Cannondale Gemini 900, Judge 2 (Gracia) or Giant Faith 1

[Robb]

Am looking at purchasing a new bike some time soon, and looking at getting a free ride type bike (With the idea of doing some downhill/and possibly a race or two). Have pretty much narrowed it down to these 3 (depending on price of the Judge).. Around the $5000 mark to be spent - but am open to any other ideas/opinions.

The bikes:

Cannondale Judge 2
http://www.cannondale.com/bikes/06/CUSA/model-6VCG2.html

Cannondale Gemini 900
http://www.cannondale.com/bikes/06/CUSA/model-6VG9.html

Giant Faith 1
http://www.giant-bicycles.com/au/030.000.000/030.000.000.asp?model=10044


Out of the Gemini and Faith I am leaning toward the Faith because:
- More rear travel
- Better spec
- Haven't test riddin the gemini, but the faith felt quite nice (it was just a quick car park spin)

Am not to sure on the price of the Judge, but am liking it more then the faith. How do the single crown travis forks hold up?

[bazza]

giant is going to be the better value for money and by looking at the specs it appears it is. the cannondales are more so an 'exotic' frame than the trusty old giants but hey. its up too you. personally i would be on the giant in a second simply because of value for money. and the rear shock on the giant wins hands down compared to the gemini which seals the win yet again (unless the metals are heaps better than what they used to be......)

[Fatman]

I own a Gemini and I'm quite a fan of it. It's light and fast but I don't like the fact the rear is a little flexy. Cannondale seem to have this covered on the Judge, the additional link on the top tube should stop any rear end lateral movement. It could be just due to my size and weight that the rig is flexy.

I've ridden the Giant and I can't say I'm a fan, but the spec is sweet. From what I hear though it's a decent rig for both freeride and the odd race. Have you considered other options? There's a whole load of freeride options in this thread: http://forums.farkin.net/showthread.php?t=44845

The Judge I'm betting will be well over 5K, since it's a new bike I can't sat I know much about it but it looks great and seems to have fixed all the issues I had with my Gemini.

Good luck mate but I think you would be happy with any of these.

[mtb_man]

I talked to our Canondale rep before Christmas about the Judge pricing and he expected it to run around low to mid $5k. That was nothing concrete though, just his educated guess.

If it were my coin, the Judge would win hands down. Much more versatile frame (straight seatube), excellent spec for the money, 1.5 steerer and a nicer colour (hey, it matters).

[Robb]

Yeah. It will depend on the price that the Judge comes in at. I guess it is a selling point not being as common/a little bit more exotic then a Giant, and in my opinion does look better in that blue then the faily plain looking faith..
The Judge has a 64degree head angle while the giant has 66 and gemini has a 67...

I only weight 70 - 75kg, and am about 185cm tall, so i doubt the lateral movement will be too bad with my weight.

The faiths spec is much better then the Gemini's, and the faith is only $300 more.
My main concerns in the spec on the Judge compared to faith is that the faith has a DHX 4.0 compared to the 4way swinger, the Mags compared to Juicy 5's, and 66 forks compared to the Travis (in the prefrence of the giant gear.)

[udi]

http://www.cannondale.com/bikes/06/geo-44.html
Judge = 18" chainstays and 14.7" bb height. Hip-hooray for long rearends.

I think I could find a freeride bike with better geo if I walked around with a blindfold on. "charter boat.. what charter boat??"

The 900 would be lower and have shorter stays, but it's obviously a different machine (lesser specs, less travel, ugly.. oh wait they both are).

Out of your choices i'd take the Faith. I personally didn't like it much on test ride but once you switch the linkage to the low BB and slack HA setting it should be pretty decent. The specs are also nicer.

[SDA]

Cannondale's are well overpriced here in Australia... for some unknown reason! You will find most other bikes in your price range with a better spec. Expect to pay at least 20 to 30% more for a Cannondale (in Australia) than elsewhere in the world. For example in Canada, a Gemini 900 is just under $3K... which would equate to just over $3K in Australian dollars.

The Giant would be more bang for your buck!

[bradh]

ugly.. oh wait they both are
Errrrr, and the Faith's not?

[Robb]

The Yeti ASX looks pretty sweet, $2600 for frame only. So by the time it has a decent build on it (Fox 36's, juicy 5s, decent wheels and cranks...) it would be looking at atleast 6500?

Might as well go a VP free over something like the Yeti.

Too many options

[Fatman]

Last time I checked a VP-Free frame was around $3900?
You have some very difficult decisions there Robb, I've been through it before and I don't envy you the whole process. I do however wish I was in the market for a new rig though.:( I got the Yeti, it was the best for me at the time and I dont regret it. A few people including myself have rated their rigs on http://forums.farkin.net/showthread.php?t=11947
and I'm sure there's a new ASX on post your ride somewhere.

[Robb]

Was going to send you a pm with some questions about your ASX fatman.. Just to clarify. It has a 1.5" steerer right? And what are the specs on the rear hub spacing? 135mm by 12 bolt up? (coudn't find specs on the yeti website).
Where all the ASX's 7.3 and 6 inch rear travel? or were the older ones 6 or 7inch? - Reason i ask is that after talking to some shops here in canberra, there is a 19inch frame in a shop with a 5th element for 2100.

The price of the VP free must have come down recently, was asking about them today in the shop and they were 3200 for anodised or 3400 for powder coated. There is also a white one for sale on farking for 2200~ which is a large..

[Fatman]

The AS-X has a 1.5 head tube, mine has the reducer cups so I could fit a regular 1.125 steerer. I have the older frame with 6 or 7" travel, the new one's have an upgraded linkage and a little more travel. The rear hub is standard 135mm but I got the A2Z hub which bolts up.
http://cyclesolutions.com.au/products/wheels.htm
The rear end is very stiff with the bolt up hub and the swing link at the top helps too. I ride a large frame because I wanted a long top tube but the seat tube brace limits how low you can put the seat.
Until I get some better freeride forks I'll just be trailriding on mine, I have mounted boxxers in the past but the wide tubing restricts steering. 1.5 single crowns were what this thing was designed for.

I suggest you try and ride one before you buy though, you may be disappointed in the Yeti, but then again the SC might not impress you either.
All I can say is that it was one of the few bikes I've ridden that I felt instantly comfortable on.

Oh Crap, I just noticed your other thread that I already answered to.:o
Shows I've been paying attention huh?