Description:The Rize is the Swiss Army knife of the trail bike world. It's a bike that brings all-new metalforming technology to the industry, and combines it with carbon-fiber fabrication techniques. It uses a dreamy-riding multi-pivot suspension with 130mm of balanced travel. The means that riders can use it as a do-it-all rig, whether you're riding notoriously gnarly rock gardens in the Northeast or the gently rolling foothills of the inter-mountain West.
Submitted by
Eric
a Racer
from Cumberland, RI USA Date Reviewed: November 1, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Anything rough and fast
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$5000.00
Purchased At:
Bicycles Plus Frankl
Strengths:
Quick Handling, Light weight, Geometry, Stiff BB/crank, many others.
Weaknesses:
1st generation frame cracks and fork problems. I knew there may be issues getting a 1st generation bike. Cannondale has excellent customer service.
Slightly low BB.
Similar Products Used:
Blur Xc, Blur LT,
Bike Setup:
Swaped Brakes for Avid carbons, Swaped tires and Have a set of SLRs I use for racing.
Bottom Line:
I bought this bike in september to see if it would be a good endurance race bike and race bike in general. It definetly lived up to that. It may not be a true AM bike but take the 6ft and up wheelie drops out and you have yourself a rediculous rig for riding technical and light enough to run with the silly hardtails. I raced SS for years and know how that is too. Im not sure why I waited so long to race an FS again. The stock tires are awesome for marathoning, however I put on some 2.3 Maxxis ignitors for all purpose riding, training. XTR brakes work well, however they modulate poorly and I HATE the lever feel. Juicy Carbons on there now. I cant say enough of how this bike wants to attack technical decents, climbs, or rock gardens. On long climbs the propedal works great. Id add a bit of pressure (10psi)and slow the rebound a click if you have really long climbs all the time. Has a bit of bob but its fine. The fork came with a ripped seal, which c-dale admitted to having some faults. Mine also had bearing migration so I got a new fork as well as a new frame due to a couple of stress cracks at the headtube and shock mount. Hope this review helps. Bottom Line. Its an incredible bike. I find myself riding it longer and longer evertime I go out.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
gaceconi1
a Weekend Warrior
from gaceconi1@optonline.net Date Reviewed: October 12, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Awosting Train-New Paltz, N.Y.
Duration Product Used:
Tested or demo'ed only
Strengths:
Demo'd the Rize Carbon 1-Suspension is incredible-tracks well when pedaling through rough stuff and on climbs. Very, very light. Comfortable seating position. Always a plush, yet efficient feeling. Just a great all around machine. I also tried the Scalpel team and I actually rode faster on this bike over the same course.
Weaknesses:
Tires were so-so. Sometimes disengaging/engaging the front suspension was not so smooth. SRAM X-Trigger stuff is so-so.
Similar Products Used:
Scalpel Team Carbon
Bike Setup:
Stock
Bottom Line:
BUY THIS BIKE!!! I can honestly say I have never ridden a more plush, yet efficient bike. Who needs an additional "Brain" when you are genetically superior from birth?
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
rolll703
a Cross Country Rider
from Alexandria, VA, USA Date Reviewed: September 13, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Schaffer farms
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$3000.00
Purchased At:
REI
Strengths:
super light for 5.1 in travel. Mine is down to 23.8 lbs. Awesome technology with the BB30 bb. the hollogram cranks from c'dale are fantastic!! cant say enough about them. The Lefty PBR(push button lockout) is pretty sweet, not to mention this lefty is only .40 lbs more then the 110mm travel carbon lefty found on c'dales XC race bikes.
Weaknesses:
not a fan of XTR brakes switched to juicy ults. needs to be full xtr not a mix.
Similar Products Used:
rize 3, c'dale hardtails.
