Cannondale’s Best-Selling Mountain Bike The Cannondale F5

On Jun 5, 2009

We didn’t ask Cannondale to send us their most expensive cross-country race bike. We didn’t request a long-travel, downhill, gravity sled. And we didn’t place an order for a big-buck trailbike. Instead, we asked to ride Cannondale’s best-selling mountain bike. That turned out to be the $769 Cannondale F5.

The F5 is an aluminum hardtail mountain bike. The frame boasts Cannondale’s trademark oversized and ovalized PowerPyramid downtube. Most of the frame tubes are internally butted. Don’t know what that means? Look at the headtube (because it is externally butted) and imagine it inside out. That is what internal butting is.

The F5 has mechanical disc brakes, a quick-release seatpost clamp, full cable housing to the rear derailleur (cuts down on maintenance), trigger shifters, aluminum rims, a fork lockout, mounts for a book rack, aluminum 26-inch-wide bar and a fork with 3.9 inches of travel. Add the beautiful finish and understated graphics of our Race Red F5 (it is also available in Jet Black) and you have a classic hardtail mountain bike ready to roll.

FLYING THE F5
The MBA wrecking crew gets spoiled riding ultra-expensive mountain bikes, but none of us felt like we were being punished when asked to ride the F5. A few twists on the fork spring’s preload knob, positioning the saddle, and angling the shifters and brake levers were all it took to become comfortable on this bike. Simplicity is one of the most welcomed features of the F5. And just because you could buy seven F5s for the cost of one top-of-the-line trailbike, we didn’t restrict our rides to easy trails and bike paths. The F5 was asked to attack the same terrain that all the expensive bikes eat up.

Moving along: Proportionally, the F5 is as close to perfection as a hardtail trailbike gets. It should be. It benefits from every Cannondale hardtail that came before it. The bike feels right from the first pedal. The bar is a good width, the grips feel fine and the top tube length is spot on. The saddle needs a bit more width, but it is acceptable for rides of less than epic length. The proven SRAM drivetrain shifts crisply, and the shifter triggers are right where you need them. Spinning along the trail is the only time the platform pedals show their inferiority to clipless pedals (when spinning a gear, your feet have the tendency to lift from the platform surface at the top of the stroke).

Cornering: The F5 is a quick-steering little package. It swoops along tight singletrack without breaking a sweat (although you will, because this bike likes you to push it). Cannondale’s big trick in the cornering department is wrapping the rims in Kenda Nevegal tires with Stick-E rubber. These tires give the F5 a knob up on lesser-equipped hardtails.

Climbing: The tires we just praised earn more accolades on the climb, as they bite regardless of rider position. This bike’s weight is noticeable, but not overwhelming. Move up a cog on the cassette and work it. The frame, wheels and cranks keep you moving up the climbs at the pace you are willing to throw down.

Technical: Where a dual-suspension bike allows the rider to be a little lazy, the F5 (and any hardtail) requires an alert and responsive rider in the technical sections. Stay out of the saddle, bend your arms, and choose your lines. The F5 will get you through without complaint. Some crewers found themselves attempting tricky sections on the F5 because the platform pedals gave them the guarantee of a quick escape if they goofed.

Descending: You don’t want to get too crazy on fast or steep descents, as the quick-steering F5 doesn’t give the rider much room for error. The fork travel feels too short in these situations (a longer travel fork is a necessary upgrade for riders who want more downhill performance). Pick your line, don’t try to hang on the wheel of the guy with the five-inch-travel trailbike, and take advantage of the Kenda tires and Avid disc brakes.

F5 FACTS
Early production RockShox Dart 3 forks suffered oil leakage (fixed at no charge by RockShox), but this one didn’t. The lockout feature offers some subtle adjustability. Turning the lockout dial from its most-firm lockout position of six o’clock (there is a blow-off circuit so direct hits while locked will not knock your dentures loose) to five o’clock gives the fork a very nice pedaling platform while still taking the bite out of trail chatter.

Recommended upgrades? When you have a year on the wheels (or less if you are tough on wheels), you could have them rebuilt with lighter spokes. Clipless pedals would be a nice, but not an essential upgrade. Lock-on grips and a chainstay protector are both products that you should work into the deal when you buy the bike. A 4.7-inch-travel fork would be an over-the-top upgrade that should only be considered by riders looking to ride the F5 more aggressively on the downhills.

NO SURPRISE
After spending time on the F5, we can see why this is the best-selling mountain bike in the Cannondale lineup. It works great and looks awesome doing it. A good rider on this bike will embarrass a lesser rider on a more expensive bike, and a beginner will be treated to what a real mountain bike is supposed to be. Add your enthusiasm and go.
One final note. You cannot discount the importance of the strong Cannondale dealer network. Your F5 will be built properly and then fitted to you correctly. Back up a great product at a super price with a knowledgeable staff of professionals and you have all the ingredients necessary for a best-selling product. There you are—the Cannondale F5.

CANNONDALE F5
Price   $769
Country of origin   Taiwan
Weight   30.5 pounds
Hotline   (800) 429-8464
Frame tested   17″ (medium)
Bottom bracket height   12″
Chainstay length   16.5″
Top tube length   23.5″
Head tube angle   70°
Seat tube angle   73.5°
Standover height   29.5″
Wheelbase   42.5″
Suspension travel   (front) 3.9″
Suspension travel   (rear) None
Frame material   Aluminum
Fork   RockShox Dart 3
Shock   None
Rims   Jalco Disc X320
Tires   Kenda Nevegal (2.1″)
Hub   Formula DC20/22
Brakes   Avid BB-5
Brake levers   Cannondale XC
Crankset   FSA CK-306TTT
Shifters   SRAM X-5 triggers
Front derailleur   SRAM X-7
Rear derailleur   SRAM X-5
Chainrings   FSA (44/32/22)
Cassette   SRAM PG-950 (11-34)
Pedals   Wellgo platform

Cannondale’s Best-Selling Mountain Bike The Cannondale F5

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