection and "strengths" section I really appreciate the durabilty, quality construction & attention to detail C-Dale put into this long-lived design. The pressed-in headset bearings & sano design leave me with a 5-year old bike that I'd still choose over anything on the market today! Climbs with no complaints and has stable handling without a free-ride influenced feel to it. Love it! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Paul
a Weekend Warrior
from The Netherlands
Date Reviewed: April 15, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | Looks, single pivot construction (low maintainance), comfort! (depending on fork and shock ofcourse) | | Weaknesses: | Front shifting (due to the moving front mech, it rotates around the chainrings)
Fork angle a little steep with the standard 60mm Headshok. Not very light. | | Similar Products Used: | Marin Pine Mountain, Airborne Lancaster, basic alu hardtail. (still own these bikes as well) | | Bike Setup: | 1999 SV 600 (120mm travel at the rear), Marzocchi Pro Coil 105mm, Fox vanilla RC, XT-disc/Mavic 317, XT/Sram shifting. | | Bottom Line: | After 4 years I still like this bike a lot, especially since I upgraded to the Marzocchi and the discs. The longer fork goes well with the frame, a lot better than the 60mm Headshok, which was clearly too short for this bike's geometry.
If you're a racer, forget this bike. If you like a good, comfortable and reliable all around bike, I can recommend the SuperV. (But ride it before you buy one :-) | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kris Allain
a Cross Country Rider
from Louisiana
Date Reviewed: March 5, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Clear Springs | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$600.00 | | Purchased At: | DORBA | | Strengths: | Tough | | Weaknesses: | Coda, headshock | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized, Gary Fisher | | Bike Setup: | 1997 Super V 1000 Active frame built up with full XTR from the beginning. | | Bottom Line: | I bought this bike used. It came with full XTR except for the Race Face Turbine crankset, Bottom Bracket and XY seatpost. I stole this bike practically since it had many other extras like, extra rear shock, spare wheelset with slicks, third set of rims, etc.
I really do like this bike alot. I think the frame is an excellent frame. Personally I wouldn't go with Coda components if you paid me but that is just my opinion.
The headshock was ok too until it froze up on me. I personally had no clue how the headshock functioned when I bought the bike. I used to do all my own work on my Rock Shox and Manitou forks but it was impossible for me to do so with the headshock because of the lack of special tools. I got cought in a bad rain storm on the trails one day and brought the bike home and then washed the mud off. After cleaning I put it in my repair stand and the next morning the headshock was completely frozen. I brought it into the only cannondale dealer in the state and they quoted me at $70 to fix. After a few phone calls from the shop and a couple of days time, the bill magically escalated to $299.97 to fix!! I told them they could shove the headshock up their ass and I then purchased the 2003 Manitou Black 1 1/8" conventional fork. The only problem is the 1 1/2" Cannondale headtube but I took care of that with the Cane Creek Double XC headset. Great move and worth the $75. I got a brand new 100-120mm fully adjustable fork and sealed cartridge bearing headset for alot less than it costs to fix the headshock. Best move I ever made. Now I am practically a light DH bike but still XC race weight. SWEET! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jegg Tolf
a Weekend Warrior
from Denton
Date Reviewed: November 29, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Cedar Hill | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$1100.00 | | Purchased At: | Sun and Ski | | Strengths: | Tuff as hell frame. Rear suspension tough as nails. Super-cool looking bike for its day. V-frame design easy to ditch if need to get away from bike during nasty spills. | | Weaknesses: | Well, for the money back then...not many. It's a little heavy by todays' standards. | | Similar Products Used: | 90 Nishiki, 94 Mongoose, 89 Alpine, 03 Giant NRS Air | | Bike Setup: | Ultimately, Marzocchi MCR QR20, Easton Risers, doublewide Sun rim in the back, STX/LX/XT | | Bottom Line: | This is a review-eulogy to me dearly beloved 1997 SV500. I stripped her for what I could to build my new NRS frame. There's nothing left but a frame and a shock of this once mighty beast. Rub her the wrong way and she'd let you know - rub her the right way and float over nasty root-infested uphill switchbacks.
