Cannondale Police Bike
05-01-18, 07:09 AM
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Cannondale Police Bike
Hello, I am looking for a bike and I don’t want to get ripped off. I found this Cannondale (the poster listed as a Carbondale) Law Enforcement bike but I don’t know what model it is or what it’s worth. I looked up current Cannondale Law Enforcement bikes and they are priced new at $900 & up but those also have features like disk brakes.
The bike I am looking at has friction brakes & appears to be in good condition but I haven’t seen it in person yet. Posted is asking $400, is that a fair price for this model or should I keep looking?
The bike I am looking at has friction brakes & appears to be in good condition but I haven’t seen it in person yet. Posted is asking $400, is that a fair price for this model or should I keep looking?
05-01-18, 12:40 PM
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Anyone who buys at that price should report being robbed.
05-01-18, 02:45 PM
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That looks like a 1997 Cannondale F300, but with black paint and a police decal. If it's in good shape, the price should be three figures and start with a "1".
05-02-18, 06:49 AM
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05-02-18, 07:42 AM
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Possibly a Police Interceptor model based upon the head shock. So here is my $.02 on the bike. The seller called it a "Carbondale" so obviously not a bike person. Whenever I see a similar bike listed on Craigslist, and they come up regularly it seems, the lister makes a big deal out of the fact that it was a police bike as if that should add to the value. It actually does not as pointed out above, they are ridden hard. I'm sure they are likely maintained pretty well too, but use is use and wear is wear.
If you were considering paying close to the asking price you can do way better and get a mountain bike with disc brakes or a hybrid with disc brakes depending upon what you want the bike for. I regularly see Trek and Giant hybrids listed for around $250 to $300 that would be a step up from that one.
If that bike is really speaking to you, make an offer in line with the feedback you've received here.
In any case, good luck and happy riding!
If you were considering paying close to the asking price you can do way better and get a mountain bike with disc brakes or a hybrid with disc brakes depending upon what you want the bike for. I regularly see Trek and Giant hybrids listed for around $250 to $300 that would be a step up from that one.
If that bike is really speaking to you, make an offer in line with the feedback you've received here.
In any case, good luck and happy riding!
05-02-18, 08:31 AM
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I wouldnt pay a premium for a crown victoria because it was a police model, --- quite the opposite. Thats the way i feel about this bike.
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05-02-18, 02:30 PM
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I'll echo everyone and say that it's a bad deal for $400. One thing to note when buying Cannondales is that if the proprietary Head Shok front suspension fork fails, then you'll need to go to an authorized dealer to get it serviced. That's a headache I wouldn't want to deal with, so I'd only look for one with a rigid fork.
The easiest thing to do would be to state where you live, your height, your budget, what type of bike you were interested in (road, mountain, commuter, hybrid, touring, etc), and the intended purpose. That way we can list some stuff on CL that might be of interest.
05-02-18, 03:21 PM
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@Koobers, what is the appeal of this bike to you?
05-02-18, 03:28 PM
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I'd ask the local PD if they've had any bikes stolen before forking over the dough.
05-02-18, 03:41 PM
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A CAD2 series Canondale with mono shock and heavy milage $100 is about all it's worth. Chances are the shock is half shot or bad and can't be replaced or fixed.
05-02-18, 09:15 PM
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So does being a CAAD 2 bike help identify the bike's quality? Yes, it identifies the bike as a midrange model. It doesn't affect the value all that much, though, since '90s mountain bikes haven't retained their value all that well. Entry-level and midrange bikes tend to occupy the same sub-$150 price range.
Looking at the 1997 catalog, I think we might be able to ID the bike you're asking about. There's a "police issue" F900 at the top of page 19. Here's a link to a catalog scan on vintagecannondale.com :
https://vintagecannondale.com/year/1997/1997.pdf
05-02-18, 09:19 PM
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headshock = heck no.
05-02-18, 09:21 PM
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05-02-18, 09:32 PM
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05-03-18, 03:52 AM
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I use to see the police around the harbor riding these all the time. Now it's the national guard and tanks. Or guys in neon yellow jackets that say security on motorized scooters.
I have an 02 Adventure that is CAAD 2. I need to move it. Nice bike. No shock fork. (No mods I am not trying to sell it on here)
I have an 02 Adventure that is CAAD 2. I need to move it. Nice bike. No shock fork. (No mods I am not trying to sell it on here)
05-03-18, 07:57 AM
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I live in Southeast Michigan, I’m 5’7” and have a budget of around $400. I’m not really sure what kind of riding I want to do which sucks since bikes tend to be purpose built. I guess I’m looking for a good all around bike. I know I don’t want a road bike. I’d probably be interested in trail riding & general riding with the family. I guess that’s what appealed to me about this bike. The police need bikes that can adapt to various different styles of riding so I figured this would be a good choice since I don’t know what type of riding I’ll be doing primarily.
05-03-18, 08:05 AM
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@Koobers, what is the appeal of this bike to you?
05-03-18, 09:36 AM
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If it were like 100 bucks and had a solid fork it would be a good deal and would fit the description of a good 'all around' bike.
05-03-18, 09:50 AM
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Speaking of $100 and rigid fork, here's an example of a well-priced mountain bike that looks to be in good shape. I didn't know which CL sub-region was closest, to you in southeast MI, so I picked Detroit.
1995 Trek 930 - $100 (Royal Oak, MI)
https://detroit.craigslist.org/okl/b...572560922.html
05-03-18, 12:06 PM
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Speaking of $100 and rigid fork, here's an example of a well-priced mountain bike that looks to be in good shape. I didn't know which CL sub-region was closest, to you in southeast MI, so I picked Detroit.
1995 Trek 930 - $100 (Royal Oak, MI)
https://detroit.craigslist.org/okl/b...572560922.html
05-03-18, 02:27 PM
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That Trek 930 would be a nice pickup for general-purpose riding around. Decent frame made from triple-butted True Temper tubing. Bullet-proof rigid CrMo fork. It looks to be in the right size range for a 5'7" rider, but might be just a smidge on the large side. It's worth a test ride to find out.
The Cannondale on Letgo sounds like a nice bike, but I didn't see any images. Without pictures or any way to assess condition, I can't tell you whether it's worth $350. If you go to look at it, pay close attention to the fork. Fixing suspension forks can get expensive fast. And compounding the problem, F3's can be equipped with a proprietary Cannondale headshok or Lefty fork depending on the year. We also don't know what size it is from the ad, and size is absolutely critical.
The Cannondale on Letgo sounds like a nice bike, but I didn't see any images. Without pictures or any way to assess condition, I can't tell you whether it's worth $350. If you go to look at it, pay close attention to the fork. Fixing suspension forks can get expensive fast. And compounding the problem, F3's can be equipped with a proprietary Cannondale headshok or Lefty fork depending on the year. We also don't know what size it is from the ad, and size is absolutely critical.
05-03-18, 11:11 PM
#24
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The Trek 930 is a good deal. The tires look like a hybrid style which is better for rolling resistance compared to knobby.
05-04-18, 02:04 AM
#25
Still learning
If you plan to ride around the burbs and bike trails on hard surface or bituminous, it would be hard to beat the Trek 930 for value, comfort, and resale. It looks to be in VG condition.
The Cannondale F3 is overkill for anything but trail riding the Potawami trail or Stony Creek.
https://us.letgo.com/en/i/cannondale...1-de0550c1188a
The Cannondale F3 is overkill for anything but trail riding the Potawami trail or Stony Creek.
https://us.letgo.com/en/i/cannondale...1-de0550c1188a