Newbutlearning

Hi all,
Can anyone possibly help with some info on the bike I just got? I have a Cannondale, great shape but can't find it online to know any details, value, specs, etc. So far I love it, and it's like new. Bout know nothing about it...hoping some experience is what it takes. Thanks in advance guys!!!

cb400bill

Thread moved to General Cycling forum.

CliffordK

It looks like the model is:

Cannondale Delta V from the mid 1990's.

I don't have much info about the specific model, but you should be able to find quite a bit on the web.

Craptacular8

From the frame design, it looks like an early 90's Delta V series mountain bike. What does the number on the top tube say? If it is a Delta V series, it would have originally had a front shock mounted under the head tube, so the forks on the bike now would have been swapped out at some point.

Newbutlearning

Thanks, I will look as soon as I get home. The owner thought it was all original and had very little rides...maybe he didn't know...?

Craptacular8

I think I found it. Cannondale introduced the Killer V mountain bike series in 1994 that had the same v shaped top tube, but without the headshock of the Delta V. From the color, it would be a 1996 Killer V500. They retailed for $975, but really outside of C'Dale's light weight frame/fork combo, the rest of the components installed on it would not be much to write home about...standard alivio/coda fare, though deore lx rear derailleur. It looks to be in excellent shape.

Newbutlearning

By golly I believe you nailed it...!!! I checked it out and looks like it is exactly what you said. So was $150 too much to pay for it being in immaculate condition? Just an opinion, that's all I'm asking, thanks btw!!!

jefnvk

Value is all subjective to the buyer, seller, product and locale.

The bike looks clean and serviceable. If you like it, $150 for a clean, serviceable bike that you enjoy is well worth it. $150 around me generally will get you slightly north of asking prices for 40 year old Schwinn junk rust buckets.

Newbutlearning

Well that makes me feel much better...and yes, took it out for my first long ride today and cannot really say anything bad about it. I did 12.5 miles and nothing but awesomeness....!!! I am looking forward to enjoying it and making it eventually to 30+ miles per day. Yes...I am a newbie..... and thank you for the help fellers...!!!

europa

If you're still riding it this time next year, is the price relevant in any way?

I'll go further. You're loving it now. Is the price relevant?

You can buy machinery, you can't buy pleasure.

tramptrade 

I ride a Killer V 500 circa 1995-97. It's comfortable, durable, and I have mine set up more towards utility / touring than trail riding.

Mine has 100mm Bomber shocks on the front and Deore XT drive train. So far I have been very happy with it for the most part. I also pull a trailer on a regular basis, both with and without panniers.

As far as making the bike more usable for my purposes I have a shorter, more up-swept stem with riser bars to improve the riding position for my needs.

My issue with the bike is the lack of options for upgrading brakes, adding frame bags, bottles, fenders etc. It's a bit of a goofy frame that rides very well but is frustrating to make improvements on.

Not sure what you want to use yours for, but I run Schwalbe Marathon 1.75 tires on mine as I mostly ride road and hard-pack these days.

$150 USD is on par as far as value goes - depending on the drive train. I paid $200 CAD for mine a couple years ago.

Milton Keynes

Depends on which part of town you go.

Ironfish653

I'm not sure it's a Delta V or a Killer V. The wheels and forks look awfully skinny, and it appears to be a 1" (quill) stem. Kinda weird looking hardware for a mid-late '90s MTB.

Plus, it has an H300 on the top tube, just before the seat. That would make it an H300 hybrid, which seems more likely. Not a whole lot out there on the H-bikes

Decent frame, USA-made CAAD1, and LX/STX/Alivio driveline, depending on the year.

For $150, you got a good bike. Nothing fancy, but it should provide many years of good service.

tramptrade 

The one posted by the OP looks different than my Killer V500. Seat stays and dropouts are different, and it looks like the top bar triangle as well. I don't think this is a Killer V500 either.

Ironfish653

At the expense of repeating myself, the bike @Newbutlearning posted is an H300


Not a bad bike, but a long way from a Delta V / Killer V / F-XXX MTB of the same era.

Retro Grouch 

How tall are you? That looks like a fairly small frame size to me but the unusual frame design may be confusing the issue.

The bottom line is that you like the bike. Assuming that it fits (and judging from the seat position it looks to me like it does) I think that's an outstanding buy.

VegasTriker

You can narrow down the year by comparing the components to what is listed here: https://www.bicyclebluebook.com/Sear...72&model=40901 It lists the MSRP for the bike as in the $470-$540 range and you can see a picture of each model year. It is listed as a Hybrid bike so that would go along with what you say. Actual picture of one here: https://toms-shots.weebly.com/1997-ca...-commuter.html

There's lots of controversy about the values listed for used bikes at this site but it is a good site for finding the year a bike was made and the MSRP. Your bike may not be a fantastic bargain but think of what you could get new for the same $150 - most likely a bicycle shaped object.

Newbutlearning

So it is not a V-killer as said before???? It looks like it but I'm new...so.

Ironfish653

Nope, the H300 on the frame pretty much pins it down.
The biggest indicator would be your tire/wheel size. There's a 'label' visible on the front tire, it should have the size printed on it. You are looking for something like 700x35 or 26x1.75 The first number is the wheel size, the number after the 'X' is the tire width.

Through the 80's and 90's Cannondale's model naming was alpha-numeric: R-X00 for road/race bikes, T-X00 for Touring, M-x00 for Mountain bikes, F-X00 for MTB with the Headshock integrated front end. The higher the number, the higher level bike.

The frame shape originated with the Delta-V, which was their first full suspension MTB. The Headshock was Cannondale's proprietary front suspension, which put the shock inside an oversized head tube, it's light and stiff, but with a shock over 100mm travel, it makes the head tube very tall. (my F-XXXX) has a negative-rise stem like a road racer!) So; tall front end, tall rear end, the 'V' top tube was a way to increase the stand-over clearance, which became something of a visual signature for Cannondale bikes.

Newbutlearning

[QUOTE=Ironfish653;19737701]Nope, the H300 on the frame pretty much pins it down.
The biggest indicator would be your tire/wheel size. There's a 'label' visible on the front tire, it should have the size printed on it. You are looking for something like 700x35 or 26x1.75 The first number is the wheel size, the number after the 'X' is the tire width.

Through the 80's and 90's Cannondale's model naming was alpha-numeric: R-X00 for road/race bikes, T-X00 for Touring, M-x00 for Mountain bikes, F-X00 for MTB with the Headshock integrated front end. The higher the number, the higher level bike.

The frame shape originated with the Delta-V, which was their first full suspension MTB. The Headshock was Cannondale's proprietary front suspension, which put the shock inside an oversized head tube, it's light and stiff, but with a shock over 100mm travel, it makes the head tube very tall. (my F-XXXX) has a negative-rise stem like a road racer!) So; tall front end, tall rear end, the 'V' top tube was a way to increase the stand-over clearance, which became something of a visual signature for Cannondale bikes.








Well shuckie darn....I am a little confused. I will need to look it over a lot better when I get off work. I know it has the Hybrid 800 sticker but not a lot more identifying labels....grrr.... I love it I would just like to know more about it, that is all.

Ironfish653

Get a picture of it from the other side, where the 'gears' are. Also closeup of the drive train and any of the stickers on the seat tube. That way we can see what brand / make the driveline is, and whether it's a US made bike or an off-shore one.

Cannondale made and continues to make very nice bicycles; the 90's bikes had some unique features. Unfortunately, hybrids in the 90's were bought by people like my dad, so not much about them made in in to the internet record.

JanMM

Picture in the first post indeed looks like a hybrid and not a MTB. I had a '94 H300 but it had a more common diamond frame. Largish frame size.