2023 Cannondale

Trail 8

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 »

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