Black Lightning Not
 

I want to post this link for the auction pictures, in case this bicycle hasn't been seen here before. https://ebay.com/itm/Cannondale-Road...-/254946377495

I didn't win this auction, I dropped the ball and didn't bid $1,000. And I don't know how to grab the pictures and post them without the auction link.
The link probably won't be live for very much longer, if it works when I post it.

Just keep in mind anyone can paint a criterium frame black and frank one together.

Pic assist. We actually built a non-Black-Lightning Black Lightning. I ordered a tiny closeout Cannondale frameset for my wife's birthday present years ago and when it arrived it turned out to be a Black Lightning. I felt obligated to build it up with black components and did so with what I could find, but those pieces were not the same ones that would have been specified on a stocker.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...712f4e4a83.jpg

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Yup, it's an SR800 in Ebony that looks to be all original except the LOOK pedals (see attached catalog page).
One year before the SR800 was dubbed Black Lightning, it was just a bike ridden "by many of the swiftest bike messengers" and available in "sinister black on black".
Nice find. Hadn't heard about it. Makes me want to the hear the story behind it becoming "Black Lightning" in 1987.

Did they actually say black lightening on them or was that just the poorly redone Blaze version

The only actual Black Lightning-labeled bikes I've seen had the Blaze stuff.

I need that saddle...

With exception to the dork disc on the freewheel, that SR800 is built up nicer than most Black Lightnings.

Impressive price - perhaps OTT - but at least it recognizes the seller's efforts to build up something truly nice.

-Kurt

And let's be honest. There was nothing inherently special about the black lightning other than color.
The bike in question is at the very least, nicely equipped, and IMO wasn't trying to mislead or take advantage in any way

Thats some great picture grabbing.

The pedals are listed in the description, but I think the description is copied from a web page, and not written up by the seller for this bicycle.
I thought the tires were supposed to be tubular, with Mavic GP4 rims, a sticker is visible on the rim in the SR800 picture, but I don't recognize the sticker.

Early B.L.'s had the gold anodized S.S. stuff on them and is "very" pricey/hard to find....this may have been a transition from 800 to B.L. In any case a very nice bike. I have the largest B.L. made at the time and it came with Sprint" on it, it's still looking for a buyer that needs a mint tall one.
Best, Ben