Cannondale Moto Carbon 3 Review - BikeRadar

Now there's a thing - two different (and independent) magazines coming up with the same review. MBR said more or less the same thing...

eh, i cannot for the life of me understand the some of the arguments in the above mentioned review. It might be a bit down to my superior kit, but i find some of the findings above to be faulty at best.

1) the frame is not flexy in the rear, or at not to the degree that it becomes an issue. I've ridden my frame hard and it has yet to be felt and as such be an issue.

2) the tires are pure rubbish. Replace them immidiately with big betty ggs or something in those lines. These explain more of the issues than the stated (but for me not existant) flex issues. And yees, ride it with 36t up front and a bash. You will never ever need the big ring, or not too often anyway.

3) what kinda moron would compare a 67degree ha, 6icnh enduro dh bike with a genius or a mojo (69ishdegrees, 150/140mm travel)? They are not comparable at all! Granted, the frame is not as light as cannondale make it out to be - or in comparison to other frames at least, but the moto is a lot more bike than either of the two mentioned. The ransom would be a better comparison, and yes, the moto beats it at going downhill (i own both, identical spec - besides the shocks).

4) the high bb feels a bit odd going uphill and the bike feels lofty on the flats with 160mm up front, but this is not an issue at all going downhill - the spot it was designed to shine the most. As it is right now this is not an 6icnh trail bike, but a 6 inch enduro dh or hardcore am/big mountain kinda bike. It is designed to have 20-25% of sag, not 25-30% like most similar bikes, so it needs a bit of speed for the rear to truly shine - but then it does just that. I ride this frame down really technical and fast trails on the west coast of norway and much like the prophet - it loves tech parts, though it is way superior for the decsents. It performs really well there if one can ride it the way it is designed to be ridden - fast.

5) of course it needs a travel adjustable fork! Not for the flats or downhill, but for the uphill parts. Spec'ing it with a 160mm nonadjsutable fork would be folly and seriously limit how well it climbs for big mountain riding. It is a ride to go slow and steady uphill and bomb downhill and as such can benefit from shorter travel up front.

keep in mind, the moto is as it is right now more of a enduro dh plaything than the run of the mill 6 inch trailbike. It is a bike for riders with a bit of skill and rewards those who dare take it out for a spin going as fast as they can downhill. It is really nimble, stiff and the suspension works suprisingly well considering the lower than usual sag amount. As an enduro dh bike i would rate it a 9.5/10 with the .5 missing due to the small lack of small bump compliance. As general trail 6 icnher, something i firmly believe it is not, it would get a 8/10. The tires are shitty and the bb a bit too high (solution soon to be announced), but it still works really well. If you look at the ltd version with the crossmax st wheels and think "that looks like a good idea" forget about the moto, it is not for you. It is designed to haul ass downhill, not give anybody a race for the win at a marathon event.

eh, i cannot for the life of me understand the some of the arguments in the above mentioned review. It might be a bit down to my superior kit, but i find some of the findings above to be faulty at best.

1) the frame is not flexy in the rear, or at not to the degree that it becomes an issue. I've ridden my frame hard and it has yet to be felt and as such be an issue.

2) the tires are pure rubbish. Replace them immidiately with big betty ggs or something in those lines. These explain more of the issues than the stated (but for me not existant) flex issues. And yees, ride it with 36t up front and a bash. You will never ever need the big ring, or not too often anyway.

3) what kinda moron would compare a 67degree ha, 6icnh enduro dh bike with a genius or a mojo (69ishdegrees, 150/140mm travel)? They are not comparable at all! Granted, the frame is not as light as cannondale make it out to be - or in comparison to other frames at least, but the moto is a lot more bike than either of the two mentioned. The ransom would be a better comparison, and yes, the moto beats it at going downhill (i own both, identical spec - besides the shocks).

4) the high bb feels a bit odd going uphill and the bike feels lofty on the flats with 160mm up front, but this is not an issue at all going downhill - the spot it was designed to shine the most. As it is right now this is not an 6icnh trail bike, but a 6 inch enduro dh or hardcore am/big mountain kinda bike. It is designed to have 20-25% of sag, not 25-30% like most similar bikes, so it needs a bit of speed for the rear to truly shine - but then it does just that. I ride this frame down really technical and fast trails on the west coast of norway and much like the prophet - it loves tech parts, though it is way superior for the decsents. It performs really well there if one can ride it the way it is designed to be ridden - fast.

5) of course it needs a travel adjustable fork! Not for the flats or downhill, but for the uphill parts. Spec'ing it with a 160mm nonadjsutable fork would be folly and seriously limit how well it climbs for big mountain riding. It is a ride to go slow and steady uphill and bomb downhill and as such can benefit from shorter travel up front.

keep in mind, the moto is as it is right now more of a enduro dh plaything than the run of the mill 6 inch trailbike. It is a bike for riders with a bit of skill and rewards those who dare take it out for a spin going as fast as they can downhill. It is really nimble, stiff and the suspension works suprisingly well considering the lower than usual sag amount. As an enduro dh bike i would rate it a 9.5/10 with the .5 missing due to the small lack of small bump compliance. As general trail 6 icnher, something i firmly believe it is not, it would get a 8/10. The tires are shitty and the bb a bit too high (solution soon to be announced), but it still works really well. If you look at the ltd version with the crossmax st wheels and think "that looks like a good idea" forget about the moto, it is not for you. It is designed to haul ass downhill, not give anybody a race for the win at a marathon event.

I never had so many fun with other bike. And I had several full suspension bikes.

The Moto is not enduro xc or all mountain xc. It is all mountain DH.

It has a little rear flex, but not enough for to be noticeable.

I believe there is a little mistake: Kesteven says "Despite the torque stiffening suspension, it still twists and unhooks itself from the trail with irritating regularity". But Cannondale advises in tech manual: "SHOCK MOUNTING NOTE: The MAIN PIVOT and the SHOCK LINK PIVOT

nuts should be loosened before the UPPER and LOWER rear shock mounting bolts are tightened . This will allow the parts to be drawn together properly. Once the shock is mounted and the bolts tightened to the final torque. Tighten the pivot nut and the push link bolts."

I rode my Moto one month since my last review.

Now I agree with Kesteven. Moto really has a lot of rear flex. I felt it when I tried to pedal during a 60 km/h downhill. The rear end oscillated dangerously.

I will change the standard QR for the 12 mm system. I will write a new review about the behaviour of the bike with the 12 mm axle.

Now my Moto is with 12 mm maxle. There is no more oscillation. There is yet a little rear flex by the numerous articulations, but not noticeable while riding.

I'm entirely satisfied with my Moto now because it is a full enjoyable bike. I'm impressed by the quality of the rear suspension system. Big plush travel with almost none bob.

Cannondale should increase few dollars in Moto 5 for to offer a good product to their costumers, making available 12 mm rear axle and Domain 318 instead 302.

Complaint is about Cannondale in Brazil: Cannondale Moto is unavailable. Other brands like Specialized, Kona, Scott and Merida sell full line here with excellent support. I bought the only one demonstration bike, a Moto 5, then I spent a lot of money in upgrades (Totem air, Juicy 7, Nevegal tires, sun hubs, maxle, dropouts). Myself imported the 12 mm dropouts and Maxle because the Brazilian dealer didn't attend me.

Hi Cannondale! Wake up!

I'd have to put the Moto in the heavyweight XC category, people who consider a bike like this to be a bomber need to ride more bikes, namely the 2005-2006 enduro, the original nomad, the Lapierre 516 and the new Remedy. Even the Roscoe descends better than this bike. It is however, THE best pedalling 6" bike I have ridden, so it gets 4