Folding Bikes - Cannondale Hooligan review?

i ordered a hooligan 3 in march hopefully getting it in june

Cancelled my Hooligan order. The wait is too long, and really, i've already got a tough as nails 20" bike in my Raleigh Twenty. Maybe not backflips tough, but well enough for a trail ride.

I just got mine an hour ago. I love it!

http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/3185/cannondalehooligan1sm.jpg (http://img412.imageshack.us/i/cannondalehooligan1sm.jpg/)

http://img94.imageshack.us/img94/8044/cannondalehooligan2sm.jpg (http://img94.imageshack.us/i/cannondalehooligan2sm.jpg/)

Small wheels, a bit weird and fun to ride....sounds like my kinda bike!...:thumb::love:

Enjoy it!...:)

I can't wait until mine shows up....;)

Sweet looking bike. Enjoy it. I wonder if the fatty solo fork will fit on the hooligan?

similar type bike in europe

http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=nl&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.beixo.com%2Fnl%2Fgsusbike

http://thumbnail.image.rakuten.co.jp/@0_mall/ride-on/cabinet/106lou027.jpg

http://www.cyclelicio.us/2008/05/mini-velo-bicycles-now-in-usa.html

http://www.cycleurope.co.jp/2008/bianchi2008.htm

http://www.cycleurope.co.jp/2008/bianchi2008.htm

from that bianchi site seems like they sell the birdy folder now under their name. I never knew that.

I just ordered a set of Specialized 20"x2" Rhythm Lite Sport tires for my Hooligan. The Rhythm Lites have a slightly knobby, raised center ridge for pavement, but medium sized side knobbies for the dirt. For me, the stock tires (20"x1.5" Kendas) don't have enough contact with the road - On any given day I can be on a dirt road to a mountain bike trail and back to the pavement, and the skinnier Kendas just can't handle that kind of variability. I was thinking about getting the full out knobbies, but I ride more than just trails, and I hate the way knobbies thrum on the pavement. I was initially concerned about the extra weight and rolling resistance of a larger tire, but in such a small wheels those aren't major issues. If anything, I could use a little more resistance when peddling - sometimes the Hooligan is just TOO EASY to peddle for the workouts I like to get when I ride it. It is so much easier to flick around the pedals on my Hooligan than my other bikes that I have to ride farther to to get the same cardio benefit. I had to put on a pair of Egg Beaters to keep my feet from flying off the pedals, but other than that this bike doesn't require any major upgrades - it's fun right out of the box.

http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=nl&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.beixo.com%2Fnl%2Fgsusbike


http://thumbnail.image.rakuten.co.jp/@0_mall/ride-on/cabinet/106lou027.jpg

http://www.cyclelicio.us/2008/05/mini-velo-bicycles-now-in-usa.html


I'm not the Hooligan customer. But you gotta hand it to Cannondale: the Hooligan looks far better than those nasty things.

I'm glad I searched the site for the Hooligan!
I was in the LBS yesterday and saw this bike. It was really cool! I especially like the Lefty fork style- fits the unusual look of the bike.
The only downside is that it's HEAVY. It looks much lighter than it is, so much so I thought it was a mild steel frame but I believe it is aluminum?

The flat black looks great, they didn't have that but I'm going to see about ordering it.

They also had a brand called GLOBE with a huge old school front rack- really cool for the same price.

I'd recommend Greenspeed Scorcher tires. They roll fast and every mini velo should have them.

A mini velo is a small normal frame rigid bike with 20" wheels. Its NOT a folder.

The only downside is that it's HEAVY. It looks much lighter than it is, so much so I thought it was a mild steel frame but I believe it is aluminum?

The weight is a real shame (a previous poster estimated 24 lbs), because one of the reasons this bike would make sense is for those of us who have to lug bikes up/down city staircases.

Really? I don't see it could weigh more than a Raleigh Twenty, which is a folder.

