Highest touring model seen

[IdahoBrett]

What is the highest touring model that has been seen, owned or ridden?

I myself own a 1990 ST400. I have not seen one in person higher in model number. In the gallery there is one 800 and one 900. I’ve never seen a 1000 (or higher) posted for sale on the internet in the short time that I’ve looked. I wonder if not many were sold.

I do like the shifters in this article.

 

[marknutzman]

That ST1000 is beautiful! I love the color.

I considered buying this ST800 a few years ago.

That’s the highest model number I’ve seen. I’ve got an ST600 now.

 

[IdahoBrett]

Yes @marknutzman it is a great color! And I too would've considered that ST800. Looks close enough to the catalog.

 

[black lightning 1987]

I'd forgotten about the SunTour Command shifters on that ST1000. I used to look for them on eBay but never landed a pair. Had a similar pair of 6 speed Shimano shifters on a GT that was stolen.

I haven't seen many ST/T1000s or above. There was a T2000 in 2003 but most years T1000 was the top model. Most of my touring frames have been 1980s ST400s or ST500s. I do have a 1988 ST700 but never anything higher in the range. Seems they must have sold many more of the lower end touring models.

 

[letsbike]

Cannondale used the prefix ST on touring bicycles from 1983 to 1991. After that only a single T destination was used. The ST did make a brief comeback in 1999 when a ST700 was added as a Silk Path version of the touring lineup using the head tube shock absorbing system. In the early years the T1000 was the most expensive bike in the touring line. The T2000 debuted in 1997. I always believed it was all just marketing. For any given year the touring bikes shared the same frames; which is the most important component, the rest is just parts.

 

[letsbike]

A good friends 1995 T1000. Note the bottle cage on the downtube. The purpose of this cage is carry a fuel bottle. If the fuel leaks out it will not damage the paint finish of the frame tubes. Conversely, if you were to put a water bottle down there, the drinking portion would be pretty dirty from tire spray. Not a pleasant situation.

 

[letsbike]

Cannondale used the prefix ST on touring bicycles from 1983 to 1991. After that only a single T destination was used. The ST did make a brief comeback in 1999 when a ST700 was added as a Silk Path version of the touring lineup using the head tube shock absorbing system. In the early years the T1000 was the most expensive bike in the touring line. The T2000 debuted in 1997. I always believed it was all just marketing. For any given year the touring bikes shared the same frames; which is the most important component, the rest is just parts.

After thinking about this subject, I have decided to compile a list of Cannondale touring bicycles for every year of production. It has been interesting to do so thus far, and I have picked up on the trends of the time when each machine was built. I've also got to the bottom of the ST designation vs the T designation. Stay tuned for my results.

 

[letsbike]

I've finished the process of looking through every catalog for the twenty-seven year run of the Cannondale touring bicycle (1983-2009). I will be posting a document showing what models were produced each year, with a few notable oddities that I found.
Until then, these are the touring bicycles manufactured by Cannondale: ST400, ST500, ST600, T600 (1 year only/1992), ST700, T700, ST800, T800, T900 (1 year only/1997), ST1000, T1000, T2000, Touring 1, & Touring 2. Odd bikes are the TS700 & ST700 Silk Road from 98' and 99', and a quasi touring flat bar bike named the Adventure sold in 2001 (In 2002 the Adventure line exploded to include ten recreational bike models, none meant for touring purposes).

For two years there was only one touring model available (83',84')
For fourteen years there were two touring models per year available
For nine years there were three touring models per year available
For two years there were four touring models per year available (98',99')

At the top of the touring category were the following bicycles. In parenthesis are the number of years that they occupied that designation. This was not always concurrent. The T2000 was first seen in 1997, then disappeared until the year 2000.
ST500 (3 years) 83'-85'
ST800 (2 years) 86'-87'
ST1000 & T1000 (11 years) 88'-96', 98'-99'
T2000 (9 years) 97', 00'-07'
Touring 1 (2 years) 08'-09'

 

[letsbike]

The elusive T900.

I bought a new T500 that year(1997). If I had known then what I know now I would have upgraded.

One of our members has a T900 on this website. Check it out.

 

[IdahoBrett]

Awesome stuff @letsbike !

