vintage cannondale

[HONDO]

Just bought either a 1986 or 87 cannondale sm 600 or 800 (not sure) for $200 thats never been ridden.Its been stored off the ground all these years. The owner said he paid $800.00 new.Being this old of a bike is it just an outdated bike with outdated components or does it have vintage value? I didnt think I could go wrong at $200. Opinions?

[Tourista829]

Although vintage, I don't think it has much value. Parts will be tough to find. I have a Cannondale of that era. It started life as a ST700 which I did a frame swap out for a ST1000 frame. If you go online, you can see older Cannondale catalogs. I commend Cannondale for always offering a true touring bike. Their top of the line touring bikes had cantilever brakes, where as the ST 600-800 had side pull. The front crank had a 28-44-50 elliptical bio pace design. The rear had a 6 speed freewheel. The gear levers were mounted on the down tube. The frame geometry was also different. If the rear wheel is very close to the seat tube, it wasn't a touring frame. What color is it? Yellow? Each year they changed their color. To spruce mine up, I had a Brooks Saddle on it, matching handlebar tape, and fenders. I also had the original Cannondale front and rear racks and I converted the gear shifters to STI's. Being Aluminum, it was relatively light weight. I put thousands of miles on it. I now ride a Comotion. If you give me your email, I will send you a picture.

[staehpj1]

Just bought either a 1986 or 87 cannondale sm 600 or 800 (not sure) for $200 thats never been ridden.Its been stored off the ground all these years. The owner said he paid $800.00 new.Being this old of a bike is it just an outdated bike with outdated components or does it have vintage value? I didnt think I could go wrong at $200. Opinions?

Dunno about the vintage value.  I'd ask on the bike forums classic and vintage area.
http://www.bikeforums.net/forumdisplay.php?181-Classic-amp-Vintage

If you want it to ride it is probably a pretty nice bike as long as you are not worried that it is "old fashioned".  I have a Cannondale road bike of that vintage and it is still a very nice ride in my opinion.

[HONDO]

this bike is red, has 26 inch wheels, cantaleever (spelling) brakes,I believe the smaller sprocket is a 22? I hope I gave you the corrrect model number or something close to it. I know its an 86 or 87 year and he did pay $800.00 which was a nice price back then. This bike was tagged as a "mountain bike" I believe although some people called it a hybrid even back then.

[DaveB]

this bike is red, has 26 inch wheels, cantaleever (spelling) brakes,I believe the smaller sprocket is a 22? I hope I gave you the corrrect model number or something close to it. I know its an 86 or 87 year and he did pay $800.00 which was a nice price back then. This bike was tagged as a "mountain bike" I believe although some people called it a hybrid even back then.

If it has 26" wheels it is most likely a real mountain bike from it's day as hybrids have had 700c wheels right from their inception.  I assume your bike has a rigid fork and a hardtail frame but that was what MTB's had in the 80's.

[HONDO]

yes, that pretty much sums up this bike. looks like it has mountain bike low gearing. Im not into single track stuff but was wondering if it would make much of a tourer if one used a bob trailer. spokes are 36

[ducnut]

Going by the color, this bike appears to be an SM500.

http://sanaandterry.com/cannondale/year/1986/1986.pdf

[HONDO]

yeah, the best I can come up with is the sm500 also. I thought it seemed like a decent deal at $200
plan to get a lot of use out of it.

[ducnut]

yeah, the best I can come up with is the sm500 also. I thought it seemed like a decent deal at $200
plan to get a lot of use out of it.

For sure, I wouldn't be ashamed to ride it. It's really cool and a good deal at $200.

To answer your previous post, I wouldn't be afraid to rack it up or pull a trailer with it. Rigid MTB's are built really sturdy. There are plenty of tour tire options, too. I think people get too wrapped up in having a touring-specific bike to travel. Have fun with it.

[Successor to the Professor]

I commend Cannondale for always offering a true touring bike.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but Cannondale will be dropping the touring bike from their 2011 lineup.  Perhaps the value of the bike will be going up!

[DaveB]

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but Cannondale will be dropping the touring bike from their 2011 lineup.  Perhaps the value of the bike will be going up!

Well, the OP's bike is just an early MTB so it's collector's value is pretty much nil.