I saw the Hooligan 8 at REI after seeing the Hooligan 3 pics above. The 3 is SO MUCH BETTER LOOKING. Was quite surprised at the difference.

There's no way it comes in at the same weight as a Raleigh Twenty, which is about a 33.5 lb bicycle stock, from my recollection of weighing mine before modding it up.

It will be a heavier bike, though. The bike is intentionally heavy duty, so that it can be played around on. I'd expect it to be about the weight that it is, personally.

The weight is a real shame (a previous poster estimated 24 lbs), because one of the reasons this bike would make sense is for those of us who have to lug bikes up/down city staircases.

I have to carry mine down stairs and it's really not that bad - not having to maneuver big tires around corners is more important to me than carrying a few extra pounds.

Surprise. I picked mine up after all! A black Hooligan 3, which i'll be taking home on Wednesday. Going to start off by throwing some On One Mary bars onto it, Ergon grips, and some Schwalbe Mow Joe 2.0 knobby tires. It'll be fun to rip around on :)

A few extra comments after having actually tried it out:

1. The gearing range is just about right in my opinion. Not too high, not too low.

2. Yes, it is quite heavy for a 20" 3 speed bicycle. But the frame is extremely thick, and presumably extremely strong to match.

3. The photos on the Cannondale website show that the 3 has a derailleur hanger. This isn't true according to my Hooligan 3, it simply has a flat dropout. This is a bit of a downer considering the tinkering I was planning to do, but an Alfine 11 should be a nice thing to throw in there later this year..

4. Tire clearance is big, big enough for Big Apple 2.35's.

5. I personally think its uglier in real life than the photos can ever portray. But its a "grows on you" ugly. Also, the silver squigglies are reflective!

http://www.commuterbikestore.com/city-bikes/lombardo-power-2000-bike.html

italian mini

there's a couple of new minvelo's at the bottom of this page by melon bikes.

http://www.melonbicycles.com/Departments/Folding-Bikes/Coming-Models.aspx

The Melon Crush and the Melon Grind. More true to the mini velo heritage.

I'd been looking for a compact mini-velo or folder that would fit into my lifestyle for a fair while. I have a relatively small apartment, and don't like clutter. The apartment is in a 100 year old house with very narrow, tight staircases and so owning full sized bikes isn't much of an option. I've been looking for *1* bike (i'm an n=1 person) for a while that fits the following criteria:

1. Weather resistant. I.E. disc brakes, corrosion resistant frame, internal gear hubs, etc, because i'm OCD over rust and squeaky parts
2. Tough = fun
3. Effective for urban riding and commuting

Solution? Hooligan!

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r19/Abneycat/DSCN1107Large.jpg

(my hooligan)

Cannondale makes the Hooligan in a bunch of different configurations, and in North America they sell 2. There's a version which has an 8 speed derailleur based drivetrain, slightly lower parts spec, and a more mundane normal bicycle fork at a lower price point,

And a 3 speed internal gear hub variant with some nicer parts, much more emphasis on style (in a good or bad way, depending on your tastes!), and a rigid lefty fork which is very Cannondale in the traditional sense = )

Opting for the internal gear hub this time around, I went with the Hooligan 3. And opting for what I personally believe to be a slight show of taste, I went for the bike in black. Honestly C'dale, the white one is pretty gaudy, IMO. Seriously bad. Proof?

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r19/Abneycat/BlackHooliganSmall.jpg
I think its okay. So how does the white one look?

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r19/Abneycat/WhitehooliganSmall.jpg

Well, I think it looks like a train wreck. Your mileage may vary.

So here's my short term review of the Cannondale Hooligan 3 in black.

Where can you buy one?: I Purchased mine as a special order through Bow Cycle in Calgary, AB. Available through Crack-n-fail dealers, although it isn't a bicycle that is commonly carried on the show floor directly.

How much $?: $1100 MSRP Canadian for the Hooligan 3, likely less in the U.S. The Hooligan 8 derailleur version was quoted to me as being $799 MSRP in Canada.