 

[letsbike]

Here's the list. I didn't study the catalogs in depth. If any corrections are needed please let me know.
I have an older British Bicycle, a 1971 Holdsworth, that I was able to put on a database that was being kept to keep track of all the bicycles produced by that company.
I think something similar for Cannondale owners would be a really neat addition to our website.

 

[black lightning 1987]

Thanks for the list. There are more touring models than I remembered. I don't recall ever seeing a T/ST600 or T800.

The registry is an interesting idea but the number of submissions we would get would hardly scratch the surface of Cannondale's production. We have the gallery for Cannondales in general. I don't know how we would set up a list type format that people could add to.

Not many British cycles here. I have 3 Bob Jacksons and a Dawes. Several Raleighs but I think only one was made in the UK.

 

[letsbike]

Thanks for the list. There are more touring models than I remembered. I don't recall ever seeing a T/ST600 or T800.

The registry is an interesting idea but the number of submissions we would get would hardly scratch the surface of Cannondale's production. We have the gallery for Cannondales in general. I don't know how we would set up a list type format that people could add to.

Not many British cycles here. I have 3 Bob Jacksons and a Dawes. Several Raleighs but I think only one was made in the UK.

Now you have me compiling again. Here are the Touring bicycles listed on this sites gallery.: (In parenthesis are the number of bicycles of that model)
Out of all these bikes, only the 2001 T2000 is the top model for its production year, and that bike was a factory frame warranty, so I guess that might not count as a accurate vintage bicycle.
I would say the 1997 T900, and the 1998 TS700 are probably the rarest of the lot. Although the T600 bikes were one year only models too (1992).
1983-ST500 (7)
1984- ST500(4)
1985-ST500(3)
ST400(2)
1986-ST500(2)
ST400(6)
1987-ST600(3)
ST400(5)
1988-ST700(2)
ST400(13)
1989-ST600(3)
ST400(7)
1990-ST600(6)
ST400(4)
1991-ST600(2)
1992-T600(2)
1993-T700(2)
1994-T700(1)
1995-T700(1)
1997-T900(1)
T500(1)
1998-TS700(1)
T700(1)
T500(1)
2001-T2000(1)

 

[IdahoBrett]

I do like the direction this thread is headed. I’m discovering more than just the ride feel of touring framed bikes.

 

[letsbike]

I do like the direction this thread is headed. I’m discovering more than just the ride feel of touring framed bikes.

I do too. You might think of me as a bike nerd, but as recently as 2016 I had to research my 2001 Cannondale because I couldn't remember what year I obtained it (and originally I got it wrong).
That's what led me to this website. It's quite interesting to see the big picture. Looking around the gallery is like going on trip to a virtual museum.
I am going to visit my friend who owns the 1995 T1000 this summer. I'll get some good pictures and post them.

 

[IdahoBrett]

I’ve thought about whether or not touring wheels were stronger than regular road bike wheels.

I came across an ebay ad for a cutaway display of Wolber wheels that showed the difference.

 

[letsbike]

I found my first blooper on my bike production list. The all conditions fork was offered for more than one year. I noticed one on the 2005 T2000 that IdahoBrett was looking at awhile back.
Where was that bike located BTW?

 

[letsbike]

I’ve thought about whether or not touring wheels were stronger than regular road bike wheels.

I came across an ebay ad for a cutaway display of Wolber wheels that showed the difference.

View attachment 11610View attachment 11611

I don't think of wheels as Touring specific, just weight specific. I stayed with a host once that had a collection of failed bike wheels hanging in their barn that were left there by people attempting to ride recreational bicycles across the country with heavy loads.

 

[IdahoBrett]

I found my first blooper on my bike production list. The all conditions fork was offered for more than one year. I noticed one on the 2005 T2000 that IdahoBrett was looking at awhile back.
Where was that bike located BTW?

New York. The same seller that I bought my complete Black Lightning from. I really liked the bike, but shipping cost was why I had to pass. Too bad as it was near mint.

 

[IdahoBrett]

I don't think of wheels as Touring specific, just weight specific. I stayed with a host once that had a collection of failed bike wheels hanging in their barn that were left there by people attempting to ride recreational bicycles across the country with heavy loads.

I’ve searched on ebay for the wheel models listed for the Cannondale touring bikes but have yet to find any for sale. The wheels on my ST400 are in good shape, I was hoping to find at least a front for a spare.