[BurlyShirley]

http://www.divine-innovation.com/

This cannondale prophet is really the best of all worlds for me. Im done competing. I just want to ride bikes and have fun. I got to demo this bad boy at collegiate nationals and I've been thinking so much about one. It just blew me away. Best thing Ive ever ridden.

I know Cannondale gets a bad rap, "crack n' fail" and all that, but this bike is seriously the tits.

 

[binary visions]

If you get one, make sure to post pictures/reviews. I was drooling over one myself.

 

[jacksonpt]

I was in the shop over the weekend for a tire, and they had a prophet on the floor. Was definitely sexy... but I didn't do much more than look at it. The frame is roughly 1lb lighter than my 575 frame, so it will be interesting to see how it holds up to people who really hammer their bikes.

Have you demo'd/ridden any other new/good trail bikes?

 

[JRB]

A dude I ride with was sure thinking about one. It's funny since he doesn't like Cannondale. He ultimately opted to get a 5 spot with a 130mm Float R. Peeps seem to like this bike though.

 

[s1ngletrack]

That's pretty sick - I wonder how it would hold up on medium sized (6-12ft) stuff for those of us who aren't as buttery smooth as Cedric?

 

[MTB_Rob_NC]

http://www.divine-innovation.com/

This cannondale prophet is really the best of all worlds for me. Im done competing. I just want to ride bikes and have fun.

That's the way I feel about my Heckler !

Seriously though I saw my first Prophet Sunday, eyeballing it, the pivot location looked VERY similar to the Heckler, as did the geometry.

 

[TN]

What did you like about it?

 

[BurlyShirley]

That's the way I feel about my Heckler !

Seriously though I saw my first Prophet Sunday, eyeballing it, the pivot location looked VERY similar to the Heckler, as did the geometry.

Yeah, about the only bike that compares to it is the Heckler, but as a whole bike, the way it comes spec'd the package is just amazing. I wouldnt do anything but add either a 2nd ring the the 4x model, or a bash guard the 4,000. Man is that thing light too.

 

[Westy]

Saw a Prophet last weekend. Very light and I was extremely impressed with the fit and finish. I'd be all over one but the head angle is a little to slack for my tastes.

 

[BurlyShirley]

What did you like about it?

seriously, there was nothing not to like, that I noticed. It pedaled way better than an enduro or something with similar travel, plus it has nearly 6 inches front and rear for bigger stuff. I wont be pulling massive hucks on it, but as a trail bike with some jumps and drops thrown in, its just perfect. Consider it as a pedalable rocky mountain switch that's light as hell with no super high bottom bracket and suspension that works.

 

[jacksonpt]

Yeah, about the only bike that compares to it is the Heckler,

Care to elaborate? There are TONS of trailbikes on the market - how is it than none of them compare to these 2 bikes? Seems like for as similar as the 575 and the heckler are, if one compares to the prophet, the other should too.

 

[BurlyShirley]

care to back up that statement? There are TONS of trailbikes on the market... how is it than none of them compare to the prophet?

Ok, of all of the bikes I have ridden thus far with my specific intended purpose, its lighter, pedals better and has more plush suspension than anything out there. One could argue something about the GF cake being light, but it doesnt fit the exact same intended purpose.

 

[jacksonpt]

Ok, of all of the bikes I have ridden thus far with my specific intended purpose, its lighter, pedals better and has more plush suspension than anything out there. One could argue something about the GF cake being light, but it doesnt fit the exact same intended purpose.

Gotcha.

I trust the bike was stiff and solid? The 5.25lb frame would make me wonder... but I've never sat on one, never mind ridden one.

 

[BurlyShirley]

Care to elaborate? There are TONS of trailbikes on the market - how is it than none of them compare to these 2 bikes? Seems like for as similar as the 575 and the heckler are, if one compares to the prophet, the other should too.

To adress the Yeti specifically, the 575 does not have a 1.5 headtube and therefor a sherman or a nixon is out of the question. The lefty is a tits fork i must say though.

 

[binary visions]

That's the way I feel about my Heckler !

Seriously though I saw my first Prophet Sunday, eyeballing it, the pivot location looked VERY similar to the Heckler, as did the geometry.

The Prophet's chainstays are about 3/4" shorter but other than that they're very similar.

