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1995 Cannondale M400 upgrades....

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MoUTrO

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
Hey guys, i have what im pretty sure is a 1995 Cannondale M400. The best way to identify it is by the two tone paint on the frame. Its silver and Maroon. I've had this bike and it has been sitting for all these years. Its in great shape and i wanted to fix it up a little and start riding again. I want to put a suspension fork on it and upgrade to a V brake system if thats possible.

I need some suggestion on what kind of fork i should put on this bike..i was thinking like an older Rock Shox fork? Maybe a Manitou? Or can i go with a newer fork? I dont want to spend much. What do you guys recommend? What about a V brake system? Thanks for any info! :thumbsup:
 
#2 ·
pretty dang sure thats a 1 1/8th head tube, so you can use any fork your like. but if your going with V brakes, you need to find a fork with the posts. and find a fork with the streerer tube lenght. as for V brakes, i think they stop better, but a good setup on canti's work great too.but its your call. but a shock makes all the difference on long rides.
 
#3 ·
for brakes, i'd recommend the xtr vbrakes. they're the smoothest, best feeling rim brake i've used. the parallel movement makes them stronger than a traditional style brake as well. jensonusa.com is blowing them out for $110 for the pair, and $36 for a set of LX brake levers. an extremely high-quality system, for very cheap and really light weight.


as for the fork, tell us what kind of riding you do. XC, AM, FR, etc., as well as how much you weigh. without any background info, someone could recommend something as soft as a SID or as bomber as a Fox 40. what kind of price range are you looking into?
one more thing, check with your LBS. i believe C'Dale has a forkswap program where you can get a break on possibly a new headshock or even a lefty
 
Discussion starter · #4 ·
hollerbachMTB said:
for brakes, i'd recommend the xtr vbrakes. they're the smoothest, best feeling rim brake i've used. the parallel movement makes them stronger than a traditional style brake as well. jensonusa.com is blowing them out for $110 for the pair, and $36 for a set of LX brake levers. an extremely high-quality system, for very cheap and really light weight.

as for the fork, tell us what kind of riding you do. XC, AM, FR, etc., as well as how much you weigh. without any background info, someone could recommend something as soft as a SID or as bomber as a Fox 40. what kind of price range are you looking into?
one more thing, check with your LBS. i believe C'Dale has a forkswap program where you can get a break on possibly a new headshock or even a lefty
Click to expand...
Thanks for the info. I really dont have any particular riding that i do. I'm 6'1" 190lbs. I havnt done any riding in a very long time. I'm really looking for an all around type of fork, one i can use just riding on the street and trails, nothing crazy. I really dont want to drop too much money into this bike. Im looking to spend less then $175 on a fork, I like the Rockshox Judy '06 that jensenusa.com has for $165. What do you guys think?
 
#5 ·
It's a 1 Inch threaded fork

MoUTrO said:
Hey guys, i have what im pretty sure is a 1995 Cannondale M400. The best way to identify it is by the two tone paint on the frame. Its silver and Maroon. I've had this bike and it has been sitting for all these years. Its in great shape and i wanted to fix it up a little and start riding again. I want to put a suspension fork on it and upgrade to a V brake system if thats possible.

I need some suggestion on what kind of fork i should put on this bike..i was thinking like an older Rock Shox fork? Maybe a Manitou? Or can i go with a newer fork? I dont want to spend much. What do you guys recommend? What about a V brake system? Thanks for any info! :thumbsup:
Click to expand...
If it's a 95 you have a 1 inch threaded fork and only 2 places make them now. One is RST. As for v brakes I would get the Avid single digit 7 brakes with levers from pricepoint. They blow away the XTR V's. I just put a RST Omega SL in 100mm on my 1997 m500 and I like it alot. IT has a lock out and a preload ajd. Rides nice and is plush enough. Unfortunatly for us 1 inch headtube guys don't have many forks to chose from anymore.
 
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#6 ·
It's a 1 inch headtube, for sure. You will end up spending more money than the bike is worth, and for the same amount you will spend, you could buy a new lower level Cannondale. If you do the brakes and the fork, you could spend $400 easy, after all the little extra crapola you need to get the bike upgraded.

