87+/- Cannondale Help!
 

Hi,

Does anyone out there still ride an ST400 from 1987? I'm trying to identify a bike I looked at for my girlfriend. Cannondale tells me that it's a 1988 model ST400. The bike we saw was black with red lettering. I also think the dropouts were behind the point where the seat stay met the chainstay, which it wasn't in that model according to the pic they sent me.

So my question is does anyone else ride a Black Sport Series cannondale 1988 (maybe built in late 1987) with Suntour alpha 3000 components in the drivetrain, and if so do you know if it's a ST400 or not?

Also if we were getting one of these second hand, what woudl be a fair price (it's in really good condition with new tires, but it's really old obviously)? Is it just ridiculous to bother with components that woudl be that old?

Thanks!

Not sure if this will help, but...

From sheldonbrown.com:
"Serial number code: first two digits are the size, next 6 are date of manufacture, remainder are unit number. For instance: SN#54021787121 indicates a 54 cm frame, built on February 17, 1987, #121. "

On my '88 Black Lightning the seatstays meet the chainstays at the dropout, not in front of them like in some later models.

I have a st400 frame (blue) and it did orginally had suntour alpha 3000 parts. all the early cannondale frame has standard vertical drop out. keep in mind the early touring line also uses 27" wheel and long reach brakes.
the only orginal part I have let on the bike is the head set. I finally retired the f/d when I got an extra ultegra 600..

the suntour parts arent bad, but I do like index. and lighter brakes.

The outboard rear dropouts were on later model 3.0 and 2.8 frames around about 1990-1997.

OKay
 

Thanks people all that information is quite helpful.

It appears that the bike is a 23 inch model built on 9/21/87 #112 if that code is right. Maybe I was just out to lunch on the dropouts because it certainly seems like the drop out should be "normal". From what everyone and Cannondale is saying. I guess we'll have to look at it again.

SSRI did you have any problem upgrading components? Was spacing an issue? I'm not an expert on this stuff (nor am I looking to do it if I don't have to), but I'd like to know that I could put newer components on the bike (even if it has to be a complete new system).

Lastly, does anyone have a feel for what a fair price would be on this bike? They are asking $200.

And I'm obviously very inexperience here, what does the 27" tire mean? I'm assuming that the regular modern size is a 700? Does the 27" tire mean problems for new rubber or tubes? Can you retrofit a larger wheel?

Thanks for the help, and if you have any additional answers I'm all ears.

Cheers!

before we go into up grading 200 for the bike is kinda high. considering it is a touring model.
the frame uses 27 inch wheels which is larger then 700c wheels. the frame spread is 126 and you cannot spread it to 130. this pretty much limits you wheel choices in the future.
tires are readily availble but choices are limited
you can put newer componets on the bike but you are limited up to 7 speed index. down tube shifters.
you can score vintage 6 or 7 speed parts relativly cheap. (any 6/7 speed 105 or 600 index will work)
(i cant get sti to work on my frame due the cable angle to the cable stop on the frame)


But IMHO unless you have parts laying around this project is not worth starting. and 200 for the bike seems a little high. if the bike is a good fit it wont be a bad beater bike.

you can have a lot more options if you score a sr model.

Thanks for the input. I'm looking at it strictly for my girlfriend who wants to do some road biking, but nothing particularly difficult. We want to get her something that is better than her mtn. bike for a short paved ride.

I'm not looking to get into a huge project, and if we got it, we wouldn't be switching the components unless something broke. Even then, we'd be happy to get a bargain replacement if we could without replacing everything.

I'm not sure about the $200 myself, but the frame appears to be in decent shape and there are probably not too many great bikes in that price range anyhow (though we did get her mtn bike for about that which was a pretty nice buy).

Anyhow, thanks for the input. I appreciate it. As you can tell, I'm a casual road cyclist at best.