I did my research and decided Made-In-USA is important to me (I'm a Veteran), and Cannondale's integrated system approach makes total sense to me (I'm also a Mac freak). I wound up taking a few weeks deciding between the Cannondale Rush and Prophet, and visited a Cannondale dealer twenty miles from home to ride both, but they couldn't get either bike in stock without me committing to buy one. Scott's Cycle in Salem OR (40 miles away) had both models in my size, so I rode both in one day (plus some other comparable models), and made my decision, which I am 100% happy with. Let me put it another way: If something happened to my Cannondale Prophet, I would not hesitate to get another one.
Pros Stout frame, good components, the Lefty absolutely ROCKS, the single pivot suspension works great. This is the perfect bike for me for all-mountain, trail riding.
Cons Not really a product weakness, but more of a user setup issue: I initially set the rear shock to 200psi to match my body weight (like on my previous bike), and suffered from too much rebound. I went OTB on a downhill and taco-ed my front wheel, and also banged up my knee (and ego). I took the air pressure down to about 180 and it is perfect. Figure the rear air at about 85-90% of your body weight, and you'll be all set.
Love it would buy again.
Pros
Sturdy frame,lefty fork rocks, good travel, awesome switching between xc & fr
Cons
| ThankLittle heavy by current standards above 30lbs lefty fork having to have bearing reset often.
All and all I have had it 4 years now and still rides great. Next a 29er hard tail
Pros
Good travel, nice comps, light, solid frame. Great all mountian bike.
Cons
| ThankThe lefty, it's a good shock but it makes the bike unbalanced and hard to use with any fork mount bike rack.
I did my research and decided Made-In-USA is important to me (I'm a Veteran), and Cannondale's integrated system approach makes total sense to me (I'm also a Mac freak). I wound up taking a few weeks deciding between the Cannondale Rush and Prophet, and visited a Cannondale dealer twenty miles from home to ride both, but they couldn't get either bike in stock without me committing to buy one. Scott's Cycle in Salem OR (40 miles away) had both models in my size, so I rode both in one day (plus some other comparable models), and made my decision, which I am 100% happy with. Let me put it another way: If something happened to my Cannondale Prophet, I would not hesitate to get another one.
Pros
Stout frame, good components, the Lefty absolutely ROCKS, the single pivot suspension works great. This is the perfect bike for me for all-mountain, trail riding.
Cons
| ThankNot really a product weakness, but more of a user setup issue: I initially set the rear shock to 200psi to match my body weight (like on my previous bike), and suffered from too much rebound. I went OTB on a downhill and taco-ed my front wheel, and also banged up my knee (and ego). I took the air pressure down to about 180 and it is perfect. Figure the rear air at about 85-90% of your body weight, and you'll be all set.