Some stats Can-O-Ale won't tell you for some reason: It weighs 24.9lbs stock, according to the digital bicycle scale at Bow Cycle.

A few extra goodies: It *is* rack and fender compatible, although not without some fussing. There's eyelets at the dropouts, but none up top. Fitting a front fender means going with one meant for a suspension fork, but it all seems to work out in the end.

All of those squigglies and all that writing on the frame? Well, on the Hooligan 3 in black, it's all reflective paint. Pretty snazzy, gives you a little more safety at night.

So how does it ride?

I'd describe the feel of the bike as reminding me a lot of my Dahon Mu SL. Very nimble, stable enough, and the stock equipment makes sure every little crack in the road goes right into your body as road shock = (

As it comes, it's pretty harsh to ride, but that's owing to the fact that its a stiff little bike with skinny little tires, hard grips and a relatively thin saddle. The 1.35" wide Schwalbe Kojaks really harsh up the ride quite a bit, I find. They're light and smooth, but they're not very comfortable to hit a pothole on, and given that they advertise this thing as being perfect for "long commutes on pothole filled streets", I find that a bit silly. What the Hooligan really needs is a set of big fat slicks like some Big Apples, and i'd personally recommend getting a pair. The frame should fit tires up to 2.35", after having witnessed a Hooligan with a pair of Big Apples in that size i'd say that's about the limit.

This bike *is* actually fun to do tricks on, too! Cannondale hypes it up as some kind of BMX for Chuck Norris to roundhouse kick people in the face with or something like that, I dunno. I mean, I wouldn't let Chuck near it, but maybe i'd let Bruce Willis whip it around the block a few times, because he's got the Yippie Kay-Yay. It shouldn't be confused with a true BMX, but i've been having a lot of fun hopping it around and playing around on some local trails, and it definitely has a sturdier than average frame and wheelset for an urban bike that should let the fun times roll.

P.S. Cannondale

Again, 1.35" Schwalbe Kojak tires are convenient for being fast and light and I normally like them, but in this instance, they suck. These tires aren't meant to be on a bicycle that you skid around on and hop. They're meant to be on ol' beardy's recumbent, or commuter dudes folder.

I-Motion 3 can be my new chum, because it shifts even when i'm pretending i'm captain hammer, and it doesn't feel like i'm trying to pedal an internal gear hub thats full of mud. I think that it could beat up that Sturmey Archer dude any day of the week, and its just as loud. clackclackclackclackclack... Thanks to this bit of equipment, riding is simple and fun!

Stopping is fine. I mean, they're BB5s. You aren't really getting the best, but they work pretty well, and you can do some fun skids on a moment's notice, which is fun, because I have some Schwalbe Kojaks to destroy.

Lastly, if you plan on riding in the rain, bunny hopping, or simply having a pair of pedals that last longer than a month or two, get rid of the Octupus pedals that come with the bike. They have poor grip, zero grip when wet, and the rubber on them is seemingly already wearing down. Octopus? More like Octosuck. At least they look pretty cool, and you can stick them onto corners to get the bike to stand up pretty easily.

Ride verdict? Nimble, fun, simple, but a bit harsh with the stock tires. Ditch those Octopus pedals if you want to have fun but don't want to slide off the bike and neuter / spay yourself. If thats your kind of fun, rock on!

The fit:

The Hooligan has an adjustable stem, and a lot of room on that big seatpost. I could see this bike fitting a lot of people fairly well. I am 5'10" and find that the seatpost has quite a bit of room left, 6 inches or more still to the max. extension line on the post. Of course, if you were a giant, you'd look ridiculous on this bike, but I also think that I look ridiculous on this bike too, which is okay. I haven't done any professional measurements on the frame, but in particular saddle > bars feels fairly roomy to me. I feel like its good, but a rider with shorter arms would definitely be stretched out riding this thing. The included stem is fairly long though, and you could go with a shorter one if you had to. You can also drop the seatpost down into the frame a long way, allowing you to BMX-ify the Hooligan in order to do some stupid and potentially life threatening stuff on = )

Looks

I think it looks pretty sweet, like a space bike. If there were a bike that you could get cyber goths to ride on, it would be this bike.