Back then it was that or the Trek "y" frame for about the same cost. Went with this one because she was suppossed to have less bob and the Trek sales monkey pissed me off. It ended up having a good amount of bob unless I tightened the external spring way, way down but it was an XL frame carrying a 225 lbs rider.
Every component except the bottom bracket, cranks, chainrings, seatpost, rear derailur and rear shock had to be replaced once or twice.
The bullet proof rear Rock Shox vanilla (simple pneumatic w/external spring) and the solid frame can be one hell of a fun bike with a properly working fork. Mostly used for old-guy single track cross country and some moderate urban hucking. Handling is, now that I have a wider perspective, quick on one hand but cumbersome on the other. Good balance while slow but really pushed into turns to the extent I had to slow way down. Horrible race bike -awsome play bike.
Thanks for bringing me back into mountain biking after several bad rides on cheap steel bikes with zero suspension sub LX components, one day I hope I can revive her. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Joel O
a Cross Country Rider
from San Luis Obispo
Date Reviewed: November 27, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Morning Glory | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$1700.00 | | Purchased At: | Bike World | | Strengths: | Well made frames as everyone else notes. The strong single pivot design has also held up well over the years. Looked cool as hell back in 1997. | | Weaknesses: | Short top tube. Even the large frame was a bit small for me at (6'1"). Steep head angle. Short and soft travel front fork (DD 60). Expensive to upgrade to a modern shock because of the need for a reducer headset. Have to finda a Cannondale mechanic with the right tools just to get simple jobs done on it. | | Similar Products Used: | When I bought this in 1997 I compared it to a Specialized FS that had a McPhearson strut rear suspension. Forgot the name. This was clearly superior. | | Bike Setup: | Inverted the stem, added wide riser bars, and Mutanoraptors. New V-brakes with WTB hard/soft compound pads. Rebuilt front fork with heavy MCU and oil. Otherwise mostly stock. | | Bottom Line: | This is still a valid frame to build up for a full suspension bike on the cheap. Pay attention to two things if you are thinking about it:
1) The rear suspension varies in travel between years. Mine is a Super V Active 80. But they also made Active 100 and Active 120. Obviously, getting the 100 or 120 is a much better start to a build.
2) These bikes scream for a longer travel fork. The HeadShock was sweet in 1997, but it doesn't have enough travel now. Even the 80mm ones are too little. Replacing the Headshock with a 1 1/8 fork requires a headset reducer. The best way to do this is with a Cane Creek Double Xc reducer headset. This is a sweet setup but adds $100 to the cost. If you are looking at one of these bikes or frames used, calculate this into your decision.
Because of its quick geometery this bike is better for East Coast or Midwest riding. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Un Chuchas Molestina
a Downhiller
from quito,pichincha,ecuador
Date Reviewed: June 20, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Muerto 2 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$1000.00 | | Purchased At: | 1200 | | Strengths: | Very stiff, looks very agresive, very strong, hand made in usa | | Weaknesses: | only 4 in of rear travel, when upgraded to a dcrown suspension (other than headshock) does not turn too much | | Similar Products Used: | trek vrx 400
| | Bike Setup: | 99 navy blue frame, chain guide, rock shox judy xl dc. fat mamut rims, maxxis 2.35 tires. the fender, azonic handle bar | | Bottom Line: | exelent bike for free riding and 4x. needs more rear travel for dh. made to last. has a great style. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Christoph Zimmer
a Weekend Warrior
from Duesseldorf, Germany
Date Reviewed: June 14, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Willingen | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$600.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay (used) | | Strengths: | - the name
- the look (FAT tubes)
- stiffness
- the bearings of the swing-arm
- the weight
- the super fatty (i got with the frame!)
- the solid paint | | Weaknesses: | - limitation to chainrings with 44T/46T
- most copied frame - lots of cheap bikes that wanna look like a super v (but will never reach or be one!!!!)
