Cannondale Trail 4 (27.5) (2018) - Review

by Simon Ananda Raj May 19, 2025 1 min read

Cannondale recently launched a wide range of 2018 bicycles in India. Their ~Trail' range of MTB's are one of their most famous lines of bicycles. The Trail series have various models in them with different components. This year's launch saw a full-fledged range of hardtail MTB's from Cannondale. We got the opportunity to test ride the Trail 4 (27.5) and here is what we thought.

A fast and aggressive hardtail built for the hardest of trails.

Simon Ananda Raj

Cannondale Trail 4 (27.5) (2018)

Snapshot

4.0

Product Rating Out of 5

Performance 4.1

Design 4.0

Features 4.0

Value for Money 3.8
THINGS WE LIKE

✔ Strong and lightweight alloy frame

✔ Smooth and quick Shimano SLX 1x11 derailleurs

✔ Heavily treaded 27.5” tires

THINGS WE DON'T LIKE

✖ Hard handlebar grips

✖ N/A

✖ N/A
Frame

Trail 27.5 SmartForm C2 Alloy

The slanting top tube helps the rider get into an aggressive yet comfortable posture.
Fork

RockShox 30 Silver TK With 100mm Travel

XC30 takes in big bumps with a sure hand and the lockout is easy to use.
Gearing

Shimano SLX 1x11-Speed

The 1x11 Speed Shimano SLX derailleur is built for performance and speed on trails.
Breaks

Shimano M315 Hydraulic Disc Brakes

The Shimano Hydraulic Disc brakes on this bicycle are powerful and best suited for fast trail riders.
Tires

WTB Ranger Comp 27.5" X 2.25"

The treads on the sides help get balanced traction even while cornering.
Battery

N/A

N/A

: The Trail 4 (27.5) is built using a SmartForm C2 Alloy frame. This alloy frame has the SAVE technology which helps absorb vibration from the surface when it passes through the frame, this immensely helps in having a much smoother ride on trails. The slanting top tube helps the rider get into an aggressive yet comfortable posture. For a bicycle meant to tackle the roughest of terrains, the frame weight is light which helps in acceleration.The RockShox 3 Silver front suspension fork comes with a massive 1mm travel. XC3 takes in big bumps with a sure hand and the lockout is easy to use.

This alloy frame is lightweight and strong with an aggressive yet comfortable ride posture.
: This bicycle is equipped with the latest 1x11 speed Shimano SLX 11-Speed shadow plus gears. The latest trend in performance MTB's is to skip the front derailleur and the same has been followed in the Trail 4 (27.5) (2018). The SLX rear derailleur was fast in transmission and felt smooth. The 11-Speed SLX shifters were easy to use and really were rapid in action.

The 1x11 Speed Shimano SLX derailleur is built for performance and speed on trails
: The Trail series have always been top notch with their design. This Trail 4 which I test rode came in a Lime green colour with black graphics. The gloss paint job was superior in quality and really did shine. The internal cable routing for the gear cables make the front of the bicycle look neat. The saddle, rims and suspension fork are colour coded and does increase the aesthetics of this bicycle.

The internal cable routing for the gear cables make the front of the bicycle look neat
: A fast trail bicycle needs harder and stronger brakes. The Trail 4 (27.5) (2018) is equipped with Shimano M315 Hydraulic Disc brakes with 16mm rotors. These brakes were perfect for halting when riding on the most challenging of trails. They are well balanced and react well to both interval braking and sudden halts.Cannondale's C3 riser handlebars was 76mm in width giving the rider an open chested riding posture and full control of the steerer.

The Shimano Hydraulic Disc brakes on this bicycle are powerful and best suited for fast trail riders
: This bicycle rolls on a pair of WTB Ranger Comp 27.5” x 2.25” MTB tires. These tires were filled with heavy tread buttons and spaced out perfectly. The treads on the sides help get balanced traction even while cornering. These rims and tires are tubeless ready and can be converted into a tubeless anytime by using a sealant. The stock Cannondale Stage 3 saddle is built for trail riding as they are wide enough to keep you comfortable and also has the perfect amount of padding. The overall ride quality was fast and comfortable on trails.

These rims and tires are tubeless ready

: Provide the answer to the question here.

Quote
: This hardtail MTB from Cannondale is fast and built for trails. The latest trend of 1 x gearing combo skipping the front derailleur has worked well in keeping the drivetrains simple yet having a huge range of gears for acceleration and climbs. With heavily treaded tires and safe brakes this bicycle is great to ride. If you are someone looking for a fast and performance packed MTB, the Cannondale Trail 4 (27.5) (2018) is an ideal choice for you.Prices are subject to change by the brand, without due notice.