PINKBIKE FIELD TEST
CANNONDALE HABIT CARBON 2
The second incarnation of the Habit is exactly what the original left us wanting for.
Words by R. Cunningham, photography by Trevor LydenCannondale's second-edition Habit is a complete redesign, and like the
original that was launched back in 2015, this one is also designed to epitomize the do-it-all trail bike. That said, riding styles have changed a lot since then, so the new Habit has evolved accordingly.
Wheels are 29-inch now, (27.5+ compatible with a flip-chip). Its frame is stronger in every respect, and it's armed with a more refined, 130-millimeter-travel four-bar Horst Link rear suspension. The reach is extended, its geometry is slacker and more rider-forward, and each frame size is configured to produce a similar balance between pedaling firmness, suspension suppleness and handling response.
Habit Carbon 2 Details • Intended use: all-mountain
• Travel: 130mm front/rear
• Wheel size: 29" (27.5+)
• Construction: Carbon (F) aluminum (R)
• Head angle: 66º
• Seat tube angle: 74.5º
• Reach: 430mm (size M)
• Sizes: XS through XL
• Weight: 30 lb (13.6 kg) size M w/o pedals
• Price: $5250 USD
• More info:
Cannondale Cannondale offers the Habit in a number of builds, with a full-carbon frame on their flagship model, the carbon-front/aluminum-rear Habit Carbon 2 that we review here, and there's an affordable all-aluminum version as well. Our Habit 2 is well equipped for aggressive trail riding, with a 130mm Fox 34 Elite fork, backed up by an Elite DPX2 shock. New Habits are configured exclusively for one-by drivetrains and this one is powered by 12-speed Eagle GX. Wheels are no-nonsense, with tough aluminum Stan's Arch rims and a Maxxis High Roller II / Minion DHF tire combo. Up top, you'll find a 780-millimeter bar and a Canondale-branded 150-millimeter dropper post. The Habit Carbon 2 is a needs-nothing build for $5250 USD.
Climbing Whistler's trail networks favor a softer rear suspension setup in order to maintain momentum over the innumerable roots that you'll be rolling over. The Habit's suspension bobs slightly while climbing, which encouraged me to flip the Fox DPX2's low-speed compression lever to the middle position for longer slogs, but that made the rear wheel hang up sometimes. The clock showed that I was turning the same or better laps with the shock left open. I attribute some of that efficiency to the roll-over benefit of its big wheels, but there's no arguing that the bike's low gearing and smoother ride made it easier to pedal steadily, find grip, and maintain pace while topping difficult pitches.
Both test riders confirmed that sliding the saddle forward ten millimeters or so improved the Habit's climbing. I expected the Habit's 74.5-degree angle to be steep enough, but by the close of PB's Whistler sessions, riding a number of bikes back to back on similar terrain had me favoring seat tube angles near 76-degrees for the added control on steeper, more technical trails.
Descending Cannondale recommends higher shock pressures than I would have chosen as a starting point. The argument (a fair one) is that the Habit's leverage rates produce ample sag when measured at the rear wheel when the O-ring on the shock is just north of 20 percent. I started with 250 psi in the shock and 80 in the fork, which climbed well, but on the descents, the shock overpowered the fork and the bike was diving under braking and dropping into bomb holes in the loam. Cannondale's new suspension kinematics required reduced pressure and a couple of rides with a shock pump on board to get the aft balance right. (Shock sag at 28%, fork at 20% worked for me.)
Sort out the suspension and you'll experience the mountain bike that Cannondale intended the Habit Carbon 2 to be. Its steering feels light and enters tight corners without a hint of the lag that big wheels were disdained for. It changes directions quickly, so it favors fast-paced trails with technical surprises and lots of turns. Get going fast, though, and you'll find the limits of its suspension travel as soon as the rocks and roots exceed the size of your helmet. Maintain momentum, keep your pedals level (the bottom bracket is pretty low), and the Habit will stay composed over the chunder. Fox suspension ensures it doesn't bottom hard, so you can trust it (and your 29-inch wheels) to handle steeper, more difficult descents that would have been outside the realm of a 130-millimeter trail bike a handful of years ago.
Riding the original Habit reminded me that a little less bike could make trail riding a lot more fun. But, it didn't take too long before I began to dream about a stiffer chassis, 29 inch wheels, and more capable frame numbers. This new Habit has all those things - and the outdated Lefty has been replaced with a proper fork. The SRAM Guide brakes were underwhelming, but other than that, Cannondale's reincarnation of the Habit is a contemporary, needs-nothing trail bike that will make trail riders very happy.
***I kid... I kid...*** Just jumping on the political correctness bandwagon. Doesn't matter what you say, someone can take it and run with it the opposite direction!
