Cannondale Trail 4 (27.5) (2018): ChooseMyBicycle.com Expert Review

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 30 Silver front suspension fork comes with a massive 100mm travel. XC30 takes in big bumps with a sure hand and the lockout is easy to use.

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.

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.

A fast trail bicycle needs harder and stronger brakes. The Trail 4 (27.5) (2018) is equipped with Shimano M315 Hydraulic Disc brakes with 160mm 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 760mm in width giving the rider an open chested riding posture and full control of the steerer.

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.