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
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