- limitation of the tire-wide at the rear ( up to24x2.35 )
- limitation of the seatpost-adjustment-range | | Similar Products Used: | it's my first heavy-duty-fully | | Bike Setup: | 24" wheels with gazza 3.0 (front) - magura julie - noleen rearshock (gives you 150mm travel) - and so on | | Bottom Line: | the super V is the most flexible frame-kit i know. you can built a cc-race-bike or a freerider/dirtjumper.
i don't understand why so many companys are so proud of their stiff bikes with oversized tubes. cannondale offers since years a solution for all your problems.
you can upgrade the rear-suspension by putting a rearshock with a longer travel on the frame (i took a noleen-shock with about 50mm and the supspension of 150mm!!!). the frame is f**king stiff.
you will brake and crush any other part on your bike before the super v is cracking up. it's built to survive.
the quality of the paint is superb (but that's cannondale). some people don't like the geometry of the frame and they say that many cheap bikes look like this because it was very often copied.
and the best is the fork. it takes a gazza 3.0 without any problems! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
J. STEEL
a Cross Country Rider
from SHEFFIELD,ENGLAND
Date Reviewed: May 24, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | THE DARK PEAK | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$1400.00 | | Purchased At: | OLD LANGSET CYCLES,SHEFFIELD | | Strengths: | BIG AND CHUNKY FRAME,SOLID REAR TRIANGLE,ALL AROUND HEAD TURNER DESPITE NOT BEING A NEW BIKE (SOME THINGS WILL NEVER GO OUT OF FASHION)
ITS EVEN BEEN RUN OVER BY A CAR WHICH ONLY RESULTED IN A BROKE (REPLACABLE) REAR MECH HANGER ! | | Weaknesses: | FRONT FORK IS LOWER SPEC THAN IT NEEDS (BASIC ROCK SHOCK)OH YES THOSE CODA BITS THAT BROKE OR WORE OUT AFTER A FEW MONTHS THAT I HAD TO REPLACE | | Similar Products Used: | I TRIED SCHWIN SCOTT MARIN ECT BUT "SETTLED" FOR THE CANNON | | Bike Setup: | MOSTLY XT,STI V'S,TOP MAVICS FRONT AND REAR,NOTHIN TOO OUT OF THE ORDINARY | | Bottom Line: | ALTHOUGH HEAVIER THAN ALL MY MATES XC BIKES ITS IN A WORLD OF ITS OWN,
THE STEARING IS SUPERB,THE REAR VANILA IS AS PLUSH AS IS NEAR TO PERFECTION,I CAN ACTUALY STAY ON THIS BIKE ON THE DESENTS,UNLIKE ANY OTHER IVE TRIED(WHICH FOR ME IS QUITE SOME THING!)OVER ALL I LOVE THIS BIKE,IF I COULD ,ID SLEEP WITH IT (WELL MAYBE) | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Stefan Lüdtke
a Cross Country Rider
from Regensburg
Date Reviewed: May 5, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Bavarian Alps | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$3500.00 | | Strengths: | Very good Frame, strenght light only 10,5 kg off weight | | Similar Products Used: | Cannondale R1000 with complete Dura Ace and Ritchey Parts
and Mavics Ksyrium | | Bike Setup: | Ultra Fatty DL, Fox Float RC Tune Wheels Tune Stem XTR complete Tune Seatpost Schmolke Carbon Riser Tune Barends | | Bottom Line: | The best Bike i have erer Ride !!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Robert Fish
a
from Simi Valley, Ca
Date Reviewed: April 9, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Mammoth | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$1500.00 | | Purchased At: | Simi Cycling Center | | Strengths: | Top design and engineering. Built to last. Made in U.S.A. Great looks. Flex free. Excellent craftsmanship. Did I mention BUILT TO LAST? | | Weaknesses: | No longer in production. | | Similar Products Used: | A lot of other bikes. | | Bike Setup: | '98 Super V frame, Bomber Z1 fork, XT/LX (9 spd), Truvativ Holzfeller cranks, Race Face ISIS BB, Shimano Mech. disk front/LX V-brake rear, Answer Pro Taper bars, Avid levers, Titec seat post, Tioga DH seat, Shimano clipless pedals, Deore diskhubs/ Sun Rynolite wheels | | Bottom Line: | The only thing original is the frame. This bike has lasted me almost six years, with over 5000 miles logged. This from a 220 LB fat boy rider. The bike has been upgraded to account for changes in rider skill and technology advances. I foresee riding this bike for many years to come. Gotta say I got my moneys worth. Proud to say made in USA. If something were to happen to my beloved Super V, I would most likely replace it with another C-dale (5" Jekyll). Superior workmanship and design. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Unka Jesse