Bike Setup:
Schuable Nobby Nic tires, Juicy Ults, nokon cable housing, XTR shifters, Fsa K-force seatpost, ERGON grips! rest is stock from c'dale
Bottom Line:
I got one of the first ones off the line if not the first so i have been using this bike about a month and a half after the offical release of the bike. the first 2 months I had cracked the swing-arm, and the suspension mount. If u notice the mount now has 3 rivets instead of the original 2 that i had. Cannondale replaced these parts super fast with NO hassle, there customer service is great, i have had NO problems since.
Other then that this bike is truly a DO IT ALL bike. you can rip up the mountain, it descends like a down hiller, climbs like a carbon hard tail. You can tear it up on race day I raced an aluminum rush and the very next week i raced my rize and finished 3 minutes better then the previous week.
The technology in the bike is awesome, I believe that cannondale is truly an innovator with the lefty, System Integration, and now the first ones to use the BB30 bottom bracket. The "backbone" of the bike is sweet as it makes the rear end of the bike super stiff, i believe cannondale says its the stiffest yet.
Bottom line is this thing is the "swiss army knife" of bikes on steroids. If your considering buying this bike DO IT. you will fall in love with it on the first ride!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
holiday
a Cross Country Rider
from Truckee, CA Date Reviewed: August 27, 2008
rode stock rize 1,
ride rize carbon, pbr, w/ full sram 9 speed drivetrain, formula, daves speed dream wheels, specialized eskar 2.3, 24.6 lbs,
Bottom Line:
Posted in forum, and transfered...
So, got to ride the new rize carbon 1 and got some good milage on it.
This bike climbs better then my superlight, descends better then... almost any bike I've ever ridden (yes, i've ridden downhill and Freeride bikes, i like more nimble and am not taking big hits. ) jumps well.
it feels stable, yet agile,
responsive, yet confidence inspiring.
I didn't want to love it, as I'm a simple guy and this one has a little too much bling for me.
the reason I was looking...I was interested for the little more travel, and the 68.5 head angle for more forgiveness when jumping and descending fast, with light weight,
it not only had all that on my bike, it pedaled better, was more plush, cornered more accurately, felt more nimble both on the ground and it the air.
but,
all in all, just an amazing bike. first great cdale in awhile IMO, and they have stepped up to the top tier again.
a good friend, ex pro downhiller and talented freerider did the compare, contrast back to back w/ my old bike and said...(pointing at my bike)..."that is mountain biking, and that is cheating!" (pointing at the Rize)
I've now spent a whole summer on it, winning my class (sport AM) at downieville on it (by 25minutes) in the process and beating it up pretty good.
I still love this bike. It works well, is confindence inspiring, w/ the blend of agility playfulness and solidity that is lacking in most. It's a super capable and fun XC race bike though IMO opinion, not a bike for parks and big DH drops. An amazing trail bike, race bike, and perfect for super D's like downieville.
also, i've ridden the mojo a bit as well, and think it's best competition for the rize. it's good and the DW works, but it's not the be all end all people think it is. i still prefer the feel of the modified single pivot rize over the VPPs or the DW.
by the way, Daves speed dream wheels are magic. at around 1500 grams w/ the thru bolt, this set is light fast and still true after more then 10 runs on dville as well as my normal tahoe riding all summer...
Cheers,
Holiday
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
mxracer13
a Weekend Warrior
from CT Date Reviewed: August 22, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Mine
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$3000.00
Purchased At:
EP at Bike Express
Strengths:
Smooth ride with a very well engineered lefty PBR fork. It is super light and is amazing on the technical downhills. It is the greatest all around bike i've ridden, even riding on the road with the propedal and the lockout on it is a very easy bike to ride.
Weaknesses:
XTR and XT components, it would be better with sram all around, I find it to be much faster and smoother shifting. The rear end doesn't provide as much of a pedaling platform then i had expected it too, even with propedal on.
Similar Products Used:
Pretty much everything that gets built at the shop.
