Cannondale Bad Boy Ultra Bike

Comments about Cannondale Bad Boy Ultra Bike:

I bought the Bad Boy to deal with arthritis - I wanted road-bike speed but an upright position and a shock. This bike delivers wonderfully. I can easily get up speed on the flat - I'll never keep up with the true road bikes, of course, but the large road wheels and the sleek shape help me come close. But when I need a shock and mountain bike durability, it's all there - I am constantly riding off curbs, on dirt, and through potholes in my urban commute and this bike handles them all beautifully. I upgraded the components but it's the frame (including disc brake capability) that I was really looking for. I've also installed aerobars so that I can have a more aerodynamic position when I want to. The shock very conveniently locks out whenever you need it. I love this bike and highly recommend it!

Comments about Cannondale Bad Boy Ultra Bike:

I got this bike to replace my 10+ year old Raleigh Mtn bike that I had bought on a whim long ago. So for me this was a massive upgrade. I did a lot of research, asked around and for the mostly urban nighttime riding I do this seemed like the best/coolest bike in REI’s inventory for my budget.

I did have some initial problems getting the bike. After the first test drive I though about it for a couple of days and came back to get the bike. The bike sales guy noticed some oil leaking from shock. Their bike tech ATTEMPTED to take it apart and see what was going on. He couldn’t get the thing apart. Back to the factory that one went. Fortunately in the Austin area we have multiple REI’s and they had another one my size at another store. So I went there. Took another drive and said I’ll take it. I got it home and as soon as I pulled it out I noticed the front shock was flat. Maybe something wasn’t tightened? I took it back, they pumped it up and checked it a bit, seemed fine, 2 hours later flat again. Something definitely wrong. Took it back and 3 days and an entire new front fork assembly later it was operational. Then two trips and about 3 hours of tech time (and a replaced cable) before it would shift properly under load (worked flawlessly on the stand).

Typical experience? Probably not, but some definite QC issues on Cannondale’s part. Be sure you have them check the front shock.

When I finally to ride it I took it for my normal 22 mile ride. It was riding sweetness. I learned a lot that ride and confirmed a lot of things that I had hoped.

I was surprised how smooth and comfortable the ride was (stock seat not withstanding). I was a bit nervous about moving to 700x28 thin tires and feeling every bump in the road. It seems to soak them up pretty well with the front shock engaged. I blew through bumps, potholes and the usual urban hazards with no problem. Important because I ride at night and you don’t always see such things before it’s too late. For reasons I don’t understand it is actually more stable than my thick tired MTB.

Better shifters are nice. Not only does this bike have superior acceleration but you can blow through the gears much faster. I ride mainly on the road and was a little irritated that the shifters are thumb operated only (vs. thumb and finger) but it is mean to be taken off road where using two fingers to shift could compromise your grip. The shifters do have some play in them before engaging, I know some guys demand no slack and knock them for that. But for me they are great, fast and easy.

The front shock is great. Adjustable for rider weight and desired rebound (not really used unless your on some BAD road or off road). Flick a switch to lock it out before climbing a hill, flick it back for comfort going down the other side. Having it set for my weight is nice vs. the generic 220+ lb guy, I get a lot more cushion out of it.

As others have noted the handlebars are too wide. I’m 5’8 and I found my reach and hand position was not especially comfortable. Fortunately the existing grips are not solid at the end and can be moved. I moved my shifters/breaks towards the center as far as they will go and it feels better. This results in a lot of overhang. If it becomes an issue a few minutes with hacksaw will fix it. The existing grips are not bad, there very thick and meant for meaty hands.

The seat leaves a lot to be desired. I’m using bike shorts but the utter lack of padding and a slight lip at the very back really hurts on the butt bones. Course I’m a skinny guy. This is definitely slated for replacement. The front of the seat isn’t so bad, just the very back. After a few rides I kind of got used to the seat, but even then after 15 miles you really begin to feel it. The seat mount has two screw adjustments for pivoting.

The drive train is smooth and quiet, though I’m sure after a few years use that will change.. For gears you’ve got 9x3 seems more geared towards being a road bike than mountain bike. So far I haven’t met a hill I can outrun at the high end, on the low end there are plenty of gears for your climbing pleasure.

This is my first experience with disk brakes. One previous reviewer mentioned that the brakes are all or nothing. I could modulate the brakes ok, but it seems they could have been designed better. With the brake lever in normal position (full forward) the first 2/3 of the backward stroke of the lever does NOTHING. You’re pulling on air. Only when you get to the back 1/3-1/4 do the brakes start to bite. There is still enough play to slow down and stop easy enough without locking them up.

Taking the front wheel off is a much nicer experience, no fighting of clamps. Another interesting (and new to me) consequence of the disk brakes was the asymmetrical spoke pattern to accommodate the clearance of the disk. Keep that in mind when shopping for replacement wheels (I’m sure it jacks the price up).

The frame is wonderful. Light (the whole bike, wheels and all comes in at around 20lbs), stiff and attractive. You really notice the weight difference when climbing. Also much nicer to load into and out of my station wagon. Love the muted decals that shine at night but don’t scream “I’m a Cannondale, STEAL ME!”. Don’t count on loading this thing up with accessories though. The front shock, disk brakes and oversized tubes prevent you from putting on a variety of baskets, racks, pull alongs and such. This may not be a bad thing as it keeps this bike a riding machine. I have another bike to make the minivan.