a Cross Country Rider
from Macon, GA
Date Reviewed: August 7, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Tsali, NC | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$1100.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Wild looks, great DH traction, reasonably light weight, durability, and that wonderfully flawless Cannondale attention to detail and finish. | | Weaknesses: | Standard Headshok cartridge sucks root! Get the Fatty Air Cartridge and rock on!! | | Similar Products Used: | '95 Super-V (wife's bike), '94 Super-V (friend's bike), Trek 8000, Cannondale F400, Specialized FSR | | Bike Setup: | '99 Super-V 500 with Super Fatty M forks & 80mm Air Cartridge - Fox Vanilla coil-over rear shock; XT fd, rd, cassette & disc hubs; XTR brake levers & Avid Ball Bearing mechanical discs; Mavic X317 disc-specific rims running Pannaracer Fire XC Pro's; RaceFace Prodigy XC crankset, ISIS-splined bb, AirAlloy flat bar with Good & Evil grips; Shimano 959 pedals; Titec Micros barends; Quality Teflon sealed cabling; Thompson Elite seatpost with Selle Italia Prolink Gel saddle; Cateye Altimeter computer. whew!! The only Coda stuff left are the shifters & the stem. | | Bottom Line: | My experience with this bike is typical of what I hear from all Cannodale owners. The frames are an exercise in pefection, but the components suck. Cannondale's recent trend away from the in-house Coda stuff is a wise one. I'm liking my bike even more after an extensive rebuild with virtually all new components.
When I got this bike the LBS didn't tell me that I was too heavy (240lbs) for the standard spring and elastomer Headshok setup. I tried the "firm ride kit", but still bottomed the fork occasionally. The Fatty air Cartridge solved all my problems, plus gave me lock-out capability. Get one if you don't already have it.
As far as weight goes, yes, you do pay a weight penalty, but it's small. In fact, I'd say my bike weighs as much as my buddy's F400. Not bad for a bike that firmly straddles the line between dh and xc. Put a Moto fork on this thing and go big, set it up for xc and go light -- your choice. I don't experience any power loss on climbs b/c of the rear suspension, and the relatively light weight gets this bike to the top without too much effort.
Weight weenies look out on the downhills!!! (On your right!!!) This bike lives to descend. With the center of gravity low on the swing arm, it tracks like a dream downhill, with that 4 inch or whatever travel taking the hits for you in the back. The Headshok lets you pick the path you want to ride. Pure Nirvana on two wheels!
If I were buying a bike today, of course, I'd get one with discs. When I bought this bike, discs were still quite expensive, so I rode the V's for three years, until my recent rebuild, I made the jump to discs. Schweet!! Of course, it's pricey, but if you're already buying new wheels, there's just no excuse not to do it.
Shame on Cannondale for discontinuing the Super-V!! The Scalpel is like riding a hard tail. With 1 1/2 inches of travel, I'd save the weight and just get a hardtail -- why bother? The Jekyl's got 3 1/2 or something like that with no appreciable weight advantage over the V frame. And while I like the performance of the Lefty, I also like using my fork mount rack and being able to choose my components and get away from the POS Coda stuff.
