Cannondale M300 CAD 1 frame and forks.

[Janners BJJ Clunker Rider]

Were these reasonable / good / sublime / bin it... frames. Were the M series in the mid 90s all the same frame but different component levels? Pondering one that has been offered to me it's currently wearing random budget selection of running gear were the last owner just had things replaced at various intervals with anything that was cheap!
Never explored or ridden Cannondales.

Janners

 

[Janners BJJ Clunker Rider]

Getting there. I gather the M300 /M400 were the same frame a 3.8, which appear to be equipped with low spec components.
The M800 was a frame all of it's own, and the M500/900/2000 shared a frame.

Janners

 

[Janners BJJ Clunker Rider]

Ahh got there when I found the right brochure. So M300 was bottom of the range CAD1 (CAAD1) was the frame reference CAD2 was better and CAD3 was better again.

All the wiser.

Janners

 

[jimo746]

Re:

That sounds right to me, I'm no Cannondale guru but I've owned a few over the years and done a bit of research when I've come into possession of one.
I think even the lower end Cannondale frames are decent, they're always fairly light, and stiff. But every Cannondale I've had has suffered from bubbling paint and oxidisation of the Aluminium underneath, which is a shame as some of the paint schemes are pretty nice.

I'd say the M300/M500 would qualify as a Reasonable /Good Frame, well worth putting some time into if it's in good condition.

 

[Janners BJJ Clunker Rider]

Thanks Jimo746
I just need the current owner to get sensible on price. I think the covid bike bubble has burst so normality may resume shortly.

Janners

 

[hamster]

I would say they were always decent frames - Cannondale's product policy was a decent frame with cheaper components - that way when you wore them out you could upgrade but had spent most of your money on the bit that lasted.

 

[Janners BJJ Clunker Rider]

Cheers Hamster,
Janners