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Submitted by
jonathan
a
from new york, ny, united stated
Date Reviewed: November 15, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Purchased At: | $1,000 | | Strengths: | light stiff frame, stiff fork with great turning. great geometry for a bmx back ground. | | Similar Products Used: | schwinn homegrown, cannondale F1000, | | Bike Setup: | furio frame, lefty jake, haze nine, monkey light carbon bars, xt rear, lx front, lx shifters. | | Bottom Line: | i love my byke. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
james fedosov
a Racer
from st kitts, canada
Date Reviewed: September 8, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | too many to list | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$2000.00 | | Purchased At: | liberty! bike | | Strengths: | lefty fork when pumped up to correct body weight psi ( i am 6 feet and 155 pouned although i am only 13) and 145 psi works great. the xt rear deraileur is fannnntastic! and so is the lx front, and the brakes ar e good too after breaking them in (about 200 miles and 130 complete stops) the lefty cleans well also. | | Weaknesses: | if not at the right psi the lefty bottoms out easily, but is easily fixed. | | Similar Products Used: | fisher paragon, specialized epic, kona kula deluxe, stumpjumper fsr, scalpel 600, f100, stumpjumper, jeep tsi, giant rainier, and f2000 | | Bike Setup: | all stock | | Bottom Line: | this is for the 2006 f800. this bike is great for xc, and is supa fast :D! | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
kurt
a Weekend Warrior
from brooklyn ny usa
Date Reviewed: August 5, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | blue mountain | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | 1400, Mr C's in Bklyn | | Strengths: | Very light, agile and strong frame, hayes brakes rock, xt comps always good. Lefty is holding out and saves time on tire changes. I am 6 feet and 220 and ride a medium frame and like to elave the ground, so far so good. | | Weaknesses: | Hub bearings sound like poop spinning in a pin balll machine after only a few hundred miles max. Cdale accesories are kinda crappy. | | Similar Products Used: | cdale, diamond back, marin | | Bike Setup: | xt rear, hayes brakes, deor up front, cdale everywhere else. Stock. | | Bottom Line: | It rips up hills and takes air well. Light enough to carry on your back if you have to. So far so good. one major tune up and its like new. cdale makes a mean bike and Mr C seems to know how to take care of his customers. I do worry about blowing the fork and the hubs must be replaced soon, but I've trashed hubs on all my rides, unless they are xt or better they wear. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bjorn Krauer
a Weekend Warrior
from Southfields, London, UK
Date Reviewed: May 4, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Ockley Coldharbour loop | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$1900.00 | | Purchased At: | Evans Cycles Waterloo | | Strengths: | Nimble Handling, light weight | | Weaknesses: | Cannondale Products,
Cannondale Customer Support,
Evans Cycles Customer Care | | Similar Products Used: | Spec. Hardrock Pro, Spec. Stumpjumper, Cannondale F1000SL | | Bike Setup: | Mavic Crossmax SL, Flite Carbon Saddle, FSA Carbon bars, Race Face XY Seatpost, Time Atac Carbon pedals, SRAM X0, xt hollowtech II | | Bottom Line: | Bought the bike in August 2004. Love the handling, love the way it rides, when it is all working right. The original spring was too soft for my 225Pounds, so replaced with a heavy weight spring and 3 x red stiffener preload shims. The Fork Seals burst 3 months later. Evans took 2 months to replace them. The seals burst again. Gave the bike in, it took 3 months to replace. This time, the whole fork was replaced as the disc brake mounts had collapsed too. I got the bike back in November, and was on holiday till February. The first thing I noticed was that the fork was really soft. I asked the guys at Evans why and we discovered that the heavy weight spring and preload shims had never been replaced. I asked for this to happen and was told I would have to order new ones as the old ones had been lost in the workshop and it wasn't covered by workshop insurance, before I could order a new set, I again noticed oil running down my fork leg. So far I
have been on three rides, around our local park, where the guys ride the "offroad" sections on stock road bikes, so its hardly heavy going. I went back to Evans and was told its because i am TOO FAT. When I complained to Cannondale, they said the Evans salesman was their customer contact and they supported his decision, they also said I should buy a new fork. Problem is that I refuse to pay up for a brand new lefty, they could at least offer me an upgrade price. But apparently this is not Cannondale's policy.
