Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Classic & Vintage
Reload this Page >

Info about 85 Cannondale

Notices
Classic & Vintage This forum is to discuss the many aspects of classic and vintage bicycles, including musclebikes, lightweights, middleweights, hi-wheelers, bone-shakers, safety bikes and much more.

Info about 85 Cannondale

Old 07-10-21, 08:15 PM
  #1  
85cannon
Newbie
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jul 2021
Posts: 4
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Info about 85 Cannondale

I bought a Cannondale in 1985, used it a lot then.... didn't. Recently moved to a biking friendly neighborhood, got new tires and a tune-up for it and have really enjoyed using this bike again. As I recall it was kind of a big deal in the day.....fat tubing OMG 😱. Does anyone have more history for me? It's 21", Shimano 600 shifters. Thanks
85cannon is offline  
Old 07-10-21, 08:27 PM
  #2  
cb400bill
Forum Moderator
 
cb400bill's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Kalamazoo MI
Posts: 21,324

Bikes: Fuji SL2.1 Carbon Di2 Cannondale Synapse Alloy 4 Trek Checkpoint ALR-5 Viscount Aerospace Pro Colnago Classic Rabobank Schwinn Waterford PMount Raleigh C50 Cromoly Hybrid Legnano Tipo Roma Pista

Mentioned: 58 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3059 Post(s)
Liked 6,380 Times in 3,692 Posts
Here is a link to the 1985 Cannondale catalog.

https://vintagecannondale.com/year/1985/1985.pdf

Is your bike an ST400?
__________________












cb400bill is offline  
Old 07-10-21, 09:18 PM
  #3  
70sSanO
Senior Member
 
70sSanO's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Mission Viejo
Posts: 5,772

Bikes: 1986 Cannondale SR400 (Flat bar commuter), 1988 Cannondale Criterium XTR, 1992 Serotta T-Max, 1995 Trek 970

Mentioned: 20 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1936 Post(s)
Liked 2,150 Times in 1,313 Posts
I have a 1986 SR400 and an ‘88 Criterium.

If yours is a touring model (ST) it has a slightly shallower head tube angle, longer wheelbase, cantilever brakes, and a triple crankset.

Here is my readers digest history…

Originally made in USA, sued by Klein in the 80’s, Cannondale won 90% of lawsuit due to 70’s college class with oversize tubing. Lost the oval seat stays so they went to their cantilever dropouts. Had notorious issues with the design. Klein bought by Trek and had no interest in dropout lawsuit and Cannondale returned to vertical dropouts. Changed the railroad head badge to the current wrench “C”. Introduced Coda parts line. The owner, and therefore the company, got heavily involved in motorcycle racing and that put them into bankruptcy. They got bounced around to different parent companies. All frames are now imported, but they are a viable bike option.

John

Edit added: In the late 90’s/2000’s Cannondale came out with one of the most bizarre products… the Lefty fork. While it is suppose to work quite well, I could never get my head around only one fork leg.

Last edited by 70sSanO; 07-10-21 at 09:40 PM.
70sSanO is offline  
Old 07-11-21, 06:22 AM
  #4  
shelbyfv
Expired Member
 
shelbyfv's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: TN
Posts: 11,462
Mentioned: 37 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3638 Post(s)
Liked 5,318 Times in 2,703 Posts
FWIW, the earlier STs had caliper brakes and 27 inch wheels. Easy swap to long reach brakes and 700 wheels. Comfy geometry with clearance for 32s.


Last edited by shelbyfv; 07-11-21 at 06:32 AM. Reason: add pic
shelbyfv is offline  
Likes For shelbyfv:
Old 07-11-21, 06:31 AM
  #5  
jdawginsc 
Edumacator
 
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Goose Creek, SC
Posts: 7,429

Bikes: '87 Crestdale, '87 Basso Gap, '92 Rossin Performance EL-OS, 1990 VanTuyl, 1980s Losa, 1985 Trek 670, 1982 AD SLE, 1987 PX10, etc...

Mentioned: 56 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2385 Post(s)
Liked 2,932 Times in 1,862 Posts
The Golden Era of ‘Dales in my opinion...the finish and care put into them was really unique...

