Anti404

As one of my previous threads stated, I'm trying to help my friend purchase a bicycle. From a couple of 5mile > test rides, he found that the Cannondale SystemSix and CAAD9 were both pretty similar in their rides, being stiff but not uncomfortable. I rode them both as well, and found basically the same results. We took them out through the somewhat rough streets of Bloomington, IN, which is a rather hilly area. Neither of us really noted any difference in speed up the hills, but that's probably the case with all test rides. He was sized at riding a 58cm.

The LBS we went to(the only one near that sells anything above entry level but not uber expensive things such as Litespeed, Kestrel, etc.) has the 2008 Cannondale SystemSix Si Ultegra Liquigas model as their only size 58. This includes full Ultegra with a Dura-Ace rear derailleur, Easton EC70 handle bars, Shimano Ultegra WH-6600 wheelset with some mediocre tyres, Cannondale's Carbon SI crankset, and a Fizik Arione saddle. It's currently at a really high price, but if it's still available on Nov. 15th, it will be reduced to around 2200 after tax - I'll try to see if they'll throw in some carbon cages or something. What I like about this deal is that it comes with the LBS certified Cannondale defect warranty. What I dislike is the Ultegra components at such a high price, the 2200$ tag AFTER reduction, and that it could possibly be gone by the time it goes on sale.

While scouring EBAY, I found the same exact bicycle for sale. It's got around two days left for bidding and is currently sitting at $1125. Of course this bike lacks the warranty, I think, but it is probably going to end up being much cheaper than 2200.

The LBS had a CAAD 9 in stock, but it was only 105 components and that's what this dood's trying to upgrade away from. So, after searching the internet, I came upon a supposedly very, very slightly used, stated to be 100miles>, at the price of 1400+75 shipping. This has full Dura-Ace with Ultegra Brake Calipers, Fizik Pave saddle, a mediocre/sub-mediocre FSA crank, and Ksyrium Elite wheels. Again, no warranty is available. This has the best components(and he thinks he'll upgrade the crank to Ultegra SL or Dura Ace) and is well priced.

Basically, he plans to ride about 28 miles five days a week in the hilly town of Bloomington, Indiana. He wants to get back in to race shape(he had surgery on his feet that required six months of no bike time) and use this bike as both a trainer and when needed a good-to-go race bicycle.

I'm diggin' the CAAD9 because it's cheap, available, and good. The SystemSix on EBAY could be rad, but who knows what the price will skyrocket to? I've tried to do research and test rides, but none of this is that useful in the situation that this guy is currently placed.

jaxgtr

Buy the CAAD9

Anti404

The guy said it was bought directly from Cannondale; is that possible?
The color of the CAAD9 is, to me, the worst part; it's some horribly ugly Blue/Grey mix.

BananaTugger

It is possible if the frame was built for a shop's club or team.

If it was, then it would have custom paint and decals, like my Wheelworks-Cannondale CAAD 6 SI.

Anti404

It's just blue and gray, which I think was a common color in '07. Is that the only possible way in which it could be bought from Cannondale?

WCroadie

I doubt you will notice any difference in speed going uphill or down with any quality race bike you ride and nothing will be uncomfortable on a 5 mile test ride, that being said both are excellent bikes and won't be uncomfortable after 75 mile rides provided they fit correctly. I have the CAAD9 and love it. Iwould go for the system six and you should be able to talk him down from 2200, it's an 08 and the 09's are coming out. If he doesn't budge then I'd look for a CAAD9 or another system six.

I don't mean to be a smart***** but how can a bike be "full Dura-Ace with Ultegra Brake Calipers, a mediocre/sub-mediocre FSA crank," That's not full dura-ace, it's some dura-ace. Lastly, my CAAD9 has those FSA cranks, and while I wouldn't specifically buy them, I haven't had an issue, I sometimes get ready to replace them with a set of DA cranks but never do because I really don't have any problems with them. So tell your buddy if he gets the CAAD just to ride the FSA's until he needs new cranks.

Anti404

$2200 is both the lowest he'll go and the cheapest I've a SystemSix around here.
Full Dura-Ace drive train? /shrug I'm not on a forum for terminology.
I've heard really bad things about that FSA crank, so I dunno'. He may or may not replace it depending upon how he likes it.

JoeOxfordCT

The SystemSix is gone from Cannondale's 2009 lineup.....it that means anything to you.....CAAD9 lives on for at least one more year.....

Another vote for the CAAD9

patentcad

I can only advise you on this if you drop your anti-404 platform and user name.

Anti404

I don't know how to change my name, mister pcad.

As I've explained, Anti404 is a reference to the 404 web error, not Zipp 404's, which I would gladly own if I had the fundage.

patentcad

Well, OK then, get the CAAD 9.

duuuuuude

Go System Six and don't look back.

If you have no mechanic skills, get it from the shop with warranty and peace of mind.

Yea, $2200 is kinda steep, but a new ultegra level bike is gonna run you around $2000 anyway at a shop with a lesser frame.

The System Six frame is solid.

Or if you are mechanically inclined, you can build up a CAAD 9 for pretty cheap.

Anti404

One of the local shops will do a full from-the-box build up for $30, but I haven't seen many well priced framesets, and I've only noticed a few component groups of good price.

BananaTugger

Buy an old CAAD frame off of Ebay and trade it in for credit.

That's how I'm getting a new CAAD 9 frame, by shipping out my old CAAD 6 SI to Cannondale.

Anti404

Not to sound dumb, but I don't really know what you mean by "trade it in for credit"; could you possibly elaborate? Are you talking about their exchange program? If so, don't you have to be the original owner, and do you know the actual reduction in cost on a new frame, rather than their "significantly reduced price" phrase on the exchange FAQs.

ridethecliche

You can't do that. You have to be the original owner.

WCroadie

I've read some really bad things about them too, yet I really can't complain about them, they've survived the abuse I put them through.

So did you choose a bike yet?

BananaTugger

It worked for me.

My CAAD 6 SI was used.

It also helped that the dude I bought it from sent along the original receipt and service stuff.

Anti404

If you have the original receipt and what not then it would be difficult to prove you as anything less than the original owner.

I'm leaning towards telling him to get the CAAD9, since it seems to have parts of the three most important components: groupset, wheels, and frame.

MONGO!

In what sense was the Ultegra full?

Oh, and get the CAAD 9

Anti404

I guess I'm the only one who's ever seen people list "full x with v component" - *shrug*.

ridethecliche

It's full ultegra as long as anything else on it is better than Ultegra. Dura ace>Ultegra, so it's still a full ultegra, but better...

MONGO!

I see people posting that all the time, I also see people spell "lose" as "loose"

No. "Full" Ultegra means it's all Ultegra, not some Dura Ace.

ridethecliche

I consider that the lesser of the two evils in the bike industry, since a lot of the time 'Full 105' has an FSA crank or tektro brakes and such. In my mind, full X level can translate to full x level or better. I'm okay with that. If you have a beef with that, good for you.

Anti404

If I had said something to the extent of the bicycle being a Dura Ace build, and then listed only the rear derailleur as such with every other component being Ultegra or lower(as many bicycle industries seem to do most of the time), then I'd understand. I agree with the idea that if it is a higher spec. then it really doesn't matter, and is also much easier to say than "Ultegra x, Ultegra v, etc. with Dura Ace y". Dunno.

How are the Six13 frames? I've read something about them having a different rear triangle than the SystemSix and CAAD9 - does this translate to less "stiffness" and more "flex"?