Used Cannondale Scalpel for beginner?

james22b2

Hi
I was thinking of getting a used 2011 Cannondale Scalpel - one of the lower spec models - that weighs about 10.5kg with pedals. Price about 1000 pounds from a shop that sells used bikes.
Is this an OK buy for the price, plus does anyone know if Cannondale frame warranties are transferrable -and if not, would this put you off buying?
Thanks!

cooldad

Who can tell. Some details would help.

Warranties are rarely transferable (except for Bird), so unlikely, but a look at the Cannondale website will tell you for sure.

james22b2

[Warranties are rarely transferable (except for Bird), so unlikely, but a look at the Cannondale website will tell you for sure.[/quote]

Thanks - guess that is the risk of buying a second hand bike - is it worth getting cover for the warranty from a third party/insurer and if so does anyone have any recommends?

The Rookie

Not worth buying a warranty no, Its just such a silly idea for an MTB I'm not even sure anyone offers one, realistically it could only be for the frame.

cooldad

What are you trying to warrant?

Most bike issues are wear and tear, so a bit of routine maintenance is all that's needed. Things wear out, break, get replaced.

But IMHO, 99.99999999999% (actually 100% but I don't want to sound extreme) of aftermarket/extended warranties are a load of sh1t.

Anyway first you have to find such a thing for a bicycle - I've never heard of one.

james22b2

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19646182#p19646182]cooldad[/url] wrote:

What are you trying to warrant?

Most bike issues are wear and tear, so a bit of routine maintenance is all that's needed. Things wear out, break, get replaced.

But IMHO, 99.99999999999% (actually 100% but I don't want to sound extreme) of aftermarket/extended warranties are a load of sh1t.

Anyway first you have to find such a thing for a bicycle - I've never heard of one.

So is it worth insuring the frame if this is not covered by the manufacturer (as a 2nd hand bike)? Do they break a lot or is it very rare?

cooldad

I am old, currently have a dozen or more bikes lying around the house, and have only ever broken one frame, an old shopping type bike jumping off pavements when I was about nine. So in my experience they don't break often. Some might.

For insurance see viewtopic.php?f=20005&t=13032282

The Rookie

Frames can and do break, but very very rarely, my last frame was a 2006, my new one is also a 2006, I have two 1997 frames as daily riders and my commuter (which has completed over 5000 miles since I built it up in 2010) is also a 2006 frame.

The admin of any warranty (if you could find one) would render it much more expensive than putting away a fiver a month until you have enough for a frame regardless!

JodyP

" wrote:

james22b2 Do they break a lot or is it very rare?

I have snapped a frame back in the day but it took some doing. Chances of someone just starting out snapping a frame are barely non existent.

Rookie has it right. Put a bit of money away a month to cover if your really worried. In 3-5 years when its not snapped you will have a fund for something else.

paul.skibum

I wouldn't recommend a Cannondale Scalpel for a beginner - fast and lightweight race machine but twitchy steering, steep head angle, stretched body position.

I'd go for something with a more relaxed body position, relaxed head angle and a more general trail oriented purpose over the race. If you were coming from a road riding background with a drive to get into xc racing then maybe it would be good.

rockmonkeysc

The Scalpel is not a very beginner friendly bike. It's a full on fast XC race bike.
They aren't very confidence inspiring or forgiving of poor technical riding or mistakes. I rode one at a Canondale demo day and the two words which come to mind are twitchy and harsh. It has very racey geometry which will reward good, smooth riding but get caught in a rut, hit a root badly or make a mistake and the lack of stability really shows up. Ride flat out like your arse is on fire and it all makes sense and works well.
For a beginner a more relaxed trail bike would be much more fun and more forgiving to learn on.

james22b2

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19646814#p19646814]paul.skibum[/url] wrote:

I wouldn't recommend a Cannondale Scalpel for a beginner - fast and lightweight race machine but twitchy steering, steep head angle, stretched body position.

I'd go for something with a more relaxed body position, relaxed head angle and a more general trail oriented purpose over the race. If you were coming from a road riding background with a drive to get into xc racing then maybe it would be good.

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. I went and tried the Scalpel out in a local bike shop and the stretched position did feel odd, and although I appreciated the low weight, I will look for something more relaxed.

The local bike shop recommended the following which are round about the same price (new):

Giant Trance 2
Merrida One-Twenty XT

Also saw an Orbea Rallon X30 on sale.

There are a lot of great hills where I ride but also a lot of climbs - any advice on the above?

rockmonkeysc

Forget the Order, it's pretty much the opposite to the Scalpel. It's a very good bike but it's a hard riding enduro bike.
The Trance is excellent. It climbs really well, is easy for a beginner to get on with and forgiving when you make mistakes. Giant give excellent warranties, mostly because their frames are about as reliable as it gets. It is a fair bit heavier than the Scalpel but not excessive. It's also a great frame for future upgrades. It's pretty good fun down hills as well.

batmo

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19646814#p19646814]paul.skibum[/url] wrote:

I wouldn't recommend a Cannondale Scalpel for a beginner - fast and lightweight race machine but twitchy steering, steep head angle, stretched body position.

I'd go for something with a more relaxed body position, relaxed head angle and a more general trail oriented purpose over the race. If you were coming from a road riding background with a drive to get into xc racing then maybe it would be good.

Interesting... The Missus is no racer but loves her Scalpel, I'm wondering if we've just never tried bikes with a more relaxed geometry. The "stretched" body position has its place if, like her (and me) you're proportioned with a long body and short legs.