Verdict on the Cannondale Bad Habit 1 test
Gegenentwurf gelungen! Mangels Laufruhe und Reserven kann es der Enduro-Konkurrenz im rauen Gelände zwar nicht das Wasser reichen, dafür zeigt das Bad Habit mit seinem extrem quirligem Temperament und gutem Vortrieb, was die Kategorie über Jahre veroren hat: Allround- Qualitäten und Fahrspaß abseits garstiger Strecken entlang der Falllinie. Das macht aus ihm kein besseres Enduro – aber eine erfrischende Alternative.
Data and facts about the Cannondale Bad Habit 1
| Suspension travel | 160 mm |
| Wheel size | 29"/ 27,5" |
| Weight | 15.48 kg |
| Fork | Rock Shox Lyrik Ultimate |
| Rear shock | Rock Shox Vivid Ultimate |
| Drivetrain | SRAM X0 Eagle AXS Transmission |
| Front brake | TRP Evo Pro 4 |
The Bad Habit is a rubbish enduro bike – the name says it all. But the facts back this up too. A mere 155 millimetres of rear suspension travel and 160 millimetres on the fork. In the all-mountain segment, figures like these are the norm. On an enduro bike, however, they mean one thing above all else: a lack of reserves. Added to this are a geometry and a mix of wheel sizes that clearly prioritise playfulness over a smooth ride. On paper, then, the Cannondale simply lacks the resources to hold its own in the enduro segment.
Is the Bad Habit an all-mountain or an enduro bike?
But why compare the Bad Habit to classic enduro bikes at all, when, based on the facts, it would be better suited to the all-mountain category? The answer is simple: Cannondale explicitly positions the bike as an enduro bike. And the Americans are also reinforcing this focus on the racetrack: factory riders such as Ella Conolly rely on the Bad Habit in the Enduro World Cup too – with great success. The British rider has already secured numerous podium finishes on it.
It would appear, then, that the Bad Habit does not arbitrarily sacrifice suspension travel and riding safety, but rather deliberately breaks with the established norms of modern enduro bikes, opening up a new perspective on its intended use.
Cannondale is all about a spirit of experimentation!
Anyone familiar with the history of this US manufacturer will also know that Cannondale would hardly throw one of its bikes to the wolves without giving the competition a chance – at least not without an ulterior motive. After all, the big ‘C’ stands for innovation, controversial niche solutions and bold development approaches like hardly any other brand. The legendary Leftyand Headshok forks, or the Jekyll with its DYAD rear shock – which switched between 85 and 140 millimetres of rear suspension travel at the touch of a button – are just the best-known examples of the US brand’s enthusiasm for experimentation and its development expertise. And it is precisely this tradition that the new Bad Habit aims to carry on: an alternative to the enduro one-size-fits-all approach. A bike so rubbish that it’s actually exciting again?
The frame: superbly crafted + clever details
As your gaze wanders over the full-carbon frame, what catches the eye – apart from the impeccable finish – is, above all, the extremely short and straight seat tube. This means that the 210-millimetre-long Vario seatpost on our size M test bike can even disappear completely into the seat tube if required. This provides enormous freedom of movement on descents and makes handling on steep trails easier. Added to this are a storage compartment in the down tube and size-dependent rear suspension kinematics. To achieve this, Cannondale adjusts the positions of the pivot points according to frame size, in order to create as consistent a suspension feel as possible across the entire range of sizes.
Criticism of the size adjustment
In our view, a suitably tuned geometry would be far more relevant in practice than size-dependent kinematics. There is room for improvement here: the S and M sizes have 430-millimetre chainstays, whilst the L and XL sizes have chainstays of just 435 millimetres. As a result, the proportions of the front and rear centres vary significantly depending on the frame size – and with them, the weight distribution and handling.
Cannondale Bad Habit: a surprisingly good climber
Bad Habit – that sounds rather lackadaisical, like a teenager who can’t be bothered to study. The name nips any hopes of good climbing performance in the bud. But think again! With its seat angle of almost 78 degrees, a moderate 440 reach and 648 millimetres of stack, the riding position on the Bad Habit is comparatively compact by M standards, but with plenty of pressure on the front end. Despite the short rear end, you only really need to actively keep the front wheel on the ground at truly steep key sections.
The Bad Habit excels in all other climbing disciplines. It has plenty of suspension travel and remains remarkably stable even when riding out of the saddle. Added to this is the low rolling resistance of the Conti tyres. And so this bike delivers exactly what modern enduro bikes often lack due to a lack of efficiency and propulsion: touring capability with a wide range of action, even without the need for lifts or shuttles.
On the downhill: party laps until you reach the rocky section
As long as flow sections meander smoothly down into the valley, singletrack zigzags like a hare on the run and jumps hurl you through jump lines, the Bad Habit certainly lives up to its name. It encourages you to get up to mischief on the trail. The ideal line? Boring. Instead, every edge of the terrain becomes a springboard. The springy suspension and short rear end make it possible: wheelies? A piece of cake! And in tight bends, where long, smooth-running enduros tend to get bogged down like a lorry on the Stelvio, the compact Bad Habit skilfully turns the corner. Even without gravity on its side, the Bad Habit picks up speed effortlessly. Especially on flowing trails, you can generate pace superbly by actively pushing the bike. The bike responds nimbly, directly and instantly to the rider’s input.
The biggest weakness is the chassis
The geometry works well even on steep sections, positioning the rider securely behind the cockpit. However, when the trail picks up speed and rolls over rocky sections, root-covered ground and bumps, the situation changes. The suspension often struggles to cope with rapid successions of impacts and hard landings. This compromises traction, riding safety and comfort. With the rear brake applied, the rear end stiffens further and passes the impacts on to the rider even more unfiltered. The short chainstays also prove to be a limiting factor here, compromising stability, particularly at high speeds.
Rating: Enduro category
Positive:
- very playful handling
- top climbers
- wide range of applications
- very well made
Negative:
- limited reserves for rough terrain
- Chain whipping
- modest spec for the price
- loud clanking of chains
Max Fuchs
Editor