The cranks can sit in the corner in shame though. The anodized red on them is pretty bad, and they aren't colour matched to the rest of the anodized components on the rest of the bike. Yes indeedy.

Other things?

The chain is tensioned with an eccentric bottom bracket, and changing the rear tire is EXTREMELY easy compared to other IGH equipped bikes. There's no straightening the wheel in the frame, dealing with the wheel slipping around as you tighten it, and the SRAM hub disconnects from the shift cable as easily as a World of Warcraft addict disconnects from reality.

Again, despite them hyping it up as a bad-ass, they wussed out and threw some rack / fender mounting eyelets on, left the lefty open for a suspension fork fender and even added some reflective doodads. SHAME ON YOU, Cannon-fail. Shame on you. There are no braze ons for a handgun holster. Now, don't confuse this thing for a fully equipped touring bike with 10,000 braze ons for whatever on it, but its workable.

I personally believe that this thing has some real practical merit. I've managed to get it set up with some functional equipment, but it still has great potential for greatly silly antics, which I like.

Verdict?

Guilty. Guilty of being very hyped, but really just being a little old urban bike thats a little tougher.

Also guilty of being $1100, despite being equipped how a $700 normal bike would be, even here in expensive old Canada.

Also guilty of having really sucky pedals, and badly mismatched tires.

Ambiguously guilty of being just too damn weird looking.

All of that makes the evidence sound pretty damning. But really?

I LOVE THIS BIKE. Even if you don't get a lot of bike for the money, you get a lot of FUN FOR THE BIKE. At least i'm getting that, maybe you won't. In which case, it would be a bad deal, savvy?

If all you want is a compact bike, this isn't the one. You can buy a folder that weighs the same for a third of the price, and get something more compact.

But, if you want a bike to carry up to your tiny little tin can apartment and rip around in the great big world later on, actually have fun on, and maybe you're a closet cyber goth, then maybe this kind of thing is for you. Even if you're not a closet cyber goth. Its just the right blend of toy and tool for me, and it has thus far really been something that i've enjoyed a lot.

Obligatory non-scientific rating?!

Sure. 8 / 10


Downers? Minus 1 point for the tires, because they're really on the wrong bike, even if they are good tires in other instances. Minus 1 point because the octopus pedals are really the only genuine "all looks, no guts" this bike has to offer.

And the good. 4 points of pure simple fun. 2 points of practical design, which got lost along the way and somehow ended up here anyways. 1 point because I love the i-motion 3. 1 point because they tried really hard to make it snazzy, but only 1 point because the cranks are a bit off.

Final standing? I like it a lot.

Here's mine as it stands now. Changed the bars to On One mary bars (which are also good!), added a rack and a front fender. The rack pretty much seems to double as a rear fender quite well. I'm also looking into the SRAM I-Motion 9, or possibly the upcoming Alfine 11. Me and this bike are going to have a lot of fun down the road!

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r19/Abneycat/DSCN1105Large.jpg

(Lastly, those thumbnails are just these photos. I don't know why I can't delete those thumbnails. Damned thumbnails!)

Thanks for the detailed review, Abneycat. I appreciate you posting the weight. I know some cannondale MTBs come with suspension single forks. Any idea whether the hooligan would have it?

I did measure up a few forks to the Hooligan to see what kind of length it might match up to. the rigid lefty on the Hooligan measures up just shy of an 80mm suspension corrected 26" fork. I believe it would work pretty decently with a short travel 26" suspension fork (or a longer travel 24" suspension fork) as a result. I'm planning on doing some more detailed measurements, and will post more information later on the subject.

Big Apples are great but if you want a faster tire, the Greenspeed Scorcher is a good compromise. Thin enough to roll fast and thick enough so the ride isn't too harsh.

