I own 3 Cannondales: an F200: Hard tail, 110mm lefty fork from 2002. A Gemini: 2004, Sherman front fork, DHX Air. R800 Road bike from 2006. I really like those bikes and rode them a ton. So, I'm not generally a Cannondale basher, but I have to say, I'm pretty un-impressed with the Moto. The top end has a claimed weight of 30.5 pounds and costs about $6,000. for 160mm of travel. That's awfully expensive for what you're getting. Two years ago I built up a Santa Cruz Nomad for less than $5,000 that weighed 31.1 pounds. http://www.ridemonkey.com/forums/showthread.php?t=166271 That's an aluminum frame, and way cheaper, and two years ago. Later I dropped it down to a 9-speed with a chain guide, wore the tires down a bit, and it weighed in at 30.5 pounds. The specs that Cannondale achieved with the Moto have been achievable for years now, and for less cost. This is not a bike I would recommend to someone.
Cannondale does make good stuff. I've been abusing my lefty fork for the past 7 years and that bike still feels as good as it did the day I bought it. The road bike is all the bike I'd ever need, and it was only $1400 bucks. Same deal with the Gemini, it was a great bike for the price. I could thrash it hard and it was still (sort of) light enough to ride cross country. And, the 3D forging stuff that Doug Dalton was talking about in this video: http://www.pinkbike.com/news/sea-otter-cannondale-2009.html seems pretty cool. I don't know enough about materials, but the proof of a design is always in the testing, not the theory.
Anyway, that's my two cents.
Cannondale does make good stuff. I've been abusing my lefty fork for the past 7 years and that bike still feels as good as it did the day I bought it. The road bike is all the bike I'd ever need, and it was only $1400 bucks. Same deal with the Gemini, it was a great bike for the price. I could thrash it hard and it was still (sort of) light enough to ride cross country. And, the 3D forging stuff that Doug Dalton was talking about in this video: http://www.pinkbike.com/news/sea-otter-cannondale-2009.html seems pretty cool. I don't know enough about materials, but the proof of a design is always in the testing, not the theory.
Anyway, that's my two cents.