Nightwind
12-22-01, 09:20 AM
Hey can anyone tell me about these two bikes? Pros and Cons of both? Which would be the better choice and why???
Mountain Biking - Trek Y50 vs Cannondale Raven 4000
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fubar5
12-23-01, 04:25 PM
I've been looking around for info about the Y50 but haven't found any. I don't know much about Ravens. They have a magnesium spline covered by carbon fiber(I think it's carbon fiber). Some people don't like them because they kind of moan while you are riding. The moan is caused by the large hollow spaces created by the magnesium/carbon fiber design. I think Joe Pozer has a Raven.
a2psyklnut
12-24-01, 07:10 AM
I work at a shop that sell Cannondales and my wife rides a Raven, my brother-in-law rides a Raven, my father-in-law rides a Raven, nuff said!!!!
No really, the Ravens are really nice bikes, the magnesium spline makes them torsionally stiff and the carbon "shell" allow for a very light and strong bike. Plus the "look" of the carbon is beautiful. If you like the Headshock fork, (most either hate it or love it), you will love the Raven.
C'Dale abandoned the Raven for a couple of reasons.
1) Cost of production. Each minor change in frame geometry and different sizes requires an entirely new mold for the carbon fiber. Which is essentially why the Trek OCLV hasn't changed in the last few years.
2) The industries shift to longer travel bikes made C'Dale develope the Jeykll. This frame was lighter and more adjustable than the Raven. The suspension design is the same, so the design parameters were solid. So in order to not have a duplication in product, they dropped the Raven.
3) Cost to the retailer, they were soooooo expensive they couldn't compete with other manufacturers. Read---they weren't selling well!
As far as the Trek Y bikes, I can tell you that you'd be better off with a different bike. This suspension design has be determined to be inefficient and dropped by most "respectable" manufacturers. Gary Fisher's Joshua's were the same suspension design.
Finally, my brother-in-laws bike IS the 4000 and it's a sweet ride. The Lefty is sweet and he just loves it. He had a problem with the rear disc brake and we replaced it for him. This was caused by another shop putting lock-tite on the pad adjuster cap and essentially welded the two pieces. He stripped out the cap and it was replaced under warranty from Cannondale. Besides that the bike has been great!
No really, the Ravens are really nice bikes, the magnesium spline makes them torsionally stiff and the carbon "shell" allow for a very light and strong bike. Plus the "look" of the carbon is beautiful. If you like the Headshock fork, (most either hate it or love it), you will love the Raven.
C'Dale abandoned the Raven for a couple of reasons.
1) Cost of production. Each minor change in frame geometry and different sizes requires an entirely new mold for the carbon fiber. Which is essentially why the Trek OCLV hasn't changed in the last few years.
2) The industries shift to longer travel bikes made C'Dale develope the Jeykll. This frame was lighter and more adjustable than the Raven. The suspension design is the same, so the design parameters were solid. So in order to not have a duplication in product, they dropped the Raven.
3) Cost to the retailer, they were soooooo expensive they couldn't compete with other manufacturers. Read---they weren't selling well!
As far as the Trek Y bikes, I can tell you that you'd be better off with a different bike. This suspension design has be determined to be inefficient and dropped by most "respectable" manufacturers. Gary Fisher's Joshua's were the same suspension design.
Finally, my brother-in-laws bike IS the 4000 and it's a sweet ride. The Lefty is sweet and he just loves it. He had a problem with the rear disc brake and we replaced it for him. This was caused by another shop putting lock-tite on the pad adjuster cap and essentially welded the two pieces. He stripped out the cap and it was replaced under warranty from Cannondale. Besides that the bike has been great!