I'm keeping my antique. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Darrell
a Cross Country Rider
from Cartersville, GA
Date Reviewed: December 17, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Tsali | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | -great tracking (with Headshok)
-very reliable | | Weaknesses: | -short top tube
-limited travel on rear shock | | Similar Products Used: | -Cannondale Killer V-HT
-Cannondale M400 | | Bike Setup: | '96 SVA frame w/ Y2K model Super Fatty, Race Face cranks, Paul brakes, all other components XT | | Bottom Line: | I've had this frame for a number of years and it has seen many upgrade--it's such a sweet ride that I just can't seem to part with it (although I frquently lust after some of the current zoot-capri FS designs). The C'Dale is a dependable, low-maint. ride, fairly lightweight (mine is 26lbs. with decent quality-mostly XT-)parts, and perfect for tight east coast single track. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
m d
a Weekend Warrior
from CA, USA
Date Reviewed: April 25, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Limeridge | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$1000.00 | | Strengths: | Great free-ride bike. Very Strong. A lot of stand over height. Quality work. | | Weaknesses: | Rear travel is not enough. The head shok that came with the bike does not have enough travel, only 80mm. I way about 130 punds and I kept bottoming out. | | Similar Products Used: | C'Dale DH fulcrum, C'Dale killer V | | Bike Setup: | MRP chain guide; Shimano XT 6" hydraulic discs(f&r); XT: hubs, rear derailleur; Sun ringle Rhyno lite TCB rims wrapped with IRC Kujo 2.35's; White Bros FR-3 triple crown fork with White Bros 0 degree stem and White Bros Titanium riser bar. | | Bottom Line: | Great frame for minor DH riding, great for free riding. I recommend it to anyone wanting to explore the different worlds of mountain biking. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
george gengler
a Weekend Warrior
from luxemburg / europe
Date Reviewed: January 20, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | radical design
beautiful weldings
frame is pretty flex free
frame equiped with fox vanilla coil over schock, the best rear shock i´ve ever ridden
| | Weaknesses: | frame weight
the use of another fork than a headshock fork requires the use of an intermediate piece in order not to change the frame geometry. the paint of the frame is rather weak, and it is agressed by the riders sweat (yes i sweat a lot) | | Similar Products Used: | Trek Y22 | | Bike Setup: | marzocchi Z1 fork
fox vanilla coil over schock
magura gustav m disc brakes
drivetrain and derailleurs : shimano LX / XT mix
mavic rims | | Bottom Line: | i like this bike. it´s weight is rather high, an steep uphills can become torture, but once you´re getting down the hill you´ve forgotten all your pain. the fox vanilla performs great an can easily be adapted to every rider´s weight and riding style. after two years of heavy use, my frame has cracked and cannondale will replace it without any costs. that´s great service! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
David Harrison
a Cross Country Rider
from Las vegas, NV
Date Reviewed: September 29, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Dark Hollow, Brianhead Utah | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$800.00 | | Purchased At: | Ski Chalet | | Strengths: | Great design, killer looks, flex free. | | Weaknesses: | Trapped by the headshok limitations. | | Similar Products Used: | Cannondale M400(newbie), Cannondale F700(cracked it, got the Super V frame) | | Bike Setup: | Fox Alps 5 Rear shock, Super Fatty SL 80mm Front shok, Hugi hubs, Velocity Deep V wheels, Thompson seatpost, Race Face cranks, World Class Ti bottom bracket, XTR V Brakes, Avid ultimate L levers, Grip shift 8.0 attack shifters, ONZA bar-ends, Answer hyperlite bar, blah blah blah..... | | Bottom Line: | This bike rocks. On downhills, I have chased down riders who could out descend me when I was on a hard tail. No squeaks or rattles. Except the occasional hollow "tink" when a rock hits the massive down tube. After upgrading to the Super Fatty SL (80mm travel vs. the DD 50mm of travel) I again found love in this bike. It climbs almost as well as the F700 and descends twice as fast. I can not say anything bad about this frame. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Cris
a Weekend Warrior
from Tucson
Date Reviewed: September 22, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | I absolutely love this frame. It has plenty of room, and being a 200+ rider it handles the weight very well. The bike does well for either downhills or cross country. | | Weaknesses: | Just wish I could get more than 4 inches out of the rear | | Similar Products Used: | Specilized S-Works
Trek 800 | | Bike Setup: | All XTR Baby, RST front shock(soon to be upgrading), Race Face Stem and Seatpost, Titec handlebars and bar ends. | | Bottom Line: | Great frame I love Cannondale!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Xman
a Racer
from Ljubljana, SLOVENIA, EUROPE
Date Reviewed: August 10, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | No fussy suspension links
Killer looks
Great quality
| | Weaknesses: | A bit heavy
Headset cups | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized FSR
Sintesi Bazooka | | Bike Setup: | XT, Race Face cranks, Fox vanilla RX rear shock,
Bombers Z1, Formula discs,Azonic stem, Pro taper bars, Ringle pedals, Tioga seat & tires.
