I picked up a old Cannondale (in like-new condition) to use for commuting. The top tube says Cannondale (no other ID). I called Cannondale with the serial number. All they could tell me was that it was manufactured in 1987. I am assuming that it is an ST model since it has two braze-ons on the front and rear, three bottle holders, braze-on for rear rack, and through-the-fork braze-ons for a front low rider rack.
Cannondale made three ST models in 1987: ST800, ST600, and ST400.
Does anyone know how to tell the difference between the three?
I owned an '89 ST400 (long since stolen)🙁. As I remember, like all Cannondales, it was the components that made the difference in exact models. If yours really is like new, it will have most, if not all, of the original components. My ST400 came with Alesa wheels, Fujita triple cranks, MKS pedals, and fairly low-end Sun Tour shifters and derailleurs. As you can see, not the top-of-the-line, even for back them, but not bad for a $600 bike. The better ST800, I believe, had Mavic wheels and perhaps Shimano components.
I have probably about an 89 ST maybe 400 in a friend garage, which is several 1000 miles away. It's been there since 1991. I wish I could take a look at it and let you know what mine has. Hmm, I need to get it out of his garage....
this a link to a brochure for cannondale in 1987 has all the bikes from then, if you look at the components it has and the colors it comes in you can figure it out.