Any standard rigid 20" fork would track much better. If you run Big Apples or the Greenspeed Scorcher, a suspension fork is completely unnecessary. The tires will soak road chatter and bumps well.

NormanF,
If you are riding your bike for long distances on pavement, BigAs or Scorchers would be adequate in dampening the road grooves and minibumps of the asphalt. However, if you plan to drop some curbs or slight offroading, a suspension fork is a must, IMO.

Axle to crown on the rigid lefty is approximately 400mm. This is roughly 35-40mm shorter than an average 26", 80mm travel suspension fork (counting pre-compression of 15-25% of travel for XC riding conditions.)

Rake is 45mm. Suspension forks typically range between 40-45mm.

Steerer tube length is approximately 275mm.

Overall, I believe that you could replace the rigid lefty with a short travel fork if you wanted to, although it would modify the geometry of the bicycle by a small amount, raising the front end a little and changing the head tube angle from 70 to approximately 68 degrees. This is going to slow the handling on the bike a little, and it may feel a little less like an XC MTN bike and a bit more like an enduro or shore MTN bike.

Personally i'd find that great if you were using the bike for play riding and off-roading, primarily. It wouldn't be that beneficial if you were using the bike as an urban street machine and were relying on it to weave through traffic though, but I can't see it absolutely killing the ability of the bicycle in that field either.

In short, I personally believe that a short travel (60-80mm) suspension fork would work very well on the Hooligan. I have currently got no plans to do this, i'm rather fond of the little rigid lefty, but it seems very feasible. Of course, you should double check that the fork you're interested in is somewhere around these lines of compatibility. The Hooligan would end up too popped up with a bigger fork.

I think it could handle a suspension corrected fork. But with big tires, I don't find it necessary in the 20" wheel size. The tire already provides all the suspension.

I think it could handle a suspension corrected fork. But with big tires, I don't find it necessary in the 20" wheel size. The tire already provides all the suspension.


I agree with this statement. I originally thought about getting a front suspension fork after a particularly grueling ride on over-inflated stock tires, but once I switched to 20X2's I changed my mind. I went on a 30 mile ride this weekend over some pot-hole filled dirt roads, but at no point was I sore the way I would be on a typical city bike. The tires make a huge difference. The ride can be bouncy, but that's more a function of the short wheel base than the lack of suspension, and switching from the stock 1.5" to 2.0" tires makes the ride alot more secure. You should definitely play around with some new tires first before you sink any money into a suspension fork you may not need.

glad to see so many hooligan owners in one place , please visit http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/group.php?gid=146088275355 and share some information , theres about 55 other hooligan people there

Hey Abneycat, thanks for the review and photos...I just rode my brand new Hooligan 8 to work for the first time today...21 degrees and I grinned all the way! Could you tell me what brand rack and front fender you installed on your bike? thanks Frank

The BD Windsor Shetland mini velo is all the rage on the Commuting and Singlespeed Forums. ;)

I'd been looking for a compact mini-velo or folder that would fit into my lifestyle for a fair while. I have a relatively small apartment, and don't like clutter. The apartment is in a 100 year old house with very narrow, tight staircases and so owning full sized bikes isn't much of an option. I've been looking for *1* bike (i'm an n=1 person) for a while that fits the following criteria:

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r19/Abneycat/BlackHooliganSmall.jpg


I noticed you bought a Globe city bike. Did you keep the mini-velo as well or did it get cut from the team?

Vik, since I own a Dahon Mu already a friend of mine who was in need of a more compact bike fell in love with it, and so I let it go to him.

