Cannondale Bikes Review: Are They Good Bikes Worth Buying?

Cannondale is one of the most iconic and innovative brands in the cycling world. Since their start in 1971, the American company has pushed the envelope in bike design and technology, introducing groundbreaking new materials, frame designs, and suspension setups that have redefined what‘s possible on two wheels.

But with their extensive lineup of road, mountain, gravel, and kids bikes at premium prices, you may be wondering – are Cannondale bikes actually good? Are they worth the money? And which Cannondale bike is best for you?

In this ultimate Cannondale bikes review, we‘ll take a deep dive into the brand to help you decide. We‘ll look at Cannondale‘s history and reputation, spotlight some of their most popular models, see how they stack up vs the competition, and share feedback from real Cannondale owners.

By the end, you‘ll have a solid understanding of what Cannondale brings to the table and whether one of their highly-engineered bikes deserves a place in your garage. Let‘s jump in!

About Cannondale: Innovative Bikes Made in the USA

Cannondale‘s story begins in a crowded loft above a pickle factory in Connecticut in 1971. The company started out making bike trailers and bags, but soon pivoted to bike frames to really push the technological envelope.

In 1983, Cannondale introduced their first aluminum frame bike, the ST-500. At a time when steel was still king, Cannondale‘s large-diameter, thin-walled aluminum tubes were revolutionary, making bikes that were significantly lighter and stiffer.

Over the following decades, Cannondale continued to drive major bike innovations, including:

• The first carbon/alloy hybrid frame on the Six13 road bike (2004)
• The single-sided Lefty fork and headshok suspension (1990s/2000s)
• BB30 bottom bracket standard for lighter, stiffer cranks (2000)
• High-strength, hydroformed aluminum frames (2002)
• SystemSix, one of the first fully aero road bikes (2007)

Today, Cannondale offers a massive range of Men‘s and Women‘s bike across road, mountain, gravel, fitness, urban, kids, and electric. The bikes are designed in the USA and manufactured in facilities in Asia.

The company sponsors pro teams and athletes in multiple disciplines. Top names include 2020 Giro winner Egan Bernal, Giro Rosa winner Annemiek van Vleuten, and 3x Olympic MTB champ Nino Schurter.

So in short, Cannondale is the real deal – a premier bike brand with serious engineering chops and palmares to prove it. But how do their current bikes perform? Read on for our hands-on reviews.

Cannondale Road Bike Reviews

Cannondale has a deep lineup of road bikes ranging from elite, ultralight race machines to affordable entry-level models. Here are two of their most popular models:

Cannondale SuperSix EVO Review

The SuperSix EVO is Cannondale‘s flagship race bike platform engineered for the rigors of grand tour racing. It‘s designed to perfectly blend aerodynamics, stiffness, comfort and handling – a one-bike-to-rule-them-all for any racecourse.

The current 4th generation SuperSix EVO frame is a marvel. Using truncated airfoil tube shapes, dropped rear stays, an integrated cockpit, and internal cable routing, the new model is a reported 30% more aerodynamic than the previous version while hitting UCI weight limit.

But it‘s not an ungainly aero bike. With radically dropped seat stays providing built-in suspension, clearance for 30mm tires, and geometries that favor stable handling over quick steering, the SuperSix is still smooth and confidence-inspiring. It‘s a bike that descends and corners with aplomb.

Component-wise, the $7,750 SuperSix EVO Hi-Mod Disc Dura Ace build I tested is pure pro-level superbike. Hi-Mod Cannondale‘s highest grade carbon frame, Shimano Dura Ace Di2 electronic shifting, Knot carbon wheels, and Hollowgram SiSL2 cranks leave no room for improvement.

But Cannondale offers builds for (almost) any budget, from the $2,499.99 Shimano 105 model up to a $12,000 Dura Ace model with Enve wheels. The frameset alone runs $4,500.

Overall, the SuperSix EVO is a phenomenal all-around road race bike. It‘s blazingly fast without beating you up, climbs like a hyperlight superbike, and instills tons of confidence everywhere else. If you‘re looking for one bike to rule any ride or race, it‘s a top contender.

Cannondale CAAD Optimo Claris Review

On the other end of the price spectrum, the $1,050 CAAD Optimo Claris is Cannondale‘s entry-level endurance road bike. But don‘t let that fool you – with geometry and features derived from the CAAD series that have won numerous Bike-of-the-Year awards, this is no mere budget bike.

The heart of the CAAD Optimo is its SmartForm C2 aluminum frame. Using hydroforming, Cannondale engineers variable wall thicknesses and butting into the frame tubes to add stiffness and compliance where needed while keeping weight down. A full carbon fork helps absorb road chatter up front.

Compared to Cannondale‘s racier models, the CAAD Optimo gets slacker angles and a longer wheelbase for more stable, relaxed handling. But this is still a quick, lively ride – just not a demanding one.

Component wise, you get a 16-speed Shimano Claris groupset with 50/34 compact gearing, Maddox RS 2.0 wheels, and 28mm Vittoria Zaffiro tires – reliable, if entry-level parts. But the frame is really the star here.

Overall, the CAAD Optimo is one of the best values in road bikes, period. Its high-end aluminum frame and geometry make it a bike that‘s accessible to newer riders but can still grow with you as your skills and speeds increase. Riders consistently rave about its smooth ride, lively feel, and impeccable handling.

If you‘re just getting into road cycling or want a budget-friendly second bike, it‘s one of our top picks. More serious riders may eventually want to upgrade the cheap wheels, but the frame is good enough to warrant it.

