Can you justify spending so much more money on a Rush 2000 when the differences between it and the Rush 1000 are so marginal?
In performance for cash terms, the £2299 Rush 1000 is a far more rational choice. Okay, you don't get a carbon version of the Lefty DLR2 fork and the parts are slightly down-specced and heavier, but the overall performance is remarkably similar to a 2000 - for considerably less cash. But it appears that you need to pay this sort of price to get into the seriously lightweight territory.
A sub-27lb full suspension bike with 110mm of travel is still a rare beast. Cannondale have managed to produce the Rush 2000 by using a well-proven single pivot frame design and throwing all the money they could at the parts specification. The superb Fox RP3 rear shock helps make the backend efficient on all types of terrain - the climbing is especially good - but there are times when the fork feels a little too constipated.
The Rush 2000 is still nowhere near as plush as bikes like Specialized's Stumpjumper FSR, but that's just part of its appeal. Overall, it's a tight and lively bike that's very much at home on all-day jaunts, and is sure to appeal to hardtail converts. If that sounds like your kind of thing, and you're hankering after a super-lightweight bike, then the extra outlay could be well worth it.