I'm visiting Oregon in March for some bicycle frame building classes though, my class project is to be a mini velo :)

Planned out in 4130 steel with discs, an eccentric bottom bracket, no proprietary parts at all. Going to check with them on whether or not I can do it as belt drive or not, too. It's going to be taller and a bit more traditionally designed than the Hooligan, though it will feature a slightly dropped top tube (ala an XC MTB)

I'm also thinking about picking up one of those Hooligan 8's at REI in the U.S. while there, they're $600, and definitely worth that much for their fun potential :)

Hey Abneycat, thanks for the review and photos...I just rode my brand new Hooligan 8 to work for the first time today...21 degrees and I grinned all the way! Could you tell me what brand rack and front fender you installed on your bike? thanks Frank

Hello fopianki! The front fender is an SKS shockboard. I think most of the plug in MTB fenders should work on this bike, but can only confirm that the shockboard will work at this point in time.

The rear rack is an Axiom phoenix LE rear rack. But any normal-esque rear rack will work on this bicycle, and it does not have to be disc specific thanks to the chainstay mounted disc brakes. In these photos I was using P-clips to secure the top stays of the rack but shortly after, purchased one of these:

http://axiomgear.com/products/gear/racks/rack-accessories/trekk-seat-collar/

In 34.9

Which fits the frame on the Cannondale, holds that huge seatpost in place quite nicely, and provides a real place for the rack to bolt onto. I found it much better than the P-clips, and if you can find a similar product for yourself, I would recommend it.

I think they're only available in the UK for the time being.

They might be available in your own region or country. They encourage you to contact the dealer first (taken from their own Website):
PRICING AND AVAILABILITY
"....Because our Cannondale Retailer Shops are all independently owned and operated, prices and availability will vary from Dealer to Dealer, from State to State, from Province to Province and from Country to Country. We highly encourage you to contact your local Cannondale retailer to test ride your bikes of choice and inquire about their pricing and availability..."

http://www.cannondale.com/usa/usaeng/Products/Bikes/Recreation-Urban/Urban/Details/2533-0HL3BBQ-Hooligan-3 (http://www.cannondale.com/usa/usaeng/Products/Bikes/Recreation-Urban/Urban/Details/2533-0HL3BBQ-Hooligan-3)

http://www.cannondale.com/usa/usaeng/Products/Bikes/Recreation-Urban/Urban/Details/2535-0HL8WHT-Hooligan-8 (http://www.cannondale.com/usa/usaeng/Products/Bikes/Recreation-Urban/Urban/Details/2535-0HL8WHT-Hooligan-8)


There's no way it comes in at the same weight as a Raleigh Twenty, which is about a 33.5 lb bicycle stock, from my recollection of weighing mine before modding it up.

It will be a heavier bike, though. The bike is intentionally heavy duty, so that it can be played around on. I'd expect it to be about the weight that it is, personally.

From Their Spec: Frame: 6061 alloy, 20" wheel

For me, that nullify it comparison to the Raleigh Twenty. Even though my ancient sometimes klutzy not sexy Twenty is heavy, cumbersome fold, and has that 70s timewarp look, it is still a better bike as I know it has a beautiful "steel feel" to it plus it will probably bury me. No matter all the hoopla surrounding it, will this newcomer stand the test of time (or rider's interest)? I have my doubts.


Cancelled my Hooligan order. The wait is too long, and really, i've already got a tough as nails 20" bike in my Raleigh Twenty. Maybe not backflips tough, but well enough for a trail ride.

Hmmmm.....un-huh.

I have seen one in person, and I think it will be an interesting bike 10 yrs from now due to it's differences from conventional bikes - the 20" wheels, muscular frame and the mono-fork.

Not sure how suitable it is for someone my size - 6'3" with a 39" seat-to-pedal measurement. There aren't too many folders or mini-velos that are designed for trail use.

Lou

From Their Spec: Frame: 6061 alloy, 20" wheel

For me, that nullify it comparison to the Raleigh Twenty. Even though my ancient sometimes klutzy not sexy Twenty is heavy, cumbersome fold, and has that 70s timewarp look, it is still a better bike as I know it has a beautiful "steel feel" to it plus it will probably bury me. No matter all the hoopla surrounding it, will this newcomer stand the test of time (or rider's interest)? I have my doubts.
Hmmmm.....un-huh.