Cantilevers were added ‘89. When did they end?
jdawginsc is offline  
Likes For jdawginsc:
Old 07-11-21, 06:47 AM
  #6  
bikemig 
Senior Member
 
bikemig's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Middle Earth (aka IA)
Posts: 20,505

Bikes: A bunch of old bikes and a few new ones

Mentioned: 178 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5877 Post(s)
Liked 3,445 Times in 2,066 Posts
Originally Posted by shelbyfv
FWIW, the earlier STs had caliper brakes and 27 inch wheels. Easy swap to long reach brakes and 700 wheels. Comfy geometry with clearance for 32s.

The 1985 st400 is a great bike. The brakes reach to 700c rims, 32s fit comfortably


bikemig is offline  
Likes For bikemig:
Old 07-11-21, 08:01 AM
  #7  
85cannon
Newbie
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jul 2021
Posts: 4
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
thanks! Very helpful. I think it must be the ST400, that seems to be the only one that has shimano 600 components.
85cannon is offline  
Old 07-11-21, 08:06 AM
  #8  
85cannon
Newbie
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jul 2021
Posts: 4
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
thanks for the reply - agreed, it's a great bike.....can't believe how much I'm enjoying getting back on it. Yes on the caliper brakes and shifters, they work fine for me! Reason for changing out the brake system? I'm only running a few errands and short distances on it at the moment. Any thoughts how much risk there is for theft? It's not a collector's item is it?
85cannon is offline  
Old 07-11-21, 08:10 AM
  #9  
Chuck M 
Happy With My Bikes
 
Chuck M's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 2,185

Bikes: Hi-Ten bike boomers, a Trek Domane and some projects

Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 868 Post(s)
Liked 2,278 Times in 1,100 Posts
Originally Posted by 85cannon
thanks for the reply - agreed, it's a great bike.....can't believe how much I'm enjoying getting back on it. Yes on the caliper brakes and shifters, they work fine for me! Reason for changing out the brake system? I'm only running a few errands and short distances on it at the moment. Any thoughts how much risk there is for theft? It's not a collector's item is it?
I wish I had the bike I owned in '85. If I did, I wouldn't change a thing. As far as theft, a bike doesn't have to be a collector's item to make someone want to steal it. I would take precautions against a grab and dash.
__________________
"It is the unknown around the corner that turns my wheels." -- Heinz Stücke

Chuck M is offline  
Old 07-11-21, 10:42 AM
  #10  
85cannon
Newbie
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jul 2021
Posts: 4
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by Chuck M
I wish I had the bike I owned in '85. If I did, I wouldn't change a thing. As far as theft, a bike doesn't have to be a collector's item to make someone want to steal it. I would take precautions against a grab and dash.
thanks - will do
85cannon is offline  
Old 07-11-21, 11:32 AM
  #11  
bikemig 
Senior Member
 
bikemig's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Middle Earth (aka IA)
Posts: 20,505

Bikes: A bunch of old bikes and a few new ones

Mentioned: 178 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5877 Post(s)
Liked 3,445 Times in 2,066 Posts
Not a collectors model so just use whatever lock you think is appropriate.
bikemig is offline  
Old 07-11-21, 03:09 PM
  #12  
jdawginsc 
Edumacator
 
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Goose Creek, SC
Posts: 7,429

Bikes: '87 Crestdale, '87 Basso Gap, '92 Rossin Performance EL-OS, 1990 VanTuyl, 1980s Losa, 1985 Trek 670, 1982 AD SLE, 1987 PX10, etc...

Mentioned: 56 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2385 Post(s)
Liked 2,932 Times in 1,862 Posts
The great thing about the Dales from 1984/5 to 1989, the only thing that separates the models is the component choice. Frames are identical from what I was told....
__________________
1987 Crest Cannondale, 1987 Basso Gap, 1992 Rossin Performance EL, 1990ish Van Tuyl, 1985 Trek 670, 1982 AD SLE, 2003 Pinarello Surprise, 1990ish MBK Atlantique, 1987 Peugeot Competition, 1987 Nishiki Tri-A, 1981 Faggin, 1996 Cannondale M500, 1984 Mercian, 1982 AD SuperLeicht, 1985 Massi (model unknown), 1988 Daccordi Griffe , 1989 Fauxsin MTB, 1981 Ciocc Mockba, 1992 Bianchi Giro, 1977 Colnago Super












jdawginsc is offline  

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.