Trail SE 2
A 29″ aluminum frame hardtail trail bike with upper mid-range components.
Manufacturer Price
$1,875Frame | Aluminum |
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Suspension | Hardtail, 120mm |
Fork | RockShox 35 Silver |
Wheels | 29″ Aluminum |
Drivetrain | 1 × 12 |
Groupset | SX Eagle |
Brakes | Hydraulic Disc |
Seatpost | Dropper |
For This Bike
5'0" – 5'5"
5'3" – 5'8"
5'7" – 6'1"
5'11" – 6'3"
None yet.
Do you have this bike? Help other riders make a decision about which size will work for them by sharing your own size and fit notes.
Dec 2023 · Mick Kirkman
When looking for one of the best full-suspension trail bikes around two grand, the ride quality, geometry and suspension ought to be at a level where an advanced rider can ride relatively fast without ever feeling held back. What’s more, any bike at this price point should also offer balanced handling and plenty of grip to encourage an improving rider to build skills, fitness and confidence. Cannondale’s Habit 4: Need to know Cannondale’s aluminium trail bike with 29in wheels and 130mm rear travel Updated geometry brings longer reach numbers and steeper seat tube angles RockShox Super Deluxe shock is perfectly tuned to the frame Three rear centre measurements for improved weight distribution RockShox Recon RL fork has 140mm travel Shimano Deore 12-speed drivetrain XS size rolls on smaller 27.5in wheels Cannondale’s aluminium Habit 4 does both. The clean, smooth-lined frame design delivers 130mm travel and it is packaged with a 140mm fork. It’s RockShox suspension at both ends too, and air-sprung, so it can be tuned to any rider weight. The Habit 4 ticks other key boxes too, its non-nonsense specification includes powerful 4-piston brakes, an adjustable dropper post and Maxxis tyres. Taken together it’s easily one of the best proper mountain bikes for under £2K. The Habit has been Cannondale’s go-to trail bike for multiple seasons, but also the choice for the 50:01 riders like ex-DH champion Josh Bryceland. Yes, that’s right, Bryceland was a pinner before switching to jibbing and jumping about on the socials. And this could be part of the reason why the Habit’s numbers have been refreshed for extra DH capability, the geometry and attitude leaning a bit more towards messing about in the woods than a ruthlessly efficient XC bike with more travel. The new Habit shape means it’s more versatile, but with 130mm travel, still perfectly happy crushing longer rides and bridleways. And, at 15.2kg (33.5lb), it’s not too heavy to limit its climbing potential. If you want more travel, Cannondale also offers an LT version, which, yep, you guessed it, ups travel to 140mm rear and 150mm front, using the same frame and a longer stroke rear shock. All Habit frames (in carbon or alloy) now benefit from a much steeper seat tube angle that’s also shorter in length for more rider standover clearance while improving the seated riding position for climbing. Frame and geometry With the 50:01 boys and US shredder Mitch Ropelato ragging the Habit, Cannondale needed to deliver a robust frame that’s easy to live with. As such, the Habit 4’s alloy SmartWeld construction is very clean and tidy, with great lines and I reckon great looks too in this stealthy gloss black colourway. With a familiar shape to bikes like the Specialized Stumpy Evo, the in-line shock is held in an extender yoke that is driven by the upper suspension rocker and connected to a mount on the top of the downtube. The seat tube has a distinct kink above the threaded BB shell, so there’s still room for …Continue reading »
• Agile and easy to ride, the Habit 4 handles like a much more expensive machine
• Shock tune feels perfect
• Fun and flicky ride that keeps rider weight well-balanced on all trail gradients
• SRAM DB8 brakes feel solid and have a smooth action for a budget brake
• RockShox’s Recon RL fork lacks finesse and precise tuning
• Deore drivetrain shifts can be slightly clunky, especially with the KMC chain
• Maxxis Rekon tyres use harder compound with less wet weather grip
Jun 2023 · Ron Koch
The SE version of the Scalpel uses the same frame as that ultra-light steed but with a longer-stroke shock and increased fork travel to combine the best attributes of a dedicated cross-country and trail bike into one machine.
May 2023 · Sarah Bedford
Contemporary angles, a forgiving frame and decent spec mean the Trail SE 4 has a lot of promise, but the short reach and top tube limit trail potential when things get more technical
Good-quality Shimano drivetrain
Upgrade potential
Comfortable when cruising and climbing
Brakes lack power and urgency
Coil-sprung fork is too hard for light riders
Long stem affects responsiveness of steering
Heavy compared to competition
Sep 2022 · Guy Kesteven
The big tube brand wants to blow up your tires too now, is Guy Kesteven pumped about that or a bit let down?
Fast, smooth, mid-volume action
Neat locking Presta or Schraeder head
Flexible pull-out hose
Tough machined construction and quality feel
Secure travel lock and frame clip
More ‘Midi’ than ‘Mini’ in length and weight
Quality costs
Can trap your hand
Hard top and bottom out
May 2020
Based on an XC race bike rather than enduro, the new Scalpel SE is fast, light & rips thru singletrack, as long as you set it up right. Here's the review!
May 2020
Fast enough for XC races and big enough to rip descents
Lightweight frame with modern geometry
Non-racers may want knobbier tires
Oct 2018
Cannondale's Proportional Response suspension design and the all-new Habit features 130mm of suspension fit for riders of different sizes. - Mtbr.com
Frame | All-New, Smartform C2 Alloy, SAVE dropped seatstays, tapered headtube, post mount disc, StraightShot internal cable routing, dropper post compatible BSA 73, 12mm thru axle, Boost 148 BB Standard: BSA, 73mm, Threaded Color: Emerald |
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Fork | Rock Shox 35 Silver R, 120mm, 15x110 thru-axle, 51mm offset Travel: 120mm Spring Type: Coil |
Bottom Bracket | Truvativ Power Spline |
Headset | Integrated Sealed Bearing, Tapered |
Stem | Cannondale 3, 6061 Alloy, 31.8, 0° |
Handlebar | FSA Alloy Riser, 15mm rise, 760mm |
Saddle | Cannondale Ergo XC |
Seatpost | TranzX Dropper, 31.6, Internal Routing, 100mm (S), 120mm (M-XL) Type: Dropper |
Pedals | Cannondale Platform |
Grips | Fabric FunGuy |
Rear Derailleur | SRAM SX Eagle |
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Crank | SRAM SX Eagle Power Spline, 30T |
Shifters | SRAM SX Eagle, 12-speed |
Cassette | SRAM SX Eagle, 11-50, 12-speed |
Chain | SRAM SX Eagle, 12-speed |
Brakes | TRP Slate G4 4 Piston hydraulic disc, 180/160mm rotors Type: Hydraulic Disc |
Brake Levers | TRP hydraulic disc |
Rims | WTB STX i25 TCS, 32h, tubeless ready |
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Spokes | Stainless Steel, 14g |
Front Hub | Shimano MT400, 15x110mm thru-axle |
Rear Hub | Shimano MT400, 12x148mm thru-axle |
Tires | (F) Maxxis Minion DHF, 29x2.5” Exo Casing, Tubeless Ready / (R) Maxxis High Roller II, 29x2.3", EXO casing, tubeless ready |
Last updated April 22
Not listed for 392 days