Cannondale quietly releases new Habit Alloy trail bike

Updated Habit with more aggressive geometry appears on Cannondale website

By Nick Clark

Published: Friday, 24 March 2023 at 12:00 am

Cannondale’s new Habit Alloy has appeared on the brand website ahead of any official announcement.

The new trail bike features more aggressive geometry than the outgoing Habit and redesigned tube profiles.

Only two bikes are listed – the Habit 4 priced at £2,100 / $2,500 / €2,699, and the Habit 3 at £2,950 / $3,325 / €3,999.

Both bikes feature a 140mm front fork and 130mm of rear suspension.

With the removal of the carbon-framed bikes from its website, it looks likely Cannondale will release a new Habit Carbon soon.

Size-specific geometry

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Cannondale is following the trend of size-specific geometry.
Cannondale

The new Habit has had a full redesign, featuring a more aggressive geometry than the bike it replaces, with a slacker 65.5-degree head angle, as opposed to 66 degrees on the previous model.

The front-centre measurement has increased on the new model, up from 743mm to 767mm for a medium-sized frame. This should make the bike more confidence-inspiring when going downhill because the front wheel is positioned further forward.

Cannondale has also given the new Habit size-specific geometry, with chainstay length measurements increasing through the size range.

The bikes will be available in sizes XS, S, M, L and XL, with the XS size featuring 27.5in wheels to accommodate smaller riders.

As with the outgoing model, it is likely that the frame will accept both 29in and 27.5in wheels, possibly giving the option of a trail mullet bike.

Down tube protection for a quieter ride?

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Previously, only the Habit Carbon featured down tube protection.
Cannondale

The new frame is made out of Cannondale’s SmartForm C1 Alloy, which is the brand’s premium aluminium frame material.

The new bike features down tube protection to prevent rocks from damaging the frame, while a new full-length chainstay protector should provide quieter descents compared to the previous model.

There has been an update to the linkage, with one of the pivot mounts moving from the seat tube and sitting deeper into the frame.

Like many new mountain bikes, the Habit has adopted SRAM’s Universal Derailleur Hanger and will use post-mount brakes.

Cannondale Habit Alloy spec and pricing

Cannondale Habit 4

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The Habit 4 comes in black or ‘ruby red’.
Cannondale
  • Fork: RockShox Recon RL 140mm
  • Shock: RockShox Deluxe Select
  • Drivetrain: Shimano Deore M6100
  • Brakes: Shimano MT200
  • Wheels: Shimano MT400 (hubs), WTB STX i25 (rims)
  • Tyres: Maxxis Rekon 2.4in
  • Price: £2,100 / $2,500 / €2,699

Cannondale Habit 3

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The Habit 3 is available in grey or a ‘purple haze’ colourway.
Cannondale
  • Fork: RockShox Pike Select 140mm
  • Shock: RockShox Deluxe Select+
  • Drivetrain: SRAM NX Eagle
  • Brakes: SRAM G2 R
  • Wheels: Shimano MT400 (hubs), Stan’s NoTubes Arch D (rims)
  • Tyres: Maxxis Dissector 2.4in (front), Maxxis Rekon 2.4in (rear)
  • Price: £2,950 / $3,325 / €3,999