CannondaleCujo
Origin
The Cujo arrived in 2017 as Cannondale's affordable 27.5+ hardtail, riding the short-lived plus-size tyre wave that briefly dominated trail-hardtail design between 2016 and 2019. Built around an aluminium SmartForm frame with dirt-tailored geometry — short chainstays, slack 67-degree head angle, dropper-post compatibility — and 2.8" plus tyres on wide rims, it was pitched as the rugged, traction-rich answer to entry-level XC hardtails. Production was done in Cannondale's Asian alloy facilities. The lineup ran from Cujo 3 (entry) up to Cujo 1 (Deore-equipped flagship around €1,399) plus a women's-specific 'Scarlet' variant. As the plus-size trend faded and the industry consolidated around 29" wheels, the Cujo was phased out around 2020-2021 — the adult line never made it to model year 2022. Cannondale kept the Cujo name alive only on kids' bikes (20+, 24+) into 2024 as junior hardtails.
Specifications
- Frame
- SmartForm C2 Alloy (6061 hydroformed aluminium), 27.5+ trail hardtail with tapered headtube, internal cable routing and Boost spacing
- Weight
- kg
- Drivetrain
- 1x10/1x11: Shimano XT Shadow+ rear derailleur, SLX shifter, Sunrace 11-42T cassette, FSA Comet 30T narrow-wide crank, KMC X11 chain (Cujo 1). Lower trims use Shimano Deore 1x10
- Brakes
- Shimano MT400 hydraulic disc, 180 mm front / 160 mm rear rotor (Cujo 1); Tektro Hydro Disc on lower trims (Cujo 3)
- Wheels
- 27.5+ WTB STX i35 TCS tubeless-ready rims (35 mm internal) on Formula hubs, Boost spacing
The verdict
- Outstanding component value: XT-level rear derailleur, RockShox Recon RL fork and a TranzX dropper post on a sub-£1,000/€1,400 hardtail
- Plus 2.8" WTB Ranger tyres give huge traction and comfort on roots, gravel and broken urban surfaces
- Well-damped 120 mm fork that flattens trail buzz and inspires confidence on rough ground
- Playful, forgiving handling that suits beginners and thrash-and-bash trail riding
- Conservative/steep 68.5° head angle feels nervous and twitchy on steeper, faster descents by modern trail standards
- WTB Ranger tyres have a low, fast-rolling tread that loses grip and cornering precision when leaned hard or in mud
- Heavy for the category (~14.5 kg) — the plus tyres and rims add rotating mass and sluggish acceleration
- Locked into the dead 27.5+ tyre format: replacement plus tyre choice is now shrinking and resale value suffers
- Lower trims (Cujo 2/3) drop to Tektro brakes and SR Suntour fork, noticeably blunting the value story above the flagship
Who it’s for
Related models
Where to buy Cannondale Cujo in Estonia
Local shops and marketplaces in your country.
These are searches on third-party sites — URBALT is not affiliated with them and does not sell directly.
Want one?
Find this bike on the marketplace, or compare notes with riders already on one.