So My advice to anyone wanting to buy a bike is DO NOT buy a Cannondale, especially not the lefty equipped ones. They look cool, ride well but WILL give you a headache. And do not support big brand name bike shops, find a good Local Bike Shop and enjoy and appreciate their personal service and advice. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bryan Chesser
a Cross Country Rider
from Aurora
Date Reviewed: April 15, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Apex | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$1500.00 | | Purchased At: | Treads Bicycle Outfitters | | Strengths: | Very well balanced,light and nimbel chassis. Excellent stopping power of Hayes brakes. The Lefty Jake's performance and ability to be adjusted while riding. | | Weaknesses: | Just as most everyone else has indicated, the bottom bracket is junk. The Truvative crankset isn't very stiff and durable either. Maybe it's just the dry climate I live in, but the Lefty Jack fork does have tend to blow seals at least once a year. Last, but not least, the rear hub...of course. | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized mtn. bikes | | Bike Setup: | Full SRAM X9 shifter and durailer setup, Mavic 321 rear rim w/Hope XC hub, Shamano LX crankset w/external bearings | | Bottom Line: | Like all mtn. bikes in this price range your not going to find something that doesn't need some upgrading if you ride very often and/or very hard. Considering the price, I believe it's an outstanding machine that has a lot going for it over all of the full suspension bikes around this price. After replacing a few key components, I've got something I will continue to ride indefinitely. I like it that much. I can't see any reason to ever go to full suspension. Too much added cost and maitenence for little or no gain for my type of riding. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
StigErik
a Cross Country Rider
from Oslo Norway
Date Reviewed: March 1, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | Excellent frame and fork, sensible setup and a great starting point for building a great bike. | | Weaknesses: | It's true what they say, the cannondale parts are not very good. Also, the Magura Clara brakes that came on my bike have caused me endless grief and innumberable trips to the shop. Fortunately, Magura has a five year warranty... | | Bike Setup: | Shimano XT w/RaceFace Next LP crank, Tune seatpost, Tune Speedneedle Seat, Tune rear wheel, CrankBros pedals, Formula Oro brakes, Easton Monkeylite bar, NoTubes | | Bottom Line: | Excellent frame and fork, the kind that makes you want to tattoo the Cannondale logo on your calf when you get back from the woods. The bike is balanced, light and nimble, and the fork is truly excellent. Doesn't hurt that it still raises eyebrows :-)
The F800 is a great starting point for a superb bike. I have set it up as a light singletrail bike, and even though I have drooled on various dual suspension bikes, I cannot really convince myself to part with it. To me, it is primarily a cross country/single trail bike - it's ok for marathons too, but it inspires me to search out trails and paths rather than gravel roads. I'm not a freerider, and I doubt that this is the bike I'd choose if that was my preference...
I'll give it 4 chilis for value, since I've had to swap a lot of the components to get the bike I wanted, and 5 chilis overall 'cause the result is excellent. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Peyton
a Weekend Warrior
from Canton, GA
Date Reviewed: October 13, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Blankets Creek | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Frame, Headshok Fatty | | Weaknesses: | Pedals didn't last very long, all cables gum up after a ride with any mud, tires didn't hold up on rocky trails, cranks are starting to make noise after 3 races and a year of moderate use, Deore rear shifter broke. | | Bike Setup: | Stock except for LX shifters and Egg Beater pedals | | Bottom Line: | Very nimble bike, climbs very smoothly, easy to go fast around turns. I've had to make derailleur and brake adjustments between most rides, but it has endured most of the punishment I have thrown at it. It has been the perfect bike for me to start racing and to just ride on the weekend. Buy it if you want a serious bike without spending serious bucks. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andrew
a Weekend Warrior
from Langwarrin, Victoria, Australia
Date Reviewed: June 5, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Lysterfield | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | Bicycle Superstore FTG | | Strengths: | Awesome frame. Brakes are great, front shock great so far. Bike comes in Jumbo size for riders like myself... | | Weaknesses: | Cannondale Components!!! Bottom bracket U/S withing a month. Rear hub rusted and fell apart within the warranty period. Cannondales answer was to supply new bearings to put back in the rusted out casing??? | | Similar Products Used: | Giant | | Bike Setup: | Standard! Except for all the Cannondale components that have fallen to bits. They've all been replaced with XT or similar! | | Bottom Line: | Cannondale's customer service is nothing short of disgraceful! Customers forkout a fist full of dollars to buy what is essentially a great bike, and then receive absolutely no support. You only have to read the reviews posted here to realised that there is a problem with the rear hub and bottom bracket on this model and yet they don't even come to the party when their products fail under warranty. I love Cannondale bikes, but I would never buy another. Their attitude towards us the customer is appalling!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
D McQ
a Cross Country Rider
from Bristol
Date Reviewed: May 27, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | betws-y-coed | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$1200.00 | | Purchased At: | Bonthrone Cycles | | Strengths: | Light weight, fantastic fork and frame, great disk brakes! | | Weaknesses: | Argh: bottom bracket, rear hub! seat post and seat. | | Similar Products Used: | Loads... | | Bike Setup: | Stock. | | Bottom Line: | Bottom bracket is made out of goo.. has fallen apart twice in a year.
