Submitted by
buzzy248
a Cross Country Rider
from Aberdeen, WA USA Date Reviewed: August 24, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Mima-Porter #8
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$2000.00
Purchased At:
Old Town Bikes
Strengths:
Handles well, fairly light, good suspension, very few Shimano components.
Weaknesses:
could not mount GPS to stock handlebar. Bought new stem so I could use 25.4mm bar.
Similar Products Used:
none
Bike Setup:
Large, 2008 model with Fox fork and shock, SRAM drivetrain, Avid J5 brakes.
Bottom Line:
This is my first full suspension bike and I like it. Handles well and soaks up a few more bumps than the Klein Pulse Pro I was riding for the past 11 years. Braking is damn good.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
hook1080
a Downhiller
from ATL, GA, USA Date Reviewed: August 21, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Fire Swamp, ThievesChip's Loop, Sope Creek
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$2100.00
Purchased At:
Atlanta Cyclery
Strengths:
Handling, suspension, weight, components,
Weaknesses:
rear brake line loose, crappy stock saddle
Similar Products Used:
2002 Kona Stinky Deelux, 2006 Kona Stinky
Bike Setup:
Race Face Atlas AM stem 70mm, Hussefelt Risers, ODI Ruffians, WTB PURE race saddle, SHimano SPD
Bottom Line:
UPDATE: Wow. What a trail bike. I've only ridden my Prophet in the slacker FR setting- and it still climbs like a banshee. Propedal gives the bike a very grounded feel on tougher descents, and gives a responsive climb-- even while out-of-the-saddle hammering. Drop the seatpost for the descent and hold on. I dropped the PSI about 10lbs front and back (I weigh 165lbs- 5'9")and the bike is perfect. It's super snappy on tight singletrack. I can't wait to do a Moab trip.
Also the stock tires on the 2008 need lower psi to get a bite on technical ascents. Then they hook up fine-- even on looser sandy and clay trails.
Overall, definitely a contender in the 5 inch trail bike category. Get one.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
hook1080
a Cross Country Rider
from ATL, GA, USA Date Reviewed: August 12, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Fireswamp, Chip's Loop
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$2100.00
Purchased At:
Atlanta Cyclery
Strengths:
Geometry, Build, color, weight,
Weaknesses:
Haven't really found any yet
Similar Products Used:
Kona Stinky, Kona Coiler, Cannondale 900,
Bike Setup:
Race Face atlas AM 70mm stem, Hussefelt risers, Odi ruffian lock-ons, Shimano MD540 pedals, stock everything else
Bottom Line:
I'll post an update after I get some more miles on this thing, but initial bike setup looks great. I've already switched the ride to the slacker FR shock setting. The cockpit is roomy enough to pedal. I think my bike is around 30 pounds.
For around 2 g's this is an amazing;y spec'd bike. I'll put it through the trail-bike paces tomorrow. And perhaps a jaunt out to Poison Spider next month.
Did I mention the Avid Juicys are white on the 08 Prophet? Yeah. All the dudes in the shop were drooling. This bike's definitely a head turner.
Konas are great. But they're heavy
Santa Cruz's are amazing. But they're too spendy.
Try the Prophet, you'll like it.
Overall rating is 4 chilis until I really put the bike through the paces on the trail.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
SWVANoker
a Weekend Warrior
from Roanoke VA, USA Date Reviewed: August 6, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Iron Mountain
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$2100.00
Purchased At:
Just the right Gear
Strengths:
Versatility. The RP2 shock's pro pedal setting allows you to climb like the bike is virtually a hardtail. The suspension in general is slightly better quality than you can find in this price range in any other products.
Fox Vanilla 32 RL, Fox rp2, juicy 5's, x-7 shifters, x-9 rear derailleur, x-7 front derailleur, DT swiss 4.2 wheelset. cannondale FSA riser bar
Bottom Line:
First it has been 4 weeks since I have purchased my prophet 2. Since then I have had two problems that have caused it to be in the shop for a week.
-1 the juicy 5's had a leak in the line causing my rear brake to be mushy and un responsive.
-2 the rear wheel got busted out of alignment after about 4 rides.
However, SRAM is sending a new set of Juicy 5's in the color to match my bike so I can't complain except i would rather be riding it right now.