We went over this already, if you'd read the rest of the thread :p

I did end up getting the bike in the end. And it kicks ass. I handed it off to a friend who also thinks it kicks, and i'm probably getting a second one.

It is seriously tough. I'd do stuff on it without batting my eyelashes that I would never do on a 20. Durability over my lifetime? I don't think you read the review, that's not what the buzz is about.

This isn't a bike to grow old with, classic for the times. If it lasted 10 years, it would be wicked. This is a bike to rip around on, jump on, skid on, and then maybe commute on. That pretty much nullifies its comparison with the R20 right away :)

I think the steel feel and classic looks of the R20 are quite fine too. I've had 3 of them, and enjoyed them all! But there's no need to get sarcastic about a different bike either, you're not comparing an aluminum touring bike with a steel classic, you're comparing two completely different rides to begin with.

For me, that nullify it comparison to the Raleigh Twenty. Even though my ancient sometimes klutzy not sexy Twenty is heavy, cumbersome fold, and has that 70s timewarp look, it is still a better bike as I know it has a beautiful "steel feel" to it plus it will probably bury me. No matter all the hoopla surrounding it, will this newcomer stand the test of time (or rider's interest)? I have my doubts.



Hmmmm.....un-huh.

Did you get out of the wrong side of the bed this morning?...:twitchy::rolleyes:

I don't particularly care for R20's myself, but I don't spend my time telling folks their bikes suck.

There is no reason someone out there won't be still riding their Hooligan in 20 years... the AL frame isn't going to rust or snap in half...;)

If I had a choice between a R20 or a 15yr old Cannondale MTB I'd take the classic mountain bike or a brand new Hooligan for that matter.

Did you get out of the wrong side of the bed this morning?...:twitchy::rolleyes:

I don't particularly care for R20's myself, but I don't spend my time telling folks their bikes suck.

There is no reason someone out there won't be still riding their Hooligan in 20 years... the AL frame isn't going to rust or snap in half...;)

If I had a choice between a R20 or a 15yr old Cannondale MTB I'd take the classic mountain bike or a brand new Hooligan for that matter.
i have been seriously considering the hooligan, and i managed to test ride both the 8 and the 3 over at pacific sports. although not a folder, i really could picture myself riding this for my daily commute and then hop curbs downtown on weekends.
as for riding it 20 years from now, i doubt if the locals want to see a 70 year old doing bunny hops in the downtown core, but i think my grandkids might enjoy the bike then.

as for riding it 20 years from now, i doubt if the locals want to see a 70 year old doing bunny hops in the downtown core, but i think my grandkids might enjoy the bike then.

You don't have to do bunny hops at 70....simple wheelies and manuals would be rad enough...;):thumb:

Not enough room for doubts here? I simply have them and express them when I do. Does it mean sarcasm? Not necessary. I simply readopted my rather frugal upbringing which borders on conservatism-and lots of thinking and asking questions before plucking down a large investment of money or time in either selecting, using, or maintaining any given bike, not necessary the Hooligan. As for the lifespan of anything that crosses my path, I do try to get a good idea of it before I integrate it into my life. I know most things have planned or built in obsolescence in this society-i.e. this computer I an tying on right now 2-4 years only. I am also aware of it as this long term recession continues in my region and the more empty both large big box and little guy stores creating even longer lines of the under and unemployed does that to a person. So a little research online verifies my suspicion about aluminum frames-http://www.shopwiki.com/wiki/Road+Bicycle+Frames (http://www.shopwiki.com/wiki/Road+Bicycle+Frames).