Either way, cool bike and glad to see Cannondale having a bit of a switch up and producing a bike like this... hopefully they don't forget to keep it weird a little bit, wouldn't be Cannondale if they didn't.
How do bigger wheels allow for longer reach?
I still haven't heard a downside to steep ST angles in the context of longer reach?
Anytime you raise the seat to full extension, particulaly tall/long-inseamed people on the L and XL frames, you're not experiencing the claimed 74.5 deg seat angle - it's probably in the low 70s.
@TheBearDen - if it hasn't been a problem for you, then lucky you (can I ask how tall you are? inseam?). It's always been a problem for me, and became especially pronounced with the first batch of long-travel 29ers and their kinked seat tubes and short chainstays. Fortunately we now have Yeti, Transition, Pole, the new Fezzari and others as options.
www.cannondale.com/en/Canada/Bike/ProductDetail?Id=5360a3f4-cd04-4cd6-b377-e3d363811cc3&parentid=undefined
@RadBartTaylor - at least that Geo chart acknowledge that the real seat tube angle is crap - 66.3 degrees - almost identical to head angle.
@H3RESQ - the difference is greater than that once you get into XL sizes and long inseams... I wish it were so easy.
www.cannondale.com/en/Canada/Bike/ProductDetail?Id=fe7f8dd6-680f-4279-b280-5691a477b0f4&parentid=undefined
I miss 2010
Every mid-range sram derailleur (including Rival derailleurs I race cross with) come with the steel pulley bearings, and they rust solid after a bit of sloppy wet riding and rinsing with the hose. They can be disassembled, unfrozen with penetrating oil, then regreased, but it's a pain in the ass and totally unnecessary. Shimano gets by just fine with plain bushings in their pulleys.
So if this was the plan, high five to whoever noticed and spec'ed the drivetrain this way.
“When I’m driving it hard”
Oh, Richard...
Engineers: "Anodizing the link green would be easy"
Design Team: "Done"
Good nonetheless, though
Having a hydraulic dropper which you cannot use fully open, even if slammed all the way down the frame, makes it UNUSABLE! It makes it such an inconvenience than in my opinion makes the bike borderline unrideable unless you swap it for a lower travel dropper.
If she rode the proper bike size for her height, and she's not utterly disproportionate, such an issue should not slide. It's either a matter of improper sizing on Pinkbike's side, or a flaw in Cannondale's design or fit guide.
She has a 27" inseam and rides medium bikes.
Most people on mediums will have like 3" more inseam.
That's what's going on. With those proportions you need a shorter dropper, or one with a low stack height, or a one up dropper that you can make any length drop.
@acali: the Habit seat-tube is an outlier on length when compared to new bikes of similar reach—inarguably too long for 150-170mm droppers and modern reach preferences. The size Small would have been too short for Sarah's preferences. Even taller size medium riders would run into issues if they wanted to run a 170mm post.
I am looking for a 29er that can take a 150-170mm dropper in size med with a 32 inseam. This review doesn't help me.
My point is that you guys let that comment slip in WAY too casually. Perhaps high profile bike tests like this should remind manufacturers how insignificant it is to boast a generous standover height when the "pedaling height" is compromised.
In defense of Cannondale i'll mention that i had a similar issue with several quality bikes i recently tested - the Ghost SL-AMR was impossible for me to use despite being smack in the middle of their fit chart for the size and having normal inseam height. Had to get the shop to replace the dropper with a 125mm. The Giant Trance 27.5 was borderline. I bet many other manufacturers mess this up.
You mentioned issues getting the saddle forward for climbing. Seems to me the short rear ends on bikes contribute to that issue, so artificially increasing the angle accomplishes a similar result. I'd be curious to see how a bike with similar geo, but a 10mm longer chainstay, would fare.
this bike isn't an sb130 or Stumpy, both of which are more aggressive. i'd keep upfork to 10mm, so 140. no way i'd do 150 on this bike. STA would get all dicked up and it's more trail than all mtn oriented.
Also, @nouseforaname, well done. I literally laughed out loud at that one
Moving your saddle can and does change your climbing position. I'm not sure why you're so against this idea just because sometimes you stand up?
Do you always climb standing? If the answer is no, then you will probably see some benefit from a steeper seat angle (moving your seat forward can simulate some of this effect). Some benefit is always better than no benefit - even if it's only a small improvement. Especially given it's a zero cost to do it.
Love what y’all are doing. Perhaps an explanation for why this bike was not considered would be helpful if it is not infuture plans. That would be good information in and of itself.
Keep up the great work!!! These reviews kick ass!!
We covered the Hightower LT back when it came out in 2017. www.pinkbike.com/news/santa-cruz-hightower-lt-first-ride-review.html
Coming from an anti single pivot rider one of the best things to happen to the industry was that patent dying... lol