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Mountain Bike Fun Becomes a Habit with New Cannondale Trail Bike

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Habit Lifestyle 1 copy

In the age of specialization, one of the most exciting categories in mountain biking is what is referred to as the trail category. As the catchall for the majority of riders, trail is all about riding your local circuits with your friends but more importantly it’s about having fun out on your bike. That doesn’t mean there won’t be some racing here or there, but a perfect trail bike should be suited for versatility.

Because of the category’s renewed focus, the time has never been better to look for a new trail bike. The frames are getting lighter, the geometry is slackening out with emphasis on fun, and new components make the bikes as capable as ever.

One of the newest additions to this revitalized group is the Cannondale Habit. Sitting somewhere between their XC oriented Scalpel and aggressive trail focused Trigger, the Habit fills a new niche for a bike that is juust right for curing your single track addiction…

Habit Hi-Mod 1

The perfect amount of travel is always debatable but for the Habit Cannondale is sticking with 120 mm to strike the perfect balance between efficiency and capability. For every Habit but one, the rear travel is matched with a 120 mm Lefty 2.0 fork with a custom 50 mm offset.

C16 Habit ZeroPivot

ECSTC_LOCKR_HABIT_4 C16 Habit SHockLink

C16 Habit FlatMount C16 HabitA Headtube

Suspension travel is achieved through the use of Cannondale’s ESC-TC pivot system and ZeroPivot seat stays in both aluminum and carbon. Frames are available in Full Ballistec Carbon with a carbon link, Ballistec Carbon Front triangles with a SmartFormed Alloy rear triangles with a carbon link, and full SmartFormed aluminum.

True to form, the frames continue the use of BB30 cranks with a PF30 shell that can also run Standard BSA threaded bottom brackets with an adapter that is included on models without SI cranks. The 1.5 SI Head tube allows for the Cannondale Lefty fork, which is standard on all but three models in different trim levels. The Lefty 2.0 forks include a new damper to make the fork more plush and quicker to react. Staying away from Boost spacing for now, the frame runs a standard 12x142mm thru axle. Cable routing is mostly external with the exception of an internal dropper post.

One interesting addition to the frame is a rear flat mount brake mount which is apparently the same as the one you will find on new road bikes. Cannonade says a specific adapter is needed, but the mount will work with regular brakes in 160 or 180mm rotor configurations. All eight of the men’s models and two women’s models roll on 27.5″ wheels and tires.

C16_C23106M_BLE-Edit

As usual, at the top of the heap you’ll find the Habit Black Inc. Edition which includes the best components for an outrageous $12,250. That includes the full carbon frame, Lefty Carbon 2.0 XLR fork, Enve carbon wheels and a full Shimano XTR Di2 drive train.

Habit Carbon SE

Another stand out in the line is theHabit SE – the only bike to receive a 130 mm Lefty fork. The SE also rolls on a bigger 2.35″ front tire hinting towards a more playful build. However, all of the bikes indicate the playful nature of the Habit when you consider the 760mm handle bar. Too wide? You can always cut them down, but you can’t make them wider.

Habit Carbon 2Habit Carbon 3

The carbon Habits continue with the 2 and 3 which both utilize the aluminum rear end.

Habit 4

Habit Carbon 5 Habit Carbon 6

Full aluminum frames are offered in the Habit 4, 5, and 6. The 4 is the performance oriented model with a Shimano Deore/SLX drivetrain and Lefty fork, while the 5 and 6 are more budget conscious with standard forks and lower specs.

women-1 women-2

The Habit will also be available in two women’s models with a carbon Habit 1 and aluminum Habit 2. The Habit 1 runs a Lefty fork and 2x Shimano drivetrain and the Habit 2 sticks with a traditional fork and a Shimano triple.

cannondale habit geometry

cannondale habit geometry womens

Geometry:

Both men’s and women’s Habits share nearly identical geometry, but the women’s model gets an additional XS size, but tops out at Medium. A 68° head tube angle with 50mm trail number should keep the steering quick but fun when combined with the 17″ chain stays.

