Cannondale Super V 3000

[JustinFox]

My first real MTB was a Cannondale SM1000 which I built up from a second hand frameset when I was in high school. I’ve been on the lookout for one in the exact same black and white colour scheme ever since.

Whilst searching I’ve seen a fair few lower spec Super V’s pop up on FB Marketplace but yesterday this small 17″ 1996 Super V Active 3000 popped up for $200 AUD and I jumped on it.

These were well over $4K AUD when I was a kid (there’s one on eBay right now for $2,250 AUD). The seller had owned it since new and bought the bike in Switzerland (the shop sticker is still on the top tube!) where he rode the Swiss Alps. He then took it with him to New York, and finally he brought it with him to Sydney Australia where it’s sat in his garage ever since.

The bike is in great condition but sadly the rear Fox Alps-4 shock doesn’t hold air. On closer inspection I found a hairline crack at the top of the piston. I might be able to use some JB Weld to fix it? If that fails I’ll have to look into a replacement (any suggestions appreciated!).

The brakes were wired the wrong way (European with the left brake lever controlling the front brake) and the stem was flipped upside down, both easy fixes. I’ve cleaned up the bike a little, all new cables and brakes and gears are working great but I’ll have to sort out the rear shock before I can ride it.

SPECS:

Frame: Small 17″ 6061 T6 aluminium, double-butted, heat-treated
Fork: Cannondale Headshock Fatty
Rear Shock: Fox Alps-4, 3.0″ travel, 6.5″ Eye-to-Eye
Brakeset: Shimano XT
Shift Levers: Grip Shift SRT-800 X-Ray
Front Derailleur: Shimano XTR, bottom-pull
Rear Derailleur: Shimano XTR
Crankset: Shimano Deore LX 22/32/44 teeth
Pedals: Wellgo
Cassette: 8-speed, 11-28 teeth
Saddle: Selle Italia Trans Am
Handlebars: CODA Competition
Stem: CODA Suspension Specific
Front Wheel: Mavic X 517, CODA 900 hub
Rear Wheel: Mavic X 517, DT Swiss hub
Tyres: 26 x 1.95″ IRC Mythos XC
Quick Release: CODA

Original Weight: 12.03kg

 

[JustinFox]

OK holy shit. Just a friendly reminder to please grease the Fk out of everything guys, because the previous owner sure as hell did'nt and man I've spent countless hours on this bike just trying to take shit off!

First it was the ratty AF bottle cage as I stripped a bottle cage bolt. I thought of gluing a spare allen key to it, tried various torx wrenches, in the end I hammered a larger allen key and got it out (I almost screamed out loud with excitement!).

Today it was the cassette. The lockring was seized x 50000000. I got the hammer out, vodka too. I was tempted to do the tie the wheel to the ladder trick but in the end patience was the way. I drowned the lockring with oil, left it for a good while (that was the hard part!), and Fk yeah it finally came off!

The fun is delivering! So much fun lol. I've ordered some bits, more updates ASAP.

 

[Uncle Grumpy]

Today it was the cassette. The lockring was seized x 50000000. I got the hammer out, vodka too.

Any wonder it wouldn't come off. Vodka? Gees, why don't you join the old girls at the bowling club and have a Pimms and Lemonade?

Next time try whiskey neat. Vodka weakens you. Whiskey fortifies you.

In all seriousness, a mix of auto trans fluid with some acetone works wonders for free up stuck stuff. The acetone helps carry the ATF into the join, it's my go to for seized and rusty things.

Great project too! Never liked them myself, but it's not about what I like - I'm just happy to see you happy building bikes.

I need to finish my GT RTS and my Catamount...

 

[JustinFox]

I need to finish my GT RTS and my Catamount...

Haha! Yeah just one of those late night things where you absolutely cannot wait to get to the Bunnings the next day.

And duuuuuude. GT RTS is the dream. There's a NOS Team frameset on eBay, asking an insane amount of money, like $2,400 AUD shipped. I really want it. Please somebody buy it so I don't have to!

PS: Spinergy Rev X wheels came in the mail today. Want to put them on the GT Avalanche, but thought I'd try them out on the Super V first! They spin well and true (phew!). New decals on order!

 

[Uncle Grumpy]

The Spins suit it. Again, I was never in love with those Cannondales when they came out but I did appreciate their "it's okay, we'll do things our way" approach.

Seeing it with the Spins... a little bit of wee just came out. It looks a million bucks and has me questioning why I ever dismissed those 'dales.

Years ago I had a red '97 GT LTS. Loved that bike, but one of the pivots was welded on a bit crooked and it kept flogging out the bearings and it would squawk loud enough to attract black cockatoos. Somewhere in my shed is a boxed up NOS red '97 GT LTS waiting for a build up.

 

[Nothin-fancy]

That's a bad ass bike. Wish I could help with the shock.

Sucks about the seized parts. In the future using 50/50 acetone and automatic transmission fluid works better than any spray's like PB blaster or kroil. It's worked wonders on all the seized stuff I've come across.

 

[Vesatoro]

Nice bike, and always gorgeous in the viper red and Spinegys.

Some opinions:

I think the brake cables were just right like they were designed before you changed them. Now the cables make unnecessary turns, both rear brake and rear shifter cable rubbing the rear shock, and brake cable making S-turns in the front.

Would like to see upgraded crankset, the LX just doesn't match rest of the bike. XT's, Tarantulas or even better Magics would do the trick

Hope you find a replacement rear shock, the Alps are famous for that cylinder crack

 

[JustinFox]

Nice bike, and always gorgeous in the viper red and Spinegys.

Some opinions:

I think the brake cables were just right like they were designed before you changed them. Now the cables make unnecessary turns, both rear brake and rear shifter cable rubbing the rear shock, and brake cable making S-turns in the front.

Would like to see upgraded crankset, the LX just doesn't match rest of the bike. XT's, Tarantulas or even better Magics would do the trick

Hope you find a replacement rear shock, the Alps are famous for that cylinder crack

100% agree needs CODA cranks, but the cables had to be switched around as I've always ridden left lever rear brake, right lever front brake. Right now I'm just itching to ride the bike so I've ordered a cheap no brand shock that will hopefully fit. Should get here soon and then at least I can ride it to decide what I might want to do with the build in future.

 

[Raumer]

If you can't find a replacement Fox shock you might be able to find a Risse shock that fits. Or a more modern shock as it is eye fit at both ends.

Do not try to repair the crack with JB weld. It is a pressurised cylinder and the JB weld will not work. As will as being dangerous if it did temporarily work.