In Summary
Pros
Lightweight
Flexible (tire swaps and locking shock)
Waaay Cool
Awesome frame

Cons
Lousy initial quality
Lousy seat & super wide handlebars
Hard to accessorize.

So in conclusion this is a great bike, I’ve got to knock a star off for the lousy seat, some of the trimmings and the poor initial quality. To their credit REI at least fixed the quality problems. If your looking for a great ride and you can accept that you’re spending big bucks on a bike that’s probably going to need some more work before you’re truly happy with it then this guy is a contender. If you look at the reviews and whatnot there are a lot of comments about lower quality components. I’m not experienced enough to comment beyond my observations listed above. If you’re upgrading from low-medium grade bikes you’re going to be all happy. If you’ve had more experience with high end bikes your probably going to want to budget for more upgrades. I knew a lot of the issues going in, bought it anyway and it’s still worth it. I’m going to be enjoying this thing for years.

Comments about Cannondale Bad Boy Ultra Bike:

I use the BBU for commuting and lunch rides. So far I've found the bike to be nearly perfect for what I want with a single exception. With 700c wheels, you are extremely limited in tire size options ... the headshock air port contacts every tire I've tried of sizes 700x32 and larger, meaning you can't use the wide variety of 32, 35, 38, and 42 touring and cyclocross tires. Options in the 28 ranges are pretty limited, at least that I've found to date. I've visited a lot of shops with little luck. Cannondale admitted there was "an issue" but offered no help and referred me back to the retailer. This may be specific to '08 models, which is what[...] sold me despite it being labeled '07.

Comments about Cannondale Bad Boy Ultra Bike:

This bike is a beast!! I weighed 311+ pounds when I started riding the Bad Boy daily. Needless to say, I don't weigh that much anymore. The bike handled my weight nicely while performing extremely well. It also pulled this out-of-shape rider up many hills with relative ease. Plus, I never broke a spoke. I never tweaked a rim. I never bent or cracked the frame, and I rode that thing hard. I no longer have the bike due to my new found love for high end road bikes, but I highly recommend this bike to all, especially if commuting and basic fitness is you reason for purchasing a bicycle.

Comments about Cannondale Bad Boy Ultra Bike:

I really love this bike! I ride a fairly standard route on my daily commute. I lock the shock for the big climbs (I have a couple each way) and unlock for the straight-aways and downhills (what goes up gets to go down...and fast!)

Not so excited about the installed components. Shimano front crankset and SRAM X7 for the rest of the gear components. My last bike had Shimano XT and the difference is painful. Chain too frequently locks when shifting through the front deraileur.

Shifting in general does not instill confidence - seems unreliable at speed or when climbing.

Brakes are Avid BB5 discs. While better than wet rims on Seattle roads, they don't have the bite I got from the XT V-brakes and I run through discs too quickly (hills will be hills). I feel too often like I'm on skis and stopping is relative rather than immediate.

I replaced the seat w/ an Alias 143 which is better.

I added fenders (make sure you get fenders that will bend around disc brakes) and a Topeak rack (the one build to extend beyond disc brakes).

Came with Vittoria Randonneur 700x28c tires. No flats in over 1k miles. Wore the rear pretty thin. When I went to change it, I underestimated how difficult it would be to change. I've changed plenty of tires in my life but these were a bear. Plan accordingly.

All in all, it is a cool bike, fun to ride, and generally reliable. It will take some work and $ to get it how I want it. I can live with that.

Service and delivery comments:

I almost quit my REI membership after the way I was treated at the Redmond bike department. The sales person sarcastically asked if I'd be riding 5k per year. I was getting back into cycling so I was slow to catch on. I was the butt of his joke and his coworkers thought it was really funny. I didn't.

I got great help at the flagship store and ultimately purchased online. The bike was delivered to that store. It didn't get assembled (I believe the correct term is "lost") between delivery and assembly. Once they found it, it was ready in a day. I wish they'd taken a day more because I had problems with loose cables (front deraileur) and insufficient pressure in front shock (kept bottoming out). These were fixed when I brought it back in.

When I purchased SPD shoes for the installed pedals I was told I should have received the shoe brackets when I got the bike. I hadn't but when I stopped in, the REI staff gave me what I needed without question.

Oh, I put over 1k miles on my bike last year and I'm headed for 2k this year. I sold my car. I hope the sales guy in Redmond knows that I will never spend a dollar in that store.

Comments about Cannondale Bad Boy Ultra Bike:

Great 2nd bike, Keeps me fit. I take it on vacation when i can!
this bike keeps me motivated to ride.

Comments about Cannondale Bad Boy Ultra Bike:

If you're looking for a versatile bike that handles greatly in the city but that you can also take on a trail, this is one should be probably be in your candidate list. I love mine! I would buy it again, if I had to. The one complaint I have is the brakes it comes with: it's either you have a brutal bite on the disks or nothing. So I replaced them with a higher grade set. But because of the quality, comfort, looks, speed, this bike offers, it's a minor issue. I think of my BB as the Land Rover of bikes. I highly recommend it! But buy a couple of good U-Locks! And use 'em all the time!

Comments about Cannondale Bad Boy Ultra Bike:

Well, I admit that the super-high gas prices got me to think about riding my bike to work. I investigated and researched-- and decided to get the Bad Boy since I was mostly interested in street biking. I have to say that it is a dream bike. I cannot ever imagine wanting anything more in a bike. Unless I decide to venture into mountain biking, I am very satisfied--even then I would not give up the BB, I would just get another bike. AWESOME...HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!