Cannondale Black Lightning derailleur
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Birmingham, AL
Posts: 118
Bikes: Wilier Triestina Gran Turismo , Alan Record, Giant OCR 1.
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Cannondale Black Lightning derailleur
I bought a 1988 Cannondale Black Lightning a while back and love it. It came with Shimano 600 Tri Color shifters and derailleurs as well as Campy rims and 600 tri color hubs. I am wanting to bring it back to original minus the wheels so I have been hunting for original components. Last week I bought and installed a rear derailleur sight unseen that was supposed to have come off of a 1988 Black Lightning, however upon inspection I noticed it is a Suntour Superbe Pro derailleur and not a Sprint. Am I mistaken or did 88 Black Lightnings come with Superbe Pro derailleurs?
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 11,138
Bikes: 1986 Alan Record Carbonio, 1985 Vitus Plus Carbone 7, 1984 Peugeot PSV, 1972 Line Seeker, 1986(est.) Medici Aerodynamic (Project), 1985(est.) Peugeot PY10FC
Mentioned: 22 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 150 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 34 Times
in
27 Posts
When one bought the Black Lightning from dealers just as a frameset, It did come with Suntour Superbe Pro front and rear derailleurs, but the RD had derailleur arms that were anodized gold to match the Black Lightning decals on the frame. The FD had also had gold anodized touches, IIRC. That's what was on my brother's Black lightning when he bought it from a Trek Dealer in Milwaukee......
I think Trek included the higher spec, special Superbe Pro derailleurs (Compared to the ones that came standard on the whole bikes) to enhance the frameset so they would sell more of it.
I think Trek included the higher spec, special Superbe Pro derailleurs (Compared to the ones that came standard on the whole bikes) to enhance the frameset so they would sell more of it.
#3
Groupetto Dragon-Ass
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Lostin Austin, TX
Posts: 602
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 412 Post(s)
Liked 762 Times
in
363 Posts
Mine has a black Sprint with a gold bar under the logo.
Don't forget that a '88 bike could easily be on its third derailleur by the time somebody takes one off of it.
The '88 catalog shows a Sprint with a gold parallel
while the '87 shows one like mine
But, you go to VintageCannondale and check out the '88 BLs, and those that still have what could be the original parts seem to have the gold bar AND a mostly chrome FD.
Go HERE
Don't forget that a '88 bike could easily be on its third derailleur by the time somebody takes one off of it.
The '88 catalog shows a Sprint with a gold parallel
while the '87 shows one like mine
But, you go to VintageCannondale and check out the '88 BLs, and those that still have what could be the original parts seem to have the gold bar AND a mostly chrome FD.
Go HERE
Last edited by Chuckk; 06-24-14 at 09:47 PM.
#4
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Birmingham, AL
Posts: 118
Bikes: Wilier Triestina Gran Turismo , Alan Record, Giant OCR 1.
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Long Island, NY
Posts: 647
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 41 Post(s)
Liked 51 Times
in
33 Posts
Finding OEM parts for the Black Lightning's are like looking for hens teeth. The 1990 Black Lightning I purchased last year was taken care of and not ridden to death, hence all original components except for tires. Bike rides great!
#6
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Birmingham, AL
Posts: 118
Bikes: Wilier Triestina Gran Turismo , Alan Record, Giant OCR 1.
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I love mine, the Darth Vader look is gorgeous. They don't make bike frames with beautiful welds like this anymore. Almost reminds me of a Klein.
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 11,138
Bikes: 1986 Alan Record Carbonio, 1985 Vitus Plus Carbone 7, 1984 Peugeot PSV, 1972 Line Seeker, 1986(est.) Medici Aerodynamic (Project), 1985(est.) Peugeot PY10FC
Mentioned: 22 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 150 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 34 Times
in
27 Posts
The Imron paint on the Black Lightning (at least the earliest ones) was not very resistant to chipping, so any kind of "normal/regular" use might really be hard on the paint.
#8
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Birmingham, AL
Posts: 118
Bikes: Wilier Triestina Gran Turismo , Alan Record, Giant OCR 1.
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I have a little bottle of Toyota Black Mica paint that matches perfectly for small chips. Personally think it's pointless to have a bike for any other purpose than putting the miles on it.
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Long Island, NY
Posts: 647
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 41 Post(s)
Liked 51 Times
in
33 Posts
The bike has just a few tiny chips. (Incredible, considering the bike was purchased in California new, ridden, and when the owner moved to Long Island brought it with him). Maybe the paint was improved as the years wore on. I have a white 1989 Criterium that I purchased from a local seller a few years ago. He was a real clean freak with his bikes, and treated them with love. To this day, there isn't a chip on it.
#10
Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 49
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
StradGuy...funny, I just picked up a Black Lightning on Craigslist about a week ago - ironically, just a bit of distance south of you (going to throw a post up about it somewhere if the forums can handle another BL love fest). While it has a number of components swapped out, the owner handed me a box with original parts in it. Has an RD in there and other goodness, most of which looks to have never been used or was very well maintained. The frame looks like it came out of a time capsule. Super happy. Anyway, I'll have to go back and dig through that box of parts....hmmm...
#11
Bianchi Goddess
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Shady Pines Retirement Fort Wayne, In
Posts: 29,725
Bikes: Too many to list here check my signature.
Mentioned: 191 Post(s)
Tagged: 2 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2912 Post(s)
Liked 2,836 Times
in
1,460 Posts
That model Suprebee does not have an adjuster and is not index compatible. You might try an inline adjuster where the cable housing meets the frame but I don't know if that will give the desired results.
__________________
“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk
“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Oklahoma City
Posts: 446
Bikes: Canondale LL Bean, Criterium; both MY Schwinn Volare's, Voyageur 11.8; Holdsworth; Bob Jackson; Raleigh Super Course Mk II and Super Course Racing USA; Trek 1500
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Bought the grupo from a guy who was parting out his Black Lightening and put it on my 11.8.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
JohnnyBee
Classic and Vintage Bicycles: Whats it Worth? Appraisals.
10
11-21-19 07:05 PM
DorkDisk
Classic and Vintage Bicycles: Whats it Worth? Appraisals.
2
07-29-15 10:45 AM
frpax
Classic & Vintage
23
02-17-10 10:55 AM