Bike Setup:
Stock as shown on cannondale.com, and will be changing to sram/avid very soon
Bottom Line:
This is truely the greatest all around bike ever. I would reccomend this bike to any serious mountain biker. Crosscountry hardtail lovers to downhill dual suspension junkies this bike is the greatest compromise. Get it now before you miss out on one of the best bikes you can get.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Kabanos i Pyvo
a Cross Country Rider
from Reno, NV Date Reviewed: July 1, 2008
Favorite Trail:
the one I'm on
Duration Product Used:
Tested or demo'ed only
Strengths:
Light weight and PBR mechanism on the Lefty.
Weaknesses:
Rear suspension.
Similar Products Used:
Ibis Mojo, Intense 5.5, 6.6, and Spider, Santa Cruz Blurs, various other Cannondales
Bike Setup:
XTR pretty much everything, Lefty w/PBR, RP23
Bottom Line:
I rode this bike for a couple of hours on a demo. The trail was generally well packed, with some rocky areas. The C-dale factory rep set the bike up for sag, etc. knowing my riding style, and exactly what I was going to be riding.
This bike rides like a XC racer with more travel. "All Mountain" means the bike should be able to do everyting WELL--race some XC, downhill, some hucking, climbing vertical and technical maneuvering, but the Rize shows it's just a compromise in all areas. Sure, it's light, but you can get any carbon frame MTB down to around 20lbs these days.
The rear suspension feels primitive in comparison to VPPs (Santa Cruz, Intense), DW Links (Ibis, Iron Horse) and others. It relies heavily on Fox's RP23 to ride as well as it does. Any effort to climb/sprint out of the saddle with Propedal off is met with significant bobbing and energy loss. Engaging Propedal limits this, but prevents the suspension from absorbing trail irregularities as well, decreasing traction. Climbs as well as a hard tail? I think not...unless you are constantly fiddling with the RP23.
Kudos to the PBR mechanism on the Lefty. Engaging/disengaging is very easy, and when it's locked out, it's really locked...zero bob, even when hammering. Fox could learn a lot from this.
It's a shame a company with a reputation like Cannondale's can't put together a TRUE All Mountain bike, and instead splits the category between three frames (Moto, Rize, Prophet). Maybe it's a marketing effort to sell more bikes, but specialization is not what All Mountain is about.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
spikey
a Cross Country Rider
from new zealand Date Reviewed: June 23, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Peeking ridge (Fringe hill / Nelson / NZ)
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$5500.00
Purchased At:
burkes cycles
Strengths:
Everything is a strength - but most importantly the way it rides and feels. Drives like a hardtail but floats like dream. What weight ! Stiff as, Cranks (wonderful), Steering / Front end in general ..plenty of travel. This must be the perfect bike - a complete package....
Weaknesses:
tyres - not suitable wet , loose (otherwise fine)
Continental Mountain King 2.4
Similar Products Used:
other cannondale's Specialized..
Bike Setup:
as supplied but removed xt parts for xtr, and replaced tyres
Bottom Line:
Who needs a heavy monster when you can have one of these ?
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
mel221@cox.net
a Cross Country Rider
from Phoenix, AZ Date Reviewed: June 22, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Mount Elden Area
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$3000.00
Purchased At:
Focus Cyclery, Gilbe
Strengths:
This review is for the Rize 3 with the Lefty. I upgrade to this bike from a Cannondale SVA 1000 that is 10 Years old. Simply put, this bike flattens my trail riding substantially. Climbs great and is very stable riding down loose, rocky rubble. I have to seek out new riding terrain to effectly challenge myself.
Weaknesses:
The Lefty is a great fork, shock. I am expecting this part to be somewhat high maintanence. But, I love the feel of this setup. Clearance is great, but the long travel of the suspension still allows you to chew up the gears on the large, front chain ring.
Similar Products Used:
1997 Cannondale SVA 1000
Bike Setup:
Standard with the following upgrades; Shimano XT HollowTech II crank. Sram X-9 shifters.
Bottom Line:
This is Cannondale's 5th or 6th generation full suspension. Big improvement from my much older SVA 1000. Great for my style of riding: cross country, all mountain technical. No big drops for me any more.
$ 5500.00
Overall Rating:
Overall Rating:
