bistro

I am looking at getting my first road bike and don't want to spend too much until I see if it is for me. I looked at a consignment Cannondale r1000, 1991 today that looked like it was in really good shape. I would have thought it was just a few years old. What would be a good price for a bike like this. I know it is a nice bike, but it's a little older so I have no idea. Please give me an idea what you would offer. Thanks!

bistro

Just a ballpark would be great. They are asking $600, but the guy at the shop hinted that I should make an offer. Thanks!

KevRC4130

While I don't have any experience with that particular model, I was just looking (and purchased) at entry level used bikes, and $600 can get you A LOT if you're talking used. Honestly $600 seems pretty steep for a bike that old, it is almost 15 years old. Also, the older aluminum frames are apparently super harsh riding. I would keep looking unless the guy gives you an offer you can't refuse. If you test ride it and love it, then maybe it would be worth it, but just make sure you shop around. Check craigslist and ebay.

KevinF

What sort of components are on it? It should either be printed on the derailleur or the person selling it should be able to tell you. That would probably go a long ways in determining its price.

labratmatt

I agree with KevRC4130. $600 seems like a lot of money for a 91 Cannondale. I would guess they would go for about half of that (or less) on ebay. See how much the shop is willing to come down quite a bit or ask them what else they have in stock.

Ubie

I recently sold my '92 R600 with mostly 105 components for $225 here in NYC. Based on the feedback responses i got (posted on craigslist), that was about as high as i was going to get for it. The bike was in good (not excellent) shape, and had recently been tuned up, did not include pedals nor saddle. It was the 2.8 frame, which may be the same as that r1000. Hope this helps.

sydney

$600 is delusional with original parts. Unless it has been serioulsy upgraded,it's about a $2-250 bike.

theopowers

I was going to suggest that you post under "Classic and Vintage" and see what Sydney had to say. But it looks like he has come to you!

sestivers

You've got to be kidding. $600 for a 15-year old bike? It probably cost only $1700 to start with. I just sold my 1994 Cannondale for $150 and thought I made out on the deal. Do not pay more than $200 for that bike.

Keep in mind that aluminum does not have an unlimited fatigue life like steel does. That frame will crack after a nominal number of stresses on it, no matter how small the stresses are. It may take 5, 10, or 100 years but the fact is, the frame will eventually crack. I'm not saying that aluminum is bad, I ride Cannondales also, but it already has numerous stresses on it and is already that much closer to failure.

roadwarrior

For another $300 you can buy a CAAD5 R500 brand new. Compared to that frame, the CAAD5 will feel lightyears better mainly due to the seatstay design. When Cannondale went from the CAAD3 to the CAAD 4 they redesigned the seat stays to provide enough flex to make the bike comfortable to ride.
Come up with the extra $300...

or offer about $150 for the '91 bike. Tops.

bistro

Thanks everyone, that was sooo helpful. There was no way I was going to make an offer w/o checking here first! Kevin F, I'm pretty sure the components said Ultegra, would that be right for 1991? I think I will keep shopping around.

sydney

Ultegra/600 was around in 91. 8 speed. could be either STI or downtube shifters.

Don Cook

If it has the original components, not more than $100.
Is the seller warrantying that the 14 year old aluminum frame is free from stress cracks? Unless you get an ironclad money back period of say, 30 days, I wouldn't go near it. Or, can you take the frame for Xrays?

sydney

Lighthouse Imaging charges $300 for a complete set on 15 year old Cdales.

Don Cook

Good information. And, I'd say the only way to even think of buying a 15 year old aluminum frame.

bistro

I'm convinced, this is not the bike for me. I'll keep looking and that was very interesting about the x-rays. Thanks again!

sydney

Actually, it was a joke.What if it was a garage ornament? What if it was only ridden by a 130 pound weakling only on sunny sundays? Does aluminum still deteriorate from just hanging around? IMO, if the price is right it's a not issue. Aluminum fatige is another of the myths that gets bigger with time and the retelling.

sydney

It was a joke... Lighthouse Imaging is a medical diagnostic lab just down the street.

Don Cook

Good sense of humor. But, from the modest level of general machanical knowledge that you seem to have, you're surely aware of Xray techniques commonly used for weld inspection and metal fatigue cracks not visually detectable. And while there may be exageration regards aluminum fatigue and stress cracks, they do exist and are observable conditions, not just in bikes but in virtually everything made of load bearing aluminum. Any aircraft mechanics out there that wish to comment on this? I would agree that considering the total number of aluminum frames in use, the portion that develop these symptoms is miniscule. Yet, the older the frame the more likely they become. Xray inspection for unobservable cracks is also used for in many construction weld applications as well as the non welded areas of material that endure uncommon stress.

I'm not sure what was the funniest part of your joke? Was it that Xray isn't a legitimate method of inspecting welded material? Or the use of the name of a medical lab that is most likely esoteric to all but those in your immediate geographical area? Or our failure to assume that the frame was a garage ornament, ridden rarely by a 130 pounder?

sestivers

From my mechanical engineering/materials knowledge, I didn't think the x-ray comment was a joke either.

Has anyone heard this? "Any exposure to ionizing radiation, no matter how slight, increases the likelihood of getting cancer." Please wear sunscreen. 30 SPF or higher.

The same goes for things made of aluminum. "Any stress placed on aluminum, no matter how slight, increases the likelihood of material fracture/failure."

I'm still going to ride the heck out of my Cannondale. But I sure wouldn't do that on one that's 15 years old with unknown history.