I have some trouble with the handling while descending when the bike is in the cross country 69* head angle setting. I feel like this may have something to do with the straight angle of the seat post putting my body closer to the handle bars. I seem to get to much of my weight on the front wheel sometimes in turns. However, if you take the time to flip the bike to the FR geometry this is a non factor.
Other than that the bike climbs magnificently. You can even lock out the Fox Vanilla fork if you are riding on smooth climbs and the bike is basically rigid. The balance and geometry have worked great for me going up. I have had increased ability to clear logs and rock gardens going up. Partly due to the good BB clearance and to the placement of the rider being slightly forward compared to most bikes.
Bottom line.
I think if you are interested in a bike that can do a lot of things well. you are looking at the best bike in its price range. The Santa Cruz Heckler, Kona Dawg, Trek Remedy, Titus Ml-1 are all significantly more expensive for the same goodies. The Prophet climbs excellent benefits of the rp2 shock pro pedal, and can rip down most anything this side of 3+ foot drops comfortably and confidently in the fr position. However, some of the downhill handling characterisitcs in the xc setting are less than favorable.
4 chilis for having to get new brakes immediately.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
luseboy
a Weekend Warrior
from San Francisco Date Reviewed: June 27, 2008
08'prophet 2 frame, pike 454 air-u turn, fox float rp2, mavic deetraks, and most of the other parts are all DH/FR oriented
Bottom Line:
(this is for the 08 prophet 2) I absolutely love this bike. It climbs pretty well, and decends much like a short travel DH rig. I love it. the prophet is the definiton of All-Mountain! Get one today
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Crash
a Weekend Warrior
from Sacramento, CA Date Reviewed: September 29, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Forest Hill Divide/Porcupine Rim
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$2100.00
Purchased At:
Mikes Bikes of Sacramento
Strengths:
It is hard to beat the frame design and overall proformance. I love the variable geometry, and was sceptical at first, but after one test ride I was hooked. The bike now comes with Fox Shox both front and back. They work great, although I miss the option of the Lefty fork. (Cannondale stopped making the 140mm Lefty after 2007, but you can still put it on the 2008 frame) This is also the first time for me using "Egg Beaters" instead of SPD's, I love the egg beaters!
Another great thing about the 2008 models, is the price. They have seriously reduced the MSRP's on these things compared to previous years.
Weaknesses:
Being that I owned a 2007 model before it was stolen, I have to say that I am a bit upset that even though I bought the 2008 Prophet 2, there were a couple of components that were better on the 2007 Prophet 3. The big one is a huge step down considering the P2 was supposed to be a step up, was the brakes. My 07P3 had Avid Juicy Seven's, and now the only 08 Prophet that has them is the Prophet 1. I'm pretty sure the shifters took a step back too, SRAM 0-7 vs. 0-9, but they still preform as good.
The "Bottom Line" is this, although I think the the 2008 is a step back from the 2007 models, and I wish the 140mm Lefty were still an option, it remains my bike of choice.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jeffrey Scanlan
a Weekend Warrior
from Spotsylvania, VA USA Date Reviewed: November 10, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Iron Legs, Choccolocco Management Area Anniston, AL
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$3675.00
Purchased At:
Olde Town Bicycles Fredericksburg, VA
Strengths:
I have had the Prophet2 for a little over a month and its strong in every way. The new XTR rear derailuer and XT drive train are flawless, it shifts so smooth. The manitou swinger with SPV, now factory pre-set really works well. The carbon SPV lefty 140mm eats up anything I have thrown at it. You can take the worst lines and it will get you through it like a pro. I like the SDG i-beam saddle, its an interesting design thats well suited to a full suspension bike. As usual with cannondale the frame quality is best in the business as far as I'm concernced. The welds are so flawless. The rear triangle on the prophet is so burly and no flex. The Mavic X819's are very sweet wheels and the Maxxis UST Ignitors are great as well.
I got the silver/blue color and it looks so good, the pic on the internet does it no justice. The guys at the LBS were amazed as well.
Weaknesses:
haven't found any yet.
Similar Products Used:
Jekyll 2000 SL team replica
Bike Setup:
Lefty Carbon Max SPV 140mm Manitou swinger 3X Full XT set up w/ XTR rear SDG carbon post and I-beam saddle FSA allow riser bars Mavic X819 Maxxis Ignitor UST
Bottom Line:
Best bike I have ever ridden. I get giddy just looking at it!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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