Rear hub is mush, been replaced twice in a yer, have resorteb to buying an XT rear wheel which so far is good.
Seat post slips alot, and seat isn't the most comfortable.
Bonthrone bikes are rubbish and absolutely useless, do not touch them even with a very long barge pole.
Cannondale do not reply to any correspondance either!
Don't buy a Cannondale! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
K S
a Racer
from OH
Date Reviewed: February 25, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | West Branch | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1600.00 | | Purchased At: | Eddy's Bike Shop | | Strengths: | Orange flame Paint job is awesome. Hayes brakes are strong for all around braking. Lefty Jake is very responsive and seems to be very durable. It turns heads. Very light and wins races. Climbs like a champ. | | Weaknesses: | At first, as others have said, the lever reach screw will unscrew itself. Causes levers to hit knuckels after a couple hours of ridding.Fixed problem by applying nail polish to screw and putting screw into position i wanted. The rear axle was shot after a few months and came loose priar. Bottom bracket bit the dust along with the rear axel. Thankfully all under warranty. other= jsut normal wear | | Similar Products Used: | treks and cannondales | | Bike Setup: | easton low rise carbon bars and carbon seat post, carbon seatclamp, michelin xls tires.carbon lizard skin kit, stock seat and other components. | | Bottom Line: | Its worth every penny for the quality of the bike. If you ride a bike alot stuff is going to brake no matter how much it costs. Bike perfomrs awesome on the trail and never fails to grab attention. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Alon Tolwin
a Cross Country Rider
from Southfield, MI
Date Reviewed: January 20, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | pontiac rec area | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$1000.00 | | Purchased At: | neighborhood store | | Strengths: | stiff frame, light, find the components to be very resilient and responsive | | Weaknesses: | none so far | | Similar Products Used: | outclasses very thing else i've tried | | Bike Setup: | standard | | Bottom Line: | this bike is a dream, the manual lockout puts you in the saddle of a bike that climbs anything without feeling that your energy is being sqandered. I think Cannondale takes the prize for inovative bikes, affordable and durable. I've been on other bikes, even more expensive but they don't have the overall feel and responsiveness that this bike has | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Derek Jordan
a Cross Country Rider
from Bellingham Wa USA
Date Reviewed: November 25, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Chuckanuts, Galbraith | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | Fairhaven Bike and Mtn Sports | | Strengths: | Light, strong, very quick handling. Beautiful frame and paintwork. Lets you climb like your lycra's on fire. Speeding downhill, with the Lefty and the Hayes, it's incomparable. Excellent racer. | | Weaknesses: | None yet. | | Similar Products Used: | Norco Sasquatch, Kona Caldera, Cannondale F200, F700, F1000 | | Bike Setup: | Received frame only, on warranty. LX cranks, XTR derailleurs, Lefty DRL, EA-70 bars, Giant carbon seatpost, eggbeater pedals, Hayes disc, Mavic rims/XT hub (rear), Michelin S Comp tires--weight: 23.5 lbs. | | Bottom Line: | This is now my favorite ride of all time. A great XC bike that's capable of all sorts of riding. It seems to be a very strong frame, but I have not really tested it's limits in that regard. If you want a great expert class racer, I recommend this. The frame is extremely smooth and very sharply responsive--feels weightless when riding. Combined with the Hayes disc brakes and the Lefty suspension, the handling can't be beat. Others have said this already, but, yes, it flattens the hills. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Michael Landrigan
a Cross Country Rider
from Pocatello, ID, USA
Date Reviewed: November 2, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$1300.00 | | Purchased At: | local shop | | Strengths: | light, good downhill handling | | Weaknesses: | it falls apart | | Similar Products Used: | Gary Fisher, Specialized, Trek, Jamis | | Bike Setup: | XT, Cdale expert hubs and cranks | | Bottom Line: | The Cannondale parts are terrible. The wheels where not built right and spokes keep breaking even though I true them. Worst of all, when I brought it in for minor service on the headshock the dealer messed it up. Now after paying $80 in repairs it leeks tons of oil. Neither the dealer nore Cdale will take responsibility. There's no way I'll buy Cdale again. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dougs