I still have my 1995 Cannondale M200 in Viper Red. It's still a great bike, even if it is a rigid. Keep it in it's original setup. Change out the grips, tires, cables and housing. It will feel like a new bike!
 
#7 ·
apacherider said:
It's a 1 inch headtube, for sure. You will end up spending more money than the bike is worth, and for the same amount you will spend, you could buy a new lower level Cannondale. If you do the brakes and the fork, you could spend $400 easy, after all the little extra crapola you need to get the bike upgraded.

I still have my 1995 Cannondale M200 in Viper Red. It's still a great bike, even if it is a rigid. Keep it in it's original setup. Change out the grips, tires, cables and housing. It will feel like a new bike!
Click to expand...
i agree with that. ride it for what it is, and just get another one, even if its a used lates 90's F hardtail to fix up.
 
#8 · (Edited)
Wrong

apacherider said:
It's a 1 inch headtube, for sure. You will end up spending more money than the bike is worth, and for the same amount you will spend, you could buy a new lower level Cannondale. If you do the brakes and the fork, you could spend $400 easy, after all the little extra crapola you need to get the bike upgraded.

I still have my 1995 Cannondale M200 in Viper Red. It's still a great bike, even if it is a rigid. Keep it in it's original setup. Change out the grips, tires, cables and housing. It will feel like a new bike!
Click to expand...
fork $130.00 RST Omega SL 100 mm (nice fork) I have one
full sd7 brakeset with levers $90.00
1 inch threaded to 1 1/2 threadless converter $8.00
regular 1 1/2 threadless stem $16.00
new tange levin cds headset $16.00

$260.00 total not including shipping

This is a sweet setup and WILL bring your ride up to date with a MUCH stronger frame than the new ones (CAD 2 was bulletproof) My 97 m500 kicks the new bikes in hardtail's butt. I also have a Full Sram X9 drivetrain with twisters. The bike is killer and rails. I say build it and I will send you the links for ALL the parts you need. Unless you are going to buy a full tilter your built up modernized C dale will kick new hardtail butt with ease. Buy new bars as the stock ones weigh as much as a lead pipe. :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
 
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#9 ·
Danoalb,

My local shop sells 2006 F300's for about $400-450. You are suggesting spending $260 not including shipping, new cables, tools or in a worst case scenario labor charges. With a CAAD2, for instance, the steerer tube on a new fork will need to be cut to the exact size. Even with your suggested pricing it will come in at over $300 assuming there are no problems. I sticking to my guns and think that it would cost at least $400.

It's just not worth it. Like I said, I have an M200. It's still laser beam fast. Great bike but not worth dumping any more money on other than cables, tires, grips. Remember that it's a 7 speed bike too.
 
#11 ·
Just stating what I did

I upgraded my 97 1 inch threaded to the above very cheap. You don't cut threaded steerers. The stack height is perfect for a 160mm steerer that you get with the fork with the tange levin cds headset. The only special tool you need is a 32mm headset wrench and metric hex set (wow there's 10 bucks). Just saying the Caad 2 frame is MUCH stronger than the new frames. (they didn't play with the wall thickness for weight savings).
converted my ride to X9 8 speed when old stuff wore out. Cheap as snot and the 8 speed stuff from Sram is really cheap in bucks cassette and chain top on line is only $32 and I paid $106 for my shifters and derailleur (twisties) which are portable by the way to any bike you might buy in the future My buddy has a brand new F300 and is no where's close to the performance to my lowly 97 m500. The ONLY disadvantage I see is the availability of real good forks but the RST Omega's work really well or you can stay rigid and have no maintenance at all in the front end. I never ever heard of a cracked Caad 2 frame. I admit you should be somewhat of a wrench to get the bang for your buck but a monkey could put this stuff together. As far as the F300 is concerned the component package is GARBAGE. I would probably junk have the bike as soon as I bought one. For your info you don't have to buy a new bike to get a great ride just replace the old parts as they go to something better. All I hear on these boards is how this snapped and my frame is cracked, my swingarm is shot, what ever. Personally I like reliability and toughness over anything. Sucks to have a failure at 3 in the morning 30 miles from anywhere by yourself. I've found out I like the threaded steerer's better as they twist in a hard crash and nothing gets damaged on the bars and all you have to do is put your tire between your legs and make it right and drive away. By the way all the F300 bikes I have seen go for around 600 bills around here. Don't get me wrong they are nice bikes with low end components. Cost you more to bring them up to speed than your old bike. Yeah I run a un73 square taper bottom bracket still with Deore 9 speed cranks but NEVER have a problem with bad bearings for YEARS no matter what I ride in. To each there own but building up your bike is fun and I say do it unless you are going the full squishy mode. Why would I buy a new hardtail when I already have the best? For a few grams less the made them weaker. I guess with people like me the bike industry would fold cause nobody would be buying new rides. Unless they are drastically better (which they aren't) I see no need for another frame. All the best improvements are in suspension tech.
 
