CO2: Cannondale Oversized and Optimized design. These hardtails are a starting point for appreciation. When a rider experiences the lightweight, efficient ride quality and beautiful craftsmanship of a Cannondale frame - there's no turning back!
Submitted by
msc8116
a Weekend Warrior
from NE, FL, USA Date Reviewed: July 24, 2009
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$899.00
Purchased At:
World Famous City Cy
Strengths:
Components and frame quality, even though it's not made in the USA, it feels good to me.
Weaknesses:
Not sold on the Avid Juicy 3 brakes, they're decent I guess.
Similar Products Used:
Cannondale F400
Bike Setup:
This is a 2009 International Model, it has the CO2 SL Frame, Rockshox Tora SL, Hutchinson Toro, 26x2.15", Mavic 317DISC Rims, Avid Juicy 3 Disc Brakes, Sram X-5 Shifters, Truvativ Firex Crankset, Sram X-9 Rear Derailer, Shimano Deore Front Derailer, Cannondale C3 Handlebars, Nisene Fizik Saddle.
Bottom Line:
Good bike for what I need. I was a little disappointed in the frame not being made in the USA like my F400 was, but the frame quality is still very good for the price. It looks like Cannondale has good QC over seas also. As far as the brakes, they may just need to be adjusted, this is my first set of disc brakes, so I'm still learning.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
mroman
a Weekend Warrior
from Brampton Date Reviewed: May 25, 2009
extremely minor - chain guard like a "lizard skin" would be great bonus
Bike Setup:
out of box - no changes made
Bottom Line:
I came from a bike I had put together - with Shimano Deore, LX and XT parts. The brakes were XT parallel push, suspension was merz. 80 mm racing. Shifters were shimano lx thumb shifters.
When I got his bike for my birthday and started on the trails and it was like an old friend with the confidence level and the feel of sport car with agility of the bike. In sharp corners it was simply amazing from what I was used too. I had a 8hr relay race this past weekend and it was then i saw the ability of the bike come out. It was simply the best bike i have had.
Congrats on Cannondale for putting out a great product!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
sicktj
a Cross Country Rider
from Chambersburg, PA, USA Date Reviewed: April 9, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Turtle Rock
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$900.00
Purchased At:
World Cup Ski and Cy
Strengths:
Great all around, firm feel. Nice design as far as front single staunchion and geometry.
Weaknesses:
stock tires suck, 4 flats total in 2 rides. Don't know the cause, maybe hard riding. Recommend better tires.
Similar Products Used:
K2
Bottom Line:
awesome, maybe get some bar ends for xc races. best bike i've had. If you are starting out racing, go for this bike, it will finish the race without breaking and will be the easiest to maneuver with for your race. Make sure you get some awesome tires tho, you don't want a flat.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mike
a Weekend Warrior
from Flemington, NJ Date Reviewed: February 9, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Ringwood
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$689.00
Purchased At:
Tailwind Bikes
Strengths:
Frame, Headshok, closeout price
Weaknesses:
None so far
Similar Products Used:
GT Pantera, GT RTS-1, Klein Mantra, Schwinn FS (model?), Santa Cruz Superlight, Santa Cruz Heckler...
Bike Setup:
Stock with Avid Mechanical brakes, Chris King frotn disc wheel, Shimano platform SPDs and WTB Weirwolf 2.5 tires (yes, 2.5s fit with room to spare)
Bottom Line:
I bought this bike on closeout and am super pleased with the parts spec and rigidity of the bike. Headshok is great - as is the lockout feature. The RAW finish is simply sex on wheels. I haven't even customized this bike to the degree I have with all my others but I think this might be the best bike I've ever owned right out of the box. Simply awesome - I should've bought a Cannondale as my first bike!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
caponem3425
a Cross Country Rider
from Jefferson, NY Date Reviewed: August 11, 2008
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$825.00
Purchased At:
Bike Works, Johnstow
Strengths:
The head shock is very good, hydrualic disc brakes, lightweight frame, shifts great.
Weaknesses:
the front brake rubbed a little bit but just needed an adjustment. seat is a little uncomfortable. The pedals were plastic and broke them in the first couple of weeks.