a Weekend Warrior
from Loughborough (UK)/ Dunedin (NZ)
Date Reviewed: August 11, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1500.00 | | Purchased At: | online evans cycles | | Strengths: | Everything! Fantastic brakes, frame, fork,... weight! And, yes the wieght does make a big difference to getting over obstacles. | | Weaknesses: | The groupset (XT) is wearing a little quickly. Of course a fault of all bikes.
Also took me a bit of time to get used to the change in shifter direction. | | Similar Products Used: | ? Diamond back vertec comp and vectra comp, Extreme eclipse, Kona caldera. | | Bike Setup: | Standard | | Bottom Line: | An excellent bike for those who would rather have top end gear and can't afford a decent soft tail (although I'd rather have this bike than a soft tail that costs twice as much).
The frame is great for tallish riders, putting you in a stretched out position (great for the back) without compromising on dynamic ability through single track. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeremy Matte
a Cross Country Rider
from Cold Lake, Alberta, Canada
Date Reviewed: June 15, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1999.00 | | Purchased At: | Revolution Cycle | | Strengths: | -Furio Frame LIGHT !
-Lefty Jake
-Hayes Hydrolique brakes | | Weaknesses: | -rear hub makes weird noise at high speeds donno if its bad yet.
-tires seem to wear quickly | | Bike Setup: | stock exept for XTR rear derailler off my old bike | | Bottom Line: | this is a sweet bike, i was riding full suspension bikes for the past 4 years but this hardtail is smooth. after about 750km my rear hub is starting to make a weird noise like some vibrating is going on , i donno . And one of my brake levers is always needind adjustment for reach. but all in all this is the sweetest bike i have ever owned
by the way 1999.99 is Canadian price NOT US | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
simon cowling
a Cross Country Rider
from Bristol
Date Reviewed: June 8, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | cwmcarn | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$870.00 | | Purchased At: | some guy in aylesbury | | Strengths: | the weight, fizik saddle (many don't like but I can park me behind for hours), the lefty Jake | | Weaknesses: | truvativ gigapipe bottom brakcket worked loose twice, rear hub needs replacing, hayes brake leavers have a tendency to work their way in too far, Weak varnish rubs off where cables rub | | Bike Setup: | factory spec | | Bottom Line: | I did buy this bike as second hand; however it was in a brand new state (go ebay). Even though I did not pay full price for this bike the money that it costs for the bike you get is superb. The weight of this bike makes it fly up hills almost as fast as you can go down them. The lefty Jake although the basic model performs brilliantly with the easy adjustable rebound knob on the top of the strut. I do however have a few dislikes, I like my brake leavers with allot of movement, however the adjusters have a habit of unscrewing and after about 5 days if you brake too heavily you can find yourself changing gear as the lever presses against you quick fire shifter (more fluid should help fix this though). The rear hub has also already bitten the dust and will need replacing, and the truvativ gigapipe has worked loose with no sign as to why. The frame tubing appears extremely bulky and heavy but is actually very light and has allot of flex so if you manage to snap it you have been seriously mistreating your bike. All in all a great purchase. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ken Thomson
a Weekend Warrior
from Flowery Branch, GA
Date Reviewed: April 8, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Tsali, NC | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1340.00 | | Purchased At: | Adventure Cycles, Oakwood, GA | | Strengths: | Frame is great, component set is good, well balanced bike | | Weaknesses: | None so far... | | Similar Products Used: | Upgraded Specialized Hardrock (hardtail) | | Bike Setup: | All Stock, except for Profile stubby bar ends. | | Bottom Line: | With my budget, this bike is supposed to be my dream bike and it is. It feels very responsive and maneuvers well through the technical trails. It rides like an extension of my body.