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#12 ·
Danoalb,

The 1995 M400's came with low level Altus and Alivio components.

I have no idea why you keep comparing your personal bike with Deore level(or whatever) components that you spent hundreds of extra dollars on to a stock OEM M400 with base level components.

This is what an M400 looks like:

Image


Image


Image


They are still great bikes, but hardly worth the investment of hundreds and hundreds of dollars in upgrades. A new bike is a much better investment.
 
#13 ·
Just saying

apacherider said:
Danoalb,

The 1995 M400's came with low level Altus and Alivio components.

I have no idea why you keep comparing your personal bike with Deore level(or whatever) components that you spent hundreds of extra dollars on to a stock OEM M400 with base level components.

This is what an M400 looks like:

Image


Image


Image


They are still great bikes, but hardly worth the investment of hundreds and hundreds of dollars in upgrades. A new bike is a much better investment.
Click to expand...
Just saying they are worth upgrading. Put that crap on your new hardtail and it is worse than the orginal version. Do you buy a new bike everytime you need a new wheel, derailleur, chain or cassette?? I'm just saying you can make that bike ROCK for less than 400 just as good as your new hardtail or better. It's all about a good frame you don't seem to understand.
 
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#15 ·
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#16 ·
and it's back from the dead!
OK, so I am doing some small upgrades to my old (94) M400. Here is my question. It has a 1" threaded headset on it. Can I EASILY convert it to a threadless 1 1/8"? I don't see why not unless the diameters are different? Any help would be appreciated before I start buying parts!
Thanks
 
#17 ·
don't forget you cannot find new 7 speed replacement parts for the gears and shifters
I replaced the entire gear and wheel set because my m800 '92 original gears where completely worn out, and the old wheels and new cassete gears are not compatible
that will set you back some more cash
http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=275483
+ I had a custom handmade quil 1 1/4 to 1 1/8 conversion made in order to keep my original peperoni forks (sawed off tube means no modern stem to bold on)
keep is mind the only thing that is very hard to find and cannot be replaced by other sizes or adaptors is the 1 1/4 headset
(I d'ont know the exact size of your headset/quil setup, mine was/is 1 1/4, wich is no longer used)
 
#18 ·
BACK FROM THE DEAD!

I'm a nooB on this board with a mint 1996 M400. Just dusted it off and getting back into riding. Mostly street and some light trails. The components are, admittedly, crap but I'm going to keep them until they break since they work well at the moment.

Can I please tap into the MTB brain trust as to how to mildly upgrade this bike on the cheap?

Riser Bar Upgrade: Due to a ripped disc (lower back) and a wrist sprain that keeps reinjuring in the gym, very interested in a high riser with bar ends. No clue where to begin... Thoughts?

Brakes: The stock brakes scare the cr*p out out of me on the downhills. What's a cheap upgrade that I can install myself?

Front Fork: Eager to drop in a suspension fork if I can do it on the cheap. I'm 6'1, 150lbs and not doing crazy jumps so the fork will get minimal abuse. Just thought it might dial out the road bumps from jarring my back. Called C'dale but there's no active swap program in play.

Thanks for your thoughts all!
 
#20 ·
I have a 94 m400 that I revived this year. You can find sram 7spd cassettes and shifters with some searching. I used a new deore rear derailer and new cables and it shifts like new . Still riding on the rockshox quadra21r I had installed in '94.
 
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