Similar Products Used:
Timberland GT, diamond back
Bike Setup:
Stock
Bottom Line:
The bike is great. Haven't had any big problems just the pedals (pedals were covered on warranty) and some adjustments. The bike is smooth, rides great, brakes work good. Comes with quatlity parts for a good price.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Daddywho
a Weekend Warrior
from Sydney,Australia Date Reviewed: July 27, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Homebush Road Ride
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1400.00
Purchased At:
Inner City Cycles,Gl
Strengths:
The frame is a lot lighter than my previous Cannondale M400 rigid which was 'state of the art',twenty years ago. The mono shock suspension is great, the Shimano hydraulic disks work really well and the bikes road and trail speeds are fast!
Weaknesses:
The standard offering has a couple of areas Cannondale will need to look at.
1.The tires that come with the bike are too light weight and are prone to puncturing. I ride 65psi road, 40psi bush. The side walls are very thin and any bit of road debris will penetrate the tire and boom!
2.I have had my F4 for three months now and have clocked up over 1500kms. The bike had it's first service this week and I had to replace front and rear disc pads and I had a big problem with a bottom bracket bearing.The Shimano pads are absolute crap, they went hard in less than 1500km and were replaced under warranty. I will replace the pads with Ricthley pads next service.The bottom bracket just worked it self loose and was retightened in the service.
Similar Products Used:
Kona Xtreme full suspension downhiller which I managed to crash at high speed and broke a knee cap!
Bike Setup:
Standard out of the box frame set,seat,tires,Shimano hydraulics and SRAM shifters..
Bottom Line:
My old Cannondale M400 had the first oversize frame set,using 6000 series aluminium tubing. I did over 100,000km on the old frame and couldn't break it! I hope the thief who stole it has the same joy!The F4 is a different frame geometry,with tapering tube ends and a different slope on the top tube. My old frame was 'large', my new frame 'medium'.The bike has vey fast road speed, I have got up 57KPH in sprints and normal rolling speed is good.In some reviews, riders have an issue with the seat, I don't.I find the front end is too light,in any technical hill climbs, the front end will come up pretty quick..As I mentioned earlier, I will change the the disk pads next service and will probably replace the tires with some brand that is a bit more robust in the side walls.
The F4 is a very comfortable bike to ride off and on road. I find it bit squirrely off road, but I have only the beast three months so it is something I will get used too.It is a head turner where ever you go! I'm running Shimano SPD's on the crankset and the Patriot Blue colour is great. I would recommend this frame set to any one who is looking for a good medium entry point mountain bike,which is priced well and is value for money,even in my country, Australia. After all, it's a Cannondale, what can I say!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
lovemonkeybmx
a Racer
from Plano, TX., USA Date Reviewed: July 8, 2008
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$950.00
Purchased At:
Plano Cycle and fitn
Strengths:
Good value for the price being asked for the bike. It comes with a good head shock, hydraulic disk brakes for precise control over the stopping power with little effort in pulling on the brake lever . The frame geometry is just fantastic.
Weaknesses:
The seat is a bit uncomfortable. My first time out on the trail I got a front flat tire. I am not sure if it was a pinch flat or is something actually penetrated the tire because it was so close to the sidewall. On that same time out on the trail the back tire must have caught a root or rock because it now has plenty of thread showing accompanied with a pretty large bubble on the side wall. Needless to say I am not impressed with the tires that come stock on this bike.
Similar Products Used:
Speciliazed Hadrock
Bike Setup:
All stock so far. New tires are next on my list of upgrades.
Bottom Line:
I am pretty satisfied with the bike. The frame has all the right angles. The head shock feels great on and off a rough trail. The brakes are outstanding. The shifters and derailleur’s are decent quality. The only downfall of this bike is the tires in my opinion.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Sean Utz
a Downhiller
from Lakeland,FL Date Reviewed: April 2, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Carter Road
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$800.00
Purchased At:
Bents Cycle and Fitness
Strengths:
Looks awesome, handles great, feels like an extension of my body
Weaknesses:
Saddle (feels like...well we wont go there, lets just say it hurts after awhile...)
Similar Products Used:
Run of the mill dept store bikes
Bike Setup:
Stock Cannondale F4 CO2
Bottom Line:
This bike is the best bikwe Ive ever owned. Im in lvoe with it! Ive only had it for a week or so but still Ive already put atleast 15 miles on it. I love this thing! The handleing is choice, it goes were I think it should go, it soaks up most of the bumps while being more or less stiff at the same time. I need to get a new front brake, the guys at the shop said that there was something wrong with it and that they would fix it pro bono so once thats fixed I think the only thing I would change would be the saddle, cause did I mention, it hurts a little...
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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