Mountain Biking - Looking for new bike

I am looking at a cannondale 1998 M700. This bike is new except for age. The only thing I think has been changed is the shifters to M400 grip shift which I don't think I will like. The bike shop is asking 500 for it. Am I crazy to buy a bike this old and is this to much to pay? I know it is 300 off but it is 4 years old. Thanks for any input.

Make sure the warranty is still good, and I would ask for free service for a year if the shop isn't already offering it. Try to get a spec sheet online somewhere for that model bike and make sure that the parts that are supposed to be on the bike are there.

I have been to a couple shops where I see older bikes that have been stripped of the nicer parts and replaced with low quality parts. This kind of thing may account for why no one has bought it yet.

You have more bargaining power when you're buying a bike that is a couple years old. If you don't like the gripshifter ask for rapidfire shifters, they should be willing to do this free of charge.

Good luck, hopefully you will get a good deal and a sweet ride!!

I suspect that this bike is to small for me anyway. I raised seat all the way to mark on seatpost. When I rode it my knee's were bending more than I think is normal. I also think it might just be better to get a trek 8000 from this same dealer. It would have a suspension fork and better components. For being a solid fork bike though this one is pretty comfy and is really fast. I rode the trek 6500 and did not like fork on it. Bike seemed too heavy and fork seems to soft. I did not like feeling when braking or the quick take off, bike was bobbing up and down when I hammered down on it. Also are all forks like this. Thanks