Cannondale Mountain Bike Reviews

Cannondale offers a full range of mountain bikes, from race-ready cross-country whippets to burly enduro sleds. Here are standout models:

Cannondale Scalpel Review

The Scalpel is Cannondale‘s flagship full-suspension cross-country bike built to fly uphill and carve up singletrack. Engineered for speed, it‘s the weapon of choice for Cannondale‘s XC pros like Henrique Avancini.

The current Scalpel frame is a full carbon affair with a minimal flex pivot design. It offers 100mm of rear travel via a single pivot that flexes slightly on impact. The benefit is an ultra-light, torsionally stiff chassis with less weight and complexity than a linkage design.

Up front, the Scalpel gets a single-sided Lefty Ocho fork with 100mm of travel. It‘s stiff, smooth, and saves a bunch of weight thanks to the single crown. The fork‘s extra-long fork axle to crown also makes room for two water bottles in the main triangle, a rarity on full-suspension frames.

Geometry-wise, the Scalpel is all XC with steep seat tube and head tube angles for quick handling. The reach is a tad longer than previous models for better high-speed stability, but this is still an ultra-nimble ride and climber through and through.

I tested the $9,000 Scalpel Hi-Mod Ultimate model, which is one of the lightest full-suspension frames on the market at a claimed 1,910 grams. Built up with a SRAM XX1 Eagle AXS groupset, Enve carbon wheels, and carbon cockpit, my size large tester weighed a scant 21.5 pounds!

On the trail, the Scalpel is laser-focused speed machine. The ultra-efficient suspension, steep angles, and light weight make uphill riding and sprinting almost effortless. Coming downhill, the progressive suspension and slack head angle add stability to an otherwise razor-sharp XC carving tool.

One potential drawback is the proprietary nature of some components, namely the wheels, fork, and front hub. But Cannondale sells the bike in complete builds only, not a frameset, so you‘re buying into an integrated system.

Overall, the Scalpel is the pinnacle of modern XC bike design and a perfect choice for riders who live for uphill Strava times and KOMs. If you want a pure climber that still rips downhill, it‘s among the very best.

Customer Reviews: What Riders Say About Cannondale Bikes

To get a sense of how Cannondale owners feel about their bikes, we combed through owner reviews on sites like Bicycling.com, MTBR, road.cc and more. Here are some common themes:

• Huge praise for frame designs and ride feel. Across almost every model, riders rave about Cannondale‘s frame engineering, from ultralight XC carbon hardtails to silky smooth aluminum road frames. The balanced ride feel – quick but not twitchy, stable but still lively – comes up again and again.

• Top marks for innovation and technology. While not every Cannondale innovation has been a homerun (early Lefty forks had problems; 2008‘s Simon electronic suspension was ahead of its time), the brand consistently pushes bike tech forward. Owners frequently cite Cannondale‘s forward-thinking designs as a reason for buying.

• Great component spec for the price. On mid-tier and up models, owners often report their Cannondales being exceptionally well-equipped for the money vs competitors. It seems the company‘s size allows them access to OEM parts contracts smaller brands can‘t get.

• Polarizing industrial design. With their bright colorways, angular tube shapes, and idiosyncratic parts like the Lefty fork, Cannondale‘s have a distinctive look you either love or hate. Some owners wish for stealthier black frames, others love the loud style.

• Mediocre wheels on lower-tier models. One consistent knock on entry-level and mid-tier Cannondales are lackluster OEM wheels and cockpit parts. Many riders report eventually upgrading these. It seems Cannondale puts money towards the frame at the expense of these parts.

Of course, we found the odd 1-star review from a dissatisfied customer here and there. But the vast majority of Cannondale owners seem to be very happy with their bikes‘ performance, quality, and value.

Buying Advice: Are Cannondale Bikes Right for You?

So where does all this leave you? If you‘re considering buying a Cannondale bike, here‘s our take:

Cannondale bikes are absolutely among the best in the business in terms of performance, design, and quality. The company‘s focus on innovation means you‘re consistently getting cutting-edge frame designs and technologies, often trickling down to lower price points over time.

Cannondale also sells bikes and gear for pretty much every type of cycling – road, gravel, triathlon, cross-country, enduro, downhill, commuter, e-bike, and kids. So no matter your discipline, there‘s likely a Cannondale for you.

In terms of pricing, Cannondales tend to be premium to high-end, though generally a solid value for the technology and components you get. But budget-focused riders may find better values with less spendy brands like Giant and Trek.

The other consideration is maintenance. Cannondale‘s integrated designs and proprietary parts like the Lefty fork, Ai offset drivetrain, and custom Si cranks can make repairs and part replacement a little more complicated vs standard parts. But most Cannondale dealers are well-versed in servicing them.

Speaking of dealers, Cannondale has one of the larger brick-and-mortar dealer networks in the US. That means you can likely see and test ride models in-person before buying, which is a huge plus. The brand also sells direct-to-consumer in some markets.

Overall, if you‘re looking for a high-performance bike with cutting-edge design and don‘t mind paying a small premium, Cannondale is absolutely a brand worth considering. The company has one of the most extensive bike lineups around and a sterling reputation for innovation and quality.

Ultimately, the best bike for you comes down to your individual budget, riding style, and personal preferences. But we hope this deep dive on Cannondale has helped clarify the brand‘s offerings and whether they‘re a good fit for you. Happy riding!