| | Bottom Line: | I ride this bike for a while now and even though the design is a bit old, it's still a head turner. Since I don't have money for two bikes, I use it for dual racing&jumping through the summer and some Freeriding in winter. I had no problems with swingarm bearings in fact, the only problem was loose headset cup which was my fault anyway (falsely installed headset. I think the bike is still on par with some of the newer frame designs and if you are not to much of a lightweight freak, this frame will serve you for a long time. I give 4 chillis for value rating because the price is a bit too steep and for the stupid headset cups. 5 chillis for owerall rating. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
KEV KEEGAN ;o)
a
from LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND
Date Reviewed: July 5, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Quality frame, work of art, a real head turner :o) | | Weaknesses: | A little heavy | | Bike Setup: | Super v SL, Viper red, yellow decals. Headshok super fatty D, XT rear mech, Race face BB, Magura HS33(tomac)ETC | | Bottom Line: | I love this frame. I got this as a replacement for my 700sl rigid that was damaged in the shop so I was a little nervous about goin' full suspension.It was well worth it! It's plush with the vanilla rear shock, dead comfy and turns heads everywhere I go. The frame is an absolute work of art and I feel good riding it. It fills me with confidence as it is bomb proof!
>Kev ;oD | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Nue
a Cross Country Rider
from Minnesota
Date Reviewed: May 9, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | Stiffness and handling | | Weaknesses: | three inche of travel is just not enough | | Similar Products Used: | bianchi ibex, specialized fsr | | Bottom Line: | This is a great frame. i got it after i cracked my first c-dale m500 frame from 5 yrs of hard riding. This is a very stiff and durable frame. if it had more travel, i would not hesitate to take it down some professional level downhills. The top tube length is on the short side and moving from a hardtail was kinda hard at first, but after owning it for close to 5yrs, it still rides awsome and tackles the twisty singletracks with ease. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tom Fletcher
a Downhiller
from England
Date Reviewed: May 3, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Moo moo land | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Damn fine frame, strong and light. The rear shock is quality too (Fox vanilla r) Very good for the price (£450)
| | Weaknesses: | The rear suspension could do with more travel, but this is upgradable with a longer shock. | | Similar Products Used: | Gt LTS 3000ds, which sucked! It kept breaking! | | Bike Setup: | Sid xl, lx and deore components, azonic, kore etc,.. | | Bottom Line: | Damn good bike. Which rules for general riding, but may not be strong enough/ hardcore enough for serious abuse. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Thomas Mathis
a Weekend Warrior
from Alexandria, VA
Date Reviewed: September 29, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Shaffer Farms, Ma | | Duration Product Used: |
1 Year | | Strengths: |
Relatively Light, Easy Maintenance, and Climbs Great! | | Weaknesses: |
Limited Travel for a dually, can't easily switch out front suspension, and tight cockpit. | | Similar Products Used: |
Cannodale Delta V
Cannodale M500
Giant Sedona
Specialized FSR
K2 3000
Klein Mantra | | Bike Setup: |
Fatty D (80mm) then Girvin. Headshocks are great due to low maintenance, but when it requires maintenance it is a pain in the arse unless you are a C-dale trained mechanic. I hated the CODA crud!!! I ended up replacing everything put the cranks! | | Bottom Line: | Great bike for the XC enthusiast. If you are over 6 feet the Large is barely large enough. This bikes is really great on tight single track and bombing on moderate hills. It also is an excellent climber with minimal bobbing depending on how you set up the rear shock. In general, if you are a Weekend Warrior, who wants a dually that can ride anywhere, this is the bike for you. If you like catching air, drop-offs, super-fast descents, and weigh over 180lbs, look for a free ride bike cause I started loosing my confidence on this machine once my riding style got a bit more aggressive. I really loved this ride, but I had to upgrade on an Uzzi SL...just had to do it!!! | | Overall Rating: |
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