roccobike

I picked up this Black Lightning when I had the opportunity a couple of years ago.
The bike is in OK condition. Everything works, and works well and it's almost all original. However there are four negatives to the bike, two significant, two minor. The first is the rear derailer has been replaced with a Shimano 105 unit. The Suntour index shifters work fine with it, but it's not the original black derailer. The second is there is paint bubbling on the top tube as seen in the pictures. The two lesser concerns, the wheels do not match, one being a Wolber (front) the other a Mavic (rear) and the brake hoods need to be replaced. Other than the rear derailer, all the original black components are there including the gold striped bars. It’s a good size, 56cm, I’m just not sure what it’s value is.

oddjob2

Sorry but your Black Lightning needs a lot of love. Besides what you already pointed out, the saddle looks pretty cheap, the chain looks rusty, the chainring bolts look rusty, the bike probably needs a full overhaul from it's outdoor existence, and overall the paint is in bad condition.

If I were to buy it as a project, I'd say $100 tops.

Ex Pres 

There was one here local in VG shape, complete DA, that sat on ebay for about a week at $350+reasonable shipping before it sold. I feel like I should have bought it, but trying to thin the herd, not add to it.

Thumpic

Not to hijack your thread....but why would paint bubble on an aluminum frame?

roccobike

Cannondale had a problem with bubbling paint around this vintage. I know I've heard of it before with Black Lightnings, might be some others as well, but the problem with this bike is not unique. Not sure what the problem is, but I've been told it has to do with the frame finishing process. I've not seen this on other brands and the other Cannondales I've owned were all newer than this one.

roccobike

Yes I know there are other basic rebuild issues here, but those are a given. Thanks for the opinion, but at $100, I might just put it in a box to be worked on later.

wrk101

+1 Unfortunately, in its current state, it will not do well. But the combination of "Black Lightning" and the Cannondale name might bring $150.


If you want to sell it, I would part it out instead. I would put the frameset on ebay, and sell some of the oem parts separately. I bet you could get $250 that way, probably more, and keep the wheels, RD, saddle, etc., for another project. Shift levers, FD, bars, brake calipers, cranksets, and stem (with clean up) should all do well.

Mismatched stuff on that frame just kills the value as a complete bike.

I've seen paint failure like that on several Cannondales. Is it worth a little dremel time and touch up? I do not know.

I've been parting out some projects lately. I hate to do it, but with a sizable backlog, its good to get some room. And with the right bike (one with desirable parts), you can do much better. Just sold the derailleurs and wheels off one bike, for what I would have gotten for the bike, completely refurbished with another $50 or more in consumables. So I am already ahead $$ wise. The key is whether the bike has desirable parts. I would think parts off a Black Lightning would get a good response.

The alternative is to find a matching RD, matching wheels, tires, bar tape, clean up, etc., and maybe get $350 for it then. I think you would be ahead $$ wise and time wise with a part out instead.

roccobike

Thanks Bill and Oddjob2.
Oddjob2, I see your point. If I'm going to sell as is, I need to at least clean up the chain, or replace, put on a nicer saddle and take care of the chain bolts. I'll also need to replace at least one of the tires so they appear to match. The more I think about it, the more I think I'll put a realistic price on it and see what happens.