Pricing:

  • HABIT CARBON BLACK INC. – $12,250.00
  • HABIT CARBON 1 – $7,460.00
  • HABIT CARBON/ALLOY 2 – $5,330.00
  • HABIT CARBON/ALLOY SE- $4,480.00
  • HABIT CARBON/ALLOY 3 – $3,730.00
  • HABIT AL 4 – $2,880.00
  • HABIT AL 5 – $2,340.00
  • HABIT AL 6 – $1,950.00
  • HABIT WOMEN’S 1 – $3,730.00
  • HABIT WOMEN’S 2 – $1,950.00

cannondale.com

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27 Comments
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overweight crusader
overweight crusader
8 years ago

No 29er no care..

Vengista
Vengista
8 years ago

Nice,but not going to lose sleep over it.

Mike
Mike
8 years ago

Is that a 1x Spiderring? Want.

Jordan P
Jordan P
8 years ago

Its kinda ugly….

Collin
Collin
8 years ago

If a company makes a said part, do they really have to specify its custom. That’s like saying my Focus seats in my ford focus are custom for only the focus. Well you guys make the lefty, so if you make it 50 mm offset, its 50mm offset. Is the frame custom too? No other cannondales have that frame so it must be.

/rant.

Toasty McGruff
Toasty McGruff
8 years ago

This looks awesome. Exactly the bike that Cannondale needed.

Trailhead
Trailhead
8 years ago

Siiiiick! Love the direction Cannondale is headed these days. This looks to be a great all-rounder. Would be nice to see a 29 option in the future!

J N H
J N H
8 years ago

Hey look the RZ120 is back, hope it still rides as nicely.

What?
What?
8 years ago

Sweet, looks like that Lefty will go at least 2 rides before needing service!

char
char
8 years ago

So…you have to spend seven grand to not get a bike that relies on aluminium flexing to get its suspension to function? No thanks.

Simon
Simon
8 years ago

I’ll take three of those brushed aluminum teaser shot frames please.

Mike D
8 years ago

Hey, I’m giving it high marks just because it’s not a doofy 27.5+

It doesn’t do much for me personally, but I like that travel segment–120-130 rear travel and preferably 29″ wheels is what I’m looking for these days.

richb
richb
8 years ago

I don’t think the suspension relies on the seatstay flexing… it’s a single pivot design, with linkage driven shock. It just has the potential for the stays to flex, and if designed to cope with that, you don’t need to stiffen up the rear triangle.

mateo
mateo
8 years ago

@richb – The seatstay does have to flex since there are not pivots on the seatstay or chainstay. Not an uncommon design, and the required flex is typically only a few mm.

JBikes
JBikes
8 years ago

I’d like the Al frame with carbon rear end. Not a huge fan of Al flex stays, although I am sure their calculated fatigue cycles are high enough.
A 29er option would be nice,but the trigger is pretty good as-is.

FoolCyclist
FoolCyclist
8 years ago

So, its pretty much a copy of an older Yeti 575 with slightly reduced travel. Thanks Cracknfail.

pfs
pfs
8 years ago

If its a copy of the 575 then it will surely crack and fail.

CXisfun
CXisfun
8 years ago

Please stop calling the Lefty a “fork”. Also, when referring to an actual fork, please stop using the plural form unless there really is a second fork on the bike.

EagerBeaver
EagerBeaver
8 years ago

Well hopefully it rides better then it looks…..

JBikes
JBikes
8 years ago

CXisfun – what would you call it? Common parlance refers to any element connecting the front wheel to the handlebar, allowing steering, and locating to the frame, as a “fork”. Just because it doesn’t actually fork, doesn’t mean its not a fork.
A Lefty fork is a bike fork because it serves the function of a bike fork.

Matt
Matt
8 years ago

No 26er no care

logic
logic
8 years ago

Jason Moeschler just cleaned up the Downieville Classic on this rig nabbing a 3rd in the XC, and a WIN in the DH…giving him the overall win for the All-Mountain. Looks like it’s been battle tested/proven already. Nice timing of your wins Jason!

Tim
Tim
8 years ago

@CXisfun- do you want to call it a prong, a tine?

Mike A.
Mike A.
8 years ago

When I imagine this bike with a pike, it looks pretty awesome.

The Yeti
The Yeti
8 years ago

how efficient is it on the climbs ?

DO IT DIALED STYLE
DO IT DIALED STYLE
8 years ago

MORE ABOUT THE CHAINRING!

GC
GC
8 years ago

Tim – Technically it’s a “damper”… though as mentioned above. vernacular says it’s a “fork”

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