Q&A

Cube Agree VS Cannondale CAAD9

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Parent Category: Q&A

Category: Q&A Bicycles

Published on Tuesday, 01 December 2009 07:22

Written by Luca Salvatelli

Dear Editor,

I read your website and do the compliments, really nice and well done! I am writing to seek technical advice on the aluminium frames:

according to common opinion the best aluminium frame is currently the CAAD9 Cannondale and the goodness of this model there is no doubt. But I want to know if the model Agree Cube can be considered an alternative to Caad9 Cannondale. In fact, for your money, opting for the model Cube you can have group level and turn it best. It should then choose the model of Cannondale as the frame is higher, or the differences are not likely to give up a component better? Surely Cannondale has a long experience with the leagues, but I would not want the real difference was only a matter of marketing. (Signed letter)

Dear Reader, thanks for the compliments. As by you yourself have acknowledged, and we reiterated this magazine, Caad9 Cannondale is without doubt one of the best aluminium frames around, with far superior performance and longevity as a lot of products in carbon, so fashionable today. This, however, does not mean that there are valid alternatives. If in Italy, the Cube is a registered trademark seeds unknown niche in Germany enjoys a reputation and credibility very different. By the way a German would not even raised the question as to which bike to choose .... . Leave the German nationalism let's examine the pros and cons of the two models in reference to the Italian market, which is what interests us. No doubt the technical level of Cube Agree frame construction technology has a quite comparable to the Cannondale Caad9, both in aluminium hydroformed triple-butted, but changing the type of aluminium that is better in the model Cube (aluminium 7005, compared with 6061 T6 aluminium ) forks, although different, may be considered of equal quality. Geometries also differ, obviously, it is up to you to analyze which of the two best suited to your physical. In the 2010 model, then, the Caad9 has been updated with the BB30 bottom bracket and crankset dedicated Agree with the number of steering conical and internal cable. The rest of the components are substantially similar for the same assembly, with a difference, the higher in the wheels, as seen by you, the best level in the Cube and associated to tire highest range, and also in the saddle. Although different, stem, handlebar and seatpost have a quality substantially identical. Not a small difference, then, that the Caad9 is made entirely in America, at the headquarters Cannondale, but this is not implemented in Germany at the frame Agree, although perfect in its construction, in the final price the choice of different places affects not just production. The final price is in favour of Cube. Road use behaviour of the two frames are substantially identical and the difference it makes more assembly, as repeatedly shown in our tests on the road, where bicycle frames were made less technically superior performance through their quality components. Another important factor is keeping the value of the bike in time, this time all in favour of Cannondale. In fact, if the Caad9 is also required on the used market, the same can not be said of the frames Cube, Cannondale also for the lifetime warranty of the frame. Now the conclusions. If we look at price-performance ratio is higher than the Cube Agree CAAD9, because the same assembly costs less and has comparable benefits. Cube is the downside of the strong devaluation of its models, no effect if you take the bike for many years, but essential if you plan to sell the bike after a year or two, in which case the advantage of Cannondale is abysmal (in individual cases and fortunate to be part, of course!). The cost of a bike, in fact, should not be considered only when the cost of your purchase, but the residual value that it has given her after a cycle of use. No need to be experts in economics to understand that if today a model X-savings by buying 100 Euro, but tomorrow this model suffers a devaluation twice as a competitor, the initial savings turns into a sharp loss. For these reasons, the Caad9 Cannondale continues to be a successful product. The final choice is up to you, whether his doubt was referring only to the quality of the frame Cube Agree reassure her that these are equal if not superior, to the model of Cannondale Caad9.