Bike Forums - Cannondale f4

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I'm about 99% sure I'm going to close on this bike tomorrow! I rode it today and it was nice eventhough it's not set up for me yet.

Can somebody take a look at the specs and tell me if this is the best bike for the 900 price range please? Also, is this a bike that will grow with me as my skills increase? If I'm just going to have to replace it completely in 2 years, I might as well get a 500 dollar bike. I am mainly focused on the frame when I ask this question, because if the frame is good enough, I should be able to build around it as I get better and start doing more complicated stuff.
Finally, does any company beat these specs for 900 or less? Thanks again for the help guys. You have really helped me out thus far. I appreciate ya.

Here are the specs

Frame Cannondale Furio-X
Fork Cannondale HeadShok Super Fatty Ultra DLR, 80mm-travel
Rims/Wheels Sun Black Eye Disc
Hubs Shimano M475
Spokes Mach1
Tires CST Caballero, 26 x 2.1
Crankset TruVativ Isoflow
Chainwheel 44/32/22
Front Derailleur Shimano Deore
Rear Derailleur SRAM X-7
Rear Cogs SRAM PG-950, 9-speed: 11-34
Shifters SRAM SX5 Trigger
Handlebars Cannondale C3
Tape/Grips Cannondale V-Tech
Stem Cannondale XC3 HeadShok
Brake Levers Cannondale Fire
Brakes Avid BB5 Disc
Pedals Wellgo aluminum w/clips and straps
Saddle Cannondale Mountain-V
Seat Post Cannondale C4, aluminum

Its a good bike, but $900 sounds a little pricey. My wife got an F3 for $1000.

great bike, $900 is way too pricey if it's an 07. If it's an 08, then go for it.

07 should cost around $800 or $750.

I own a Cannondale F5, which is a less-well equipped but have the same frame and some of the same components.

Frame Cannondale Furio-X (The main justification for the $900 price tag. Extremely stiff, very well crafted.)
Fork Cannondale HeadShok Super Fatty Ultra DLR, 80mm-travel (2nd thing that justifies the $900 price tag. Heard it's a great suspension)
Rims/Wheels Sun Black Eye Disc (Serviceable)
Tires CST Caballero, 26 x 2.1 (Very good off-road/mud. Hopeless on wet asphalt)
Crankset TruVativ Isoflow (Don't know enough to compare but gives me no trouble.)
Rear Derailleur SRAM X-7 (I have the SX-5 RD on F5, it shifts well and very rugged as it has took multiple hits. X-7 should be an upgrade of SX-5)
Shifters SRAM SX5 Trigger (Wonderfully crisp shifter, the long lever stroke is on the long side however)
Handlebars Cannondale C3 (Don't know enough to compare but gives me no trouble. It's a bit too long for my small frame but one can always chop it down)
Tape/Grips Cannondale V-Tech (Nice, soft and survives a few scrapes on trees. Tend to slide out a bit after each ride.)
Brake Levers Cannondale Fire (Don't know enough to compare but gives me no trouble.)
Pedals Wellgo aluminum w/clips and straps (Don't know enough to compare but gives me no trouble. Reflectors on them will fall off quite easily. Keep them on to be street legal. Take them off pre-emptively for off-road. I also took off the toe cage.)
Saddle Cannondale Mountain-V (I got bony butt so not quite comfy. It's decent quailty and serviceable.)
Seat Post Cannondale C4, aluminum (The letter printed on it scrape off too easily after a few adjustments. Otherwise, it's very study.)

That's all I know. I hope it helps.

Is the f3 the same as the Caffeine 3 ? I can't find a listing for the f3 in the reviews section but the when I type f3 into google, the caffeine comes up.

I'm not too keen on spending >1000 because I still have to get accessories, but if you guys think the difference between those two bikes is major, I'll see about getting the caffeine. The cheapest I can find it is 1100.00. Right now with shoes and clip in pedals, Im looking at around 1100-1150 total investment with the f4. The caffeine 3 will be 1300-1350 total.

Frame: Caffeine
Fork: HeadShok Super Fatty Ultra DLR, 80 mm
Rims: Mavic XM117 Disc, 32 hole
Hubs: Shimano M475
Spokes: DT Swiss Champion
Tires: CST Caballero, 26 x 2.1"
Pedals: Wellgo Clipless
Crank: FSA Alpha Drive, 22/32/44
Chain: SRAM 9-speed
Bottom Bracket: TruVatiV ISIS GigaPipe SL
Shifters: SRAM X-7 Trigger
Handlebars: FSA XC-281AOS, 25 mm rise
Stem: Cannondale XC3 HeadShok, 31.8 mm

Quote:

Originally Posted by earthworm94 (Post 4996724)

I own a Cannondale F5, which is a less-well equipped but have the same frame and some of the same components.

Frame Cannondale Furio-X (The main justification for the $900 price tag. Extremely stiff, very well crafted.)
Fork Cannondale HeadShok Super Fatty Ultra DLR, 80mm-travel (2nd thing that justifies the $900 price tag. Heard it's a great suspension)
Rims/Wheels Sun Black Eye Disc (Serviceable)
Tires CST Caballero, 26 x 2.1 (Very good off-road/mud. Hopeless on wet asphalt)
Crankset TruVativ Isoflow (Don't know enough to compare but gives me no trouble.)
Rear Derailleur SRAM X-7 (I have the SX-5 RD on F5, it shifts well and very rugged as it has took multiple hits. X-7 should be an upgrade of SX-5)
Shifters SRAM SX5 Trigger (Wonderfully crisp shifter, the long lever stroke is on the long side however)
Handlebars Cannondale C3 (Don't know enough to compare but gives me no trouble. It's a bit too long for my small frame but one can always chop it down)
Tape/Grips Cannondale V-Tech (Nice, soft and survives a few scrapes on trees. Tend to slide out a bit however after each ride.)
Brake Levers Cannondale Fire (Don't know enough to compare but gives me no trouble.)
Pedals Wellgo aluminum w/clips and straps (Don't know enough to compare but gives me no trouble. Reflectors on them will fall off quite easily. Keep them on to be street legal. Take them off pre-emptively for off-road. I also took off the toe cage.)
Saddle Cannondale Mountain-V (I got bony butt so not quite comfy. It's decent quailty and serviceable.)
Seat Post Cannondale C4, aluminum (The letter printed on it scrape off too easily after a few adjustments. Otherwise, it's very study.)

That's all I know. I hope it helps.

Very helpful. My friend is thinking about an f5.Thanks

Quote:

Originally Posted by Okieslims (Post 4996775)

it's the same thing. If you look online, you can get a good set of clipless pedals and shoes for $100. Look at nashbar.com, and keep in mind that they'll price match anything. I got them to match a price that was half of theirs.

Thats a great website. I can get some really nice shimano pedals and decent shoes for just over 100. Thanks.

I'm going to drive myself mad if I keep looking at bikes. I think I'm just going to go with the f4. I jumped up 400 dollars when I test road it. I went there to look at an f6 or f5. The caffeine seems like the ultimate bike for me, but sure enough I would find something a little bit better for 100 bucks more the moment I settled on it. If the f4 will last me a few years of good trail riding and (from what I've read) the f4 is perfectly fine for most trails, then I think I'll be happy with it.