I guess I do have one warning for prospective buyers. This bike comes with the non-air type Headshok Lefty; in other words, it comes with oil and a spring. You may have an additional purchase of a spring kit ($40) if the front shock-spring doesn't support your body weight. I have found the spring on my 'large' sized frame to be too soft for my body weight. The blue spring kit comes stock on the large frame and supports 150-180 lb rider. I am 6'1" @ 190 lbs. I have ordered a heaver spring kit (red kit 170-200 lbs) from my local bike shop. I'll have to update you all later on how the spring swap goes. All in all, this is an awesome hardtail bike that I hope to keep for many years...
Ken
Online Cannondale shock manual:
http://www.cannondale.com/dt_queries/manuals/0114864.pdf
FYI: I have another diolog concerning my Lefty-shock issue started under 'manufacture's forum / cannondale / lefty - spring size? | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
nate wilder
a Racer
from nc
Date Reviewed: April 7, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Tsali | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$1600.00 | | Purchased At: | boone bike and touring | | Strengths: | a super light speed addict, this is a great bike if you want to win on the race course. I love this bike. It has a pretty design and I love the lefty. | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | Klein Attitude | | Bike Setup: | running stock | | Bottom Line: | This is a fast, light bike that can run up hills as fast as it can down. After racing it a few times it handles great in technical stuff. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andrew Burrow
a Cross Country Rider
from Austin, TX
Date Reviewed: March 24, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | City Park | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1100.00 | | Purchased At: | Sponsored Rider | | Strengths: | Everything......Great balance, great left fork, great weight and great components. | | Weaknesses: | Haven't found one yet!! | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized Stumpjumper M4 frame. | | Bike Setup: | Left Fork, XT omponents all around, shimano clipless and conti tires. | | Bottom Line: | If you're looking for a great bike that can take all the stuff you can throw at it. I ride City park in Austin, Tx, which is one of the toughest and roughest courses around. Its mixture a tough hills up and down, rocks , sand, and mud give it 4 thumbs up. One trip around this loop will test most bikes and give you a true feel of its attitude. The F800 comes through without breaking a sweat...I wish I could say the same for the rider. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jason Lamb
a Cross Country Rider
from Atlanta Ga
Date Reviewed: February 4, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | tsali | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1400.00 | | Purchased At: | Roswell Bikes | | Strengths: | great feel, nicely equiped, the new furio frame is stiff and predictable, new lafty jake shock is like butter | | Weaknesses: | stock travativ firex chainrings have problems with consistent shifting to the larger chainrings. I have bent the stock Mavic wheels warp easily. | | Similar Products Used: | Kona Kula | | Bike Setup: | Cannondale f800, lefty Jake fork. hayes hfx-9 hydraulic disk brakes, xt rear derailer, lx front lx shifers, truvativ firex crankset Time atac clipless pedals | | Bottom Line: | I purchaed this bike in Nov of 2003 and had to wait but well worth it. This Bike works great in all conditions , i had some problems with keeping the front derailer adjusted properly. would take half of a revolution to change gears. could be because of the type of riding. i changed these to the shimano xt hollowtech series and fixed the problem. the new lefty jake fork is as smooth as silk it has a dampening adjustment that helps on the diffrent part of the trail . Keeps me from havin gto adjust airpressure at the beginning of the ride. it would help to have a lockout function.. the stock rims do not seem to hold up to myu style of riding but the addition of new Sun Rhyno lites and XT hubs fixed the problem with the constant tweaking of spokes to keep the rim straight. great overall bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
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