1989 SR800 rebuild

[Matthew Pietrus]

Bought this SR800 frame on craigslist (no fork unfortunately) and built up with Shimano Tri-Color components. Arcane Moto in Brooklyn did an amazing job with the new powder-coating and I'm absolutely in love with it. Rides smooth, light, and quick. Tell me what you think!

 

[black lightning 1987]

Looks great. 3.0 series frame? What fork did you use?

 

[Matthew Pietrus]

Looks great. 3.0 series frame? What fork did you use?

Yup, 3.0 series. The fork is just a steel one, nothing too special. Thanks for your help with the downtube shifters, too!

 

[black lightning 1987]

There are a lot of these bikes out there and they are often under appreciated. Great to see one with fresh paint and a fresh build.

 

[Matthew Pietrus]

Very unfortunate update: truck hit my bike and snapped the frame while it was parked.

I saw a SR700 available on Craigslist that I might buy, but does anyone know the difference between the SR800 and SR700? The catalog makes it seem like it's really about the components, but the seat stays look beefier.

 

[black lightning 1987]

That's a shame. Hope that you will be compensated.

It will depend on the years of both bikes. In a given year the frames were often exactly the same. Forks were sometimes different between models with the same frame. Some years there were two models of road frames, as in the era when they sold 2.8 and 3.0 frames concurrently.

 

[Matthew Pietrus]

That's a shame. Hope that you will be compensated.

It will depend on the years of both bikes. In a given year the frames were often exactly the same. Forks were sometimes different between models with the same frame. Some years there were two models of road frames, as in the era when they sold 2.8 and 3.0 frames concurrently.

I'm seeing quite a few 1987, 1988, and 1989 frames. In particular, there is one SR500 frame from 1988 that looks decent. Is there a significant difference between that frame and the SR800 1989 frame? Also, I have Tri-Color components and just want to be sure they will work on the SR500.

 

[JohnnyD]

Very unfortunate update: truck hit my bike and snapped the frame while it was parked.

I saw a SR700 available on Craigslist that I might buy, but does anyone know the difference between the SR800 and SR700? The catalog makes it seem like it's really about the components, but the seat stays look beefier.

Sorry to hear that some idiot hit your bike. I'm glad you weren't on the bike when it was hit! Hopefully, you'll find a great deal on a replacement from the same era.

 

[black lightning 1987]

I'm seeing quite a few 1987, 1988, and 1989 frames. In particular, there is one SR500 frame from 1988 that looks decent. Is there a significant difference between that frame and the SR800 1989 frame? Also, I have Tri-Color components and just want to be sure they will work on the SR500.

I guess that significant is in the eye of the beholder. The 1988 frame was pretty much the original road frame design. 1989 was the year that the 3.0 frames were introduced. They have the cantilevered dropouts and larger down tube diameter - Cannondale claimed that they were a pound lighter than their previous road frames. I would prefer a 1988 frameset to a 1989 because the 1989 is likely to have an aluminum fork. You shouldn't have any problem putting a 7 speed Ultegra group on a 1988 frame. I checked the dropout spacing on a 1987 SR600 frame and it measures 128 mm, so would be fine for 6,7, or even 8 speed drivetrains.

 

[jamesdak]

Well, it was a beautiful build. Sorry about the accident. Look forward to seeing what you do next.