The adjustable geometry of the Prophet lets you give it a slacker headangle and lower BB, though.

 

[BurlyShirley]

Gotcha.

I trust the bike was stiff and solid? The 5.25lb frame would make me wonder... but I've never sat on one, never mind ridden one.

It seriously was as stiff a trail bike as Ive ridden. I of course was hesitant because you think that the tubing must be so thin, or whatever, but then take into account that cedric is racing one and all. Id do a 6-8 foot drop on it without hesitation, though it would probably void any warranty .

 

[MTB_Rob_NC]

Care to elaborate? There are TONS of trailbikes on the market - how is it than none of them compare to these 2 bikes? Seems like for as similar as the 575 and the heckler are, if one compares to the prophet, the other should too.

There are SO many great TrailBikes out there right now. I am actually kinda glad I got my Heckler when I did (~2 years ago). I can't imagine trying to decide between the
Heckler
575
5 Spot
Prophet
etc
etc
etc

As far as the GF Cake after going through a total of 6 (5 swing arms and 1 mainframe) Sugar +'s. I was VERY weary when they said, hey the Cake has more travel and is just as light. They always replaced it though, so I can't complain too much. :evil:

 

[MMcG]

I saw a couple of Prophets last week and they are pretty sweet looking and spec'd well for the price.

Just curious, but can you get reducers or something to run a regular fork on those frames instead of a lefty?

I have a bunch of tasty bits from my Belair that I was planning on putting on a lighter frame, so I don't really need a complete bike.

 

[BurlyShirley]

Im just saying that of what I've ridden, the geometry was a hit, the bike was light, the suspension was tits, the frame seemed tough and the spec is about perfect. If Id found that in another bike, Id want one of those just as much, but thus far, Cannondale will be making some coin off me around Dec/Jan

 

[BurlyShirley]

I saw a couple of Prophets last week and they are pretty sweet looking and spec'd well for the price.

Just curious, but can you get reducers or something to run a regular fork on those frames instead of a lefty?

I have a bunch of tasty bits from my Belair that I was planning on putting on a lighter frame, so I don't really need a complete bike.

That was the first question I asked. Yes you can, a standard 1.5 headset fits in fine.

 

[JRB]

They do make reducers for all cannondale head tubes though. You are not limited to 1.5.

 

[Rip]

Screw that, I had a brand new 2005 Intense M3 in my hands today.

 

[BurlyShirley]

Screw that, I had a brand new 2005 Intense M3 in my hands today.

Have fun paying for a sticker.

 

[Rip]

The $2,700 price tag is a bit steep right now for me, besides I think I want a lighter weight bike before a second big bike.

 

[golgiaparatus]

Wow, its really light... wonder how it will take some good abuse.

 

[binary visions]

Just curious, but can you get reducers or something to run a regular fork on those frames instead of a lefty?

Other people stated it, but just to reinforce, this is a real, 1.5 standard headtube (not something funky specifically for the Lefty). The old Cannondales were approximately 1.5, but I believe there was a difference in the allowable insertion depth of the headset. Since the introduction of the 1.5 standard, all of Cannondale's oversized headtubes are in compliance with it.

So, any of the solutions work - reducing headsets, reducers for 1 1/8" headsets, E.13 reducing cups...

 

[Westy]

Wow, its really light... wonder how it will take some good abuse.

Although it is meant as a trailbike I am sure some people will buy it and push it past what it was designed for, end up braking it and then calling Cannondales fragile crap.

But if you think about a longer travel bike should see less stress than a short travel bike when ridden under the same circumstances. So why should it be heavier?

 

[MMcG]

The $2,700 price tag is a bit steep right now for me, besides I think I want a lighter weight bike before a second big bike.

I thought you already had a bunch of different Konas Rip.

 

[jacksonpt]

Although it is meant as a trailbike I am sure some people will buy it and push it past what it was designed for, end up braking it and then calling Cannondales fragile crap.

does this only have to do with gaps, jumps, drops, etc.?

But if you think about a longer travel bike should see less stress than a short travel bike when ridden under the same circumstances. So why should it be heavier?

I find that I'm much faster on my 575 than I am on other bikes... so would that mean that the 575 (being ridden faster) sees the same amount of stress as other bikes that are being ridden slower? I'm talking about good trail/singletrack stuff...

