Hi, my local LBS is an American PX on a base nearby, the website is www.natex.de or http://www.natex.de/outlets/4sbikesaccess.html and they are advertising a Cannondale Prophet 2MX for 2199 Euro (£1466) or the Rush 1000 for same price, as both these bikes retail for considerably more in the UK, does anyone have any experience of these bikes, which would be best for free ride and some XC racing? many thanks (my wife says I can have one as long as I buy 2 and sell the other for profit!! Nice lady!)

I have the regular Prophet, its an amazing all round bike ie light freeride/aggressive XC, I also have no problem with doing 100km enduros on it in total comfort(It weighs about 29lb).

The Prophet MX is a beefed up Prophet aimed at freeride but still light enough to go uphill.

The Rush is a different beast. It is aimed at the Enduro market and is a lot lighter but still up for some aggressive riding, however definately not freeride.

I love all of them, I have a Prophet 800 at the moment and its got such plush travel lefty is ace!

Basically you need to decide what kind of riding you do most, you won't be disappointed.

BTW that is a seriously good price for a Rush 1000.

cheers Karlos, and don't let those eco warriors on the oil peak get you down haha

Does Karlos work for Cannondale? :-)
Had a proper look at the Prophet last weekend, thought it a bit heavy for my style of riding. The Rush would have suited better but was a bit pricey.

Karlos just likes his Cannondale........

I have ridden one with a lefty in Lake Garda and I have to admit the fork was quite nice, weird for the first few minutes but nice........that is all I will ever admit to, ok!

If 29lb is too heavy for a bike with that amount of travel you're a weakling ;-)
Anyhow the models vary in weight I have a midrange 800 but a top of the range one kitted out with Crossmax SLs etc is gonna be considerably lighter. Test ride one, it feels a light ride!

I find it the best do it all bike around, 5.5" of super plush travel, amazing DH.

No I don't work for Cannondale.

Forgot to mention, don't go for a Prophet SL, they are in no mans land and damping on the fork isn't as good imo.

cool, I am leaning to the MX, as I want to be able to do all sorts of stuff on it, it will be my first full susser as I am riding a GT 0.0 at the mo

Good luck with it, I tested a lot of bikes before deciding on the Prophet.

Where do you live cos Cdale are doing demos all over the country and you'd be able to test every model!

Demos

Im in Germany but originally from North Devon, not that it matters much as I am off to Afghan on 5 April for 9 month tour, so it will be bought as soon as I return, but thanks for advice :)