L.L. Bean?

[zarky]

I'm going to check out a bike this week that the seller thinks to be a Cannondale.
Its an L.L. Bean bike, What year and model do you all think it is? Is it even a Cannondale? Sorry about the picture quality, they're the seller's pics not mine.

 

[black lightning 1987]

That's the first Bean MTB that I have seen. The others have been touring bikes, made by Cannondale, likely in 1987.

ST400 / L.L.Bean 1987 ( with a new promenade handlebar )

community.vintagecannondale.com

Search Bean on this site for a few more threads and information.

 

[zarky]

Think its worth picking up? Looks like its got sugino crankset and dia compe brakes on it.

 

[black lightning 1987]

Sure, if priced right. Looks to be in good shape, perhaps better than pictures show. I just payed $150 for a similar vintage Cannondale MTB in much rougher shape.

 

[zarky]

Sweet, Im gonna pick it up this week, they want $80 for it. Also managed to negotiate an M900 in trade for a set of speakers so that's gonna be cool.

 

[zarky]

Alright acquired the LL Bean bike yesterday, got some better pictures today.

Any idea what model frame this might be?

 

[black lightning 1987]

I think all the MTB frames were the same in 1987 but there was a choice of 24" or 26" rear wheel on certain models, which obviously made for a different frame if only in geometry. Best way to equate it with a Cannondale branded model would be to list the components and compare them to the 1987-1988 catalog specs. I can't tell much from your photos except that it's a SunTour equipped bike, so that rules out the models that came with Shimano.

 

[MEENI]

Great looking classic!

 

[rickpaulos]

I had a LL Bean bike with a steel frame. Not a Cannondale make. Many non-bike companies get bikes based solely on price. So many beer, wine, soda and bottled bikes that are mostly junk. A decent quality promotional or branded bike is the exception. It's unlikely LL Been spec'd certain parts so should match up component wise to a standard Cannondale model.

Remember the Jeep LL Bean edition?

The water proof duck boots that made them famous.