 

[Westy]

does this only have to do with gaps, jumps, drops, etc.?



I find that I'm much faster on my 575 than I am on other bikes... so would that mean that the 575 (being ridden faster) sees the same amount of stress as other bikes that are being ridden slower? I'm talking about good trail/singletrack stuff...

If your going faste it is probably working the bike harder.

 

[jacksonpt]

If your going faste it is probably working the bike harder.

so does that then negate this statement, assuming you're talking about trail bikes being used to offer greater "smoothness" (and for most of us, more speed) over the same singletrack?

But if you think about a longer travel bike should see less stress than a short travel bike when ridden under the same circumstances. So why should it be heavier?

 

[BurlyShirley]

so does that then negate this statement, assuming you're talking about trail bikes being used to offer greater "smoothness" (and for most of us, more speed) over the same singletrack?

Quit trying to start arguments in my thread Jackson. The 575 is a fine bike. No one cares.

 

[binary visions]

so does that then negate this statement, assuming you're talking about trail bikes being used to offer greater "smoothness" (and for most of us, more speed) over the same singletrack?

Well, if you're going faster, that's true. Westy said, "under the same circumstances", though. Implying that for the exact same use, more travel will cause a frame to be stressed less.

You can go faster on a short travel bike, too, and that will stress it more.

 

[Rip]

I thought you already had a bunch of different Konas Rip.

I only have one other Kona left besides the stuff, I have a stab primo as well which I have to box up soon to ship home. Why have two big bikes in the first place.

 

[jacksonpt]

Well, if you're going faster, that's true. Westy said, "under the same circumstances", though. Implying that for the exact same use, more travel will cause a frame to be stressed less.

OK... that makes sense. Seems like kind of a moot point though. How many people buy 5-6" bikes to ride the same way they do a hard tail or 3" bike?

Sorry... not trying to start an arguement, just making sure I understand Westy's point.

 

[Westy]

OK... that makes sense. Seems like kind of a moot point though. How many people buy 5-6" bikes to ride the same way they do a hard tail or 3" bike?

People like me

I like long rides, a longer travel bike would make the body hurt less after a few hours.

 

[BurlyShirley]

OK... that makes sense. Seems like kind of a moot point though. How many people buy 5-6" bikes to ride the same way they do a hard tail or 3" bike?

Sorry... not trying to start an arguement, just making sure I understand Westy's point.

Dude, go check out the gallery on the link I posted. There's dudes doing north shore stunts, guys racing 4x. I think, given how it felt, and given its intended use that it will be plenty strong. No, Im not going cliff hucking on it, but the bike is, Im sure, structurally sound.

 

[JRB]

OK... that makes sense. Seems like kind of a moot point though. How many people buy 5-6" bikes to ride the same way they do a hard tail or 3" bike?

Sorry... not trying to start an arguement, just making sure I understand Westy's point.

Some people don't huck big stuff, but are hard on bikes. An XC guy that rides a homegrown and breaks it might buy a 5 Spot because he wants something that is built heavier for bigger stuff. He may not want to go bigger and would need something that pedals well too. Here there are a lot of guys riding trail bikes that will never go Whistler big.

 

[DRB]

http://www.divine-innovation.com/

I know Cannondale gets a bad rap, "crack n' fail" and all that, but this bike is seriously the tits.

Yeah there is this huge room that is full of all the cracked Cannondales that folks have reported over the years......

I have owned 5 Cannondales over the years and thrashed the daylights out of them and then sold or given them away. All of them are still going strong (well one F3000 got stolen so not sure how that might be surviving) now.

I got a Heckler because Cannondale didn't have that type of bike......until now. The Prophet certainly would fit the bill. The bottom bracket height is a pain on the Heckler so the Prophet is going to be a touch worse..... but that's not such a big deal.

Hope you don't have to wait too long.

 

[HRDTLBRO]

We recieved a few Prophets at the lbs a week or two ago and they are sweet. Light as balls! The frame and swingarm are quite stiff, and the lefty with the manipoo internals felt very nice. I only got to cruise around with it, and the rear shock had way too much pressure in it, but overall, it felt nice. I like the matte blue finish, it looks sweet. I'd ride it.