The choice is strictly yours in whatever you do in your life. I would not want to take away freedom from anyone that can-and able to-exercise it still. I do wish I did get up on the wrong side of the bed and this cautionary bad feeling I have been experiencing for the past several years is only a bad dream threatening to be a nightmare. Yes, I actually like to check out the official Website, then go see for myself (trip to a dealer in this case Cannondale) if I have the time, the dealer is close enough to visit and form my own opinions. I can honestly say for sure right now that the Hooligan is a perfect bike for the younger set-or with a younger view- with ample financial freedom and loves to do trick riding. I know young people around here would give their right arm for one. I was young like that once (although minus the trick riding). But growing up poor and falling out of the middle class and returning to the same muck seems to change me into what my family-of-origin tried to keep me from-depression era style frugality. So...that means conservatism in buying and using steel bikes only with a given track record for now (well, until the good times return, then we will see....).

But sincere best wishes in the enjoyment of your new bike.

Ive owned a hooligan 8 for over a year, living downtown San Diego, CA. Ive eleminated the need for a car.. but also developed a skill being an extreme urban street rider. making it a game only a hooligan can do. with its quick turns an high speeds! Im looking to meet other hooligan owners with the developed skill to fast urban drift. calculating opticals.. turns to make with precision drifting! I see one thinks hooligans is a bad life style of a chose. To everyone thats thought about buying one. its worth the cost.. it is a lifestyle as I have 2 now. And it takes certain people to appreciate such a well made bike with the best of both world in the bike world. Road speed & BMX... http://www.facebook.com/pages/Hooligan-C-8-Racing/246765995337285?ref=ts Check out my FB page. Lets get together to start something everyone will enjoy. Paul Langelier III

Well had my hooligan 1 for almost 3 years now , best thing i love about the bike is the fact i can dismantle it and fit it into an ice hockey bag , they fly round the world with it and not pay a penny extra to the airlines. when its packed the bike plus padding plus tools & spares weighs 20kg , so i just take everything else i need in my big back pack and carry it on

I have the version with the Alfine 8 hub , absolutely love it , i upgraded the cranks set to shimano HT2 road cranks, and a 56t DH chainring (took 2 years to find a new one) i have also changed the discs to XTR centre locks as its much easier to take them on/off when traveling, that ment i had to upgrade the front hub to XT with splines, and for security i upgraded the XT front hub to a solid axle with 10mm track nuts to fix it to the fork. the front has a 203mm rotor, with the back downsized to 140mm. Ive changed my tyres and tubes also, fitted a set of KHE Mac1 300g tyres , super light, 20x1.5", they are filled with Schwalbe SV6a tubes , 60g , so rotational mass is less than half, acceleration from red lights is phenomenal now

I've seen a few posts talking about fitting big apple 2.35 tyres , that is only possible with the frames built in 2007/2008, after that the chainstay tyre clearance was narrowed by 10mm. this spring i also dismantled the alfine8 and added some gear oil, it leaves japan with grease lube, so with the mileage i'm doing i thought i better change to oil. initially i had a small ammount of oil escape from the brake side with killed a set of brake pads , but that was because i always laid my bike left side down in the back of my car, i now just keep it drive side down and not spilt a drop since. i use my bike for park & ride, i drive to the edges of towns of the city and ride in the rest, my car is only small (Citroen Saxo 3dr) but i fit the hooligan in without having to adjust the seat or take a wheel off

there are almost 250 members now of the Cannondale Hooligan group http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=146088275355 , a few guys have some very interesting mods, including a rohloff + schumpff equipped hooligan, theres a girl with a suspension fork, theres a pic of a liquigas painted bike with drop bars a 2x10 gearing. even see a pic of an extracycle fitted. like andrew from poleriders said when he first got his bike , the hooligan is like the beetle of bikes , everybody is customising it to meet there own requirments

and for all the IGH doubters , i am at 1 with my alfine, if i ever ride a derailer bike in a city now i hate it, i save them for the forests & hills only now

Just got my Hooligan 8 and love it. I picked it up as an all-arounder to play on and mix in some commuting. It's a nice fun addition to my bike stable and I look forward to many miles/adventures on it. :thumb:

http://i448.photobucket.com/albums/qq203/slolane_md/Cycling/CannondaleHooligan8-640x480.jpg