1997 CAAD2 Headshok frame, without suspension?

[FiveAlpha]

Can anyone enlighten me, as to what model this is? It is from June 97, is a very dark blue/green colour and appears to have factory-fitted rigid forks, in a Headshok suspension frame.

I can't find any reference to this anywhere. Was it a normal thing? Why? What model is it (the spec matches the F700 - Deore LX, Mavic221, Coda chainset).

Thanks

 

[black lightning 1987]

I'd guess a fork substitution on an F900. Bike looks black to me, perhaps Super Black with decal substitution? Cannondale colors were sometimes oddly named. The 1995 "Diamond Black Metallic with Violet Pearl Hyper-highlights" would have been more accurately described as Purple. I haven't seen a Super Black frame so can't say what it looks like to those of us that lack the vision of the marketing folks.

 

[FiveAlpha]

Thanks for the input. The colour is definitely a green/blue - I can't get a great photograph of it, but it is very apparent 'in the flesh'.

As for the fork substitution, has this been a normal thing for Cannondale? I ask, because the fork is clearly made specifically for a Headshok-sized headtube and Headshok geometry.

Edit: Though the frame code is 1997, the colour is a match for the '98 F700 - Aurora Green Pearl.

 

[black lightning 1987]

So not a step down headset conversion? What's the steerer diameter?

Cannondale was making 1 1/8" head head tube frames in that era for the rigid bikes, so I would think the frame was built with the intention of a Headshok, no matter what model it is. My guess is that it is in fact a 1998 F700 if the paint matches the catalog photos. Seems that it would be tough to duplicate the color for the fork conversion though, and the lack of the F700 decal is another issue. If the fork and frame match, I guess it could have come from the factory that way, but I haven't seen that previously.

 

[FiveAlpha]

Thanks, you are correct that it is a step-down conversion - someone on Retrobike said the same (http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=418534&p=3069650#p3069650).

But it doesn't look to have had a respray and I doubt anyone but Cannondale could match the colour of the frame for the fork, so my question is 'Did it come from the factory like this?' And if so, why?

Note: There are also a few spec differences from the standard F700 - mine has Coda hubs, not STX (28h front, 32h rear), Shimano brakes, not Avid, LX front mech (not STX). I wondered if this was built for the Scandinavian/European market, which would explain minor changes.

 

[black lightning 1987]

Small spec changes even in USA market bikes were pretty common. They may have been due to short supply of some part, or because a comparable component became available at a better price. If the substitutions on your bike were for example XTR level, I would assume that they were not original to the bike. As you mentioned, Euro spec sometimes differed from USA spec.

I agree that the paint would be tough to match and that it does is evidence that it came from the factory that way. I just can't imagine why it was built that way instead of having a 1 1/8" head tube. This is the sort of question when I wish we had someone from the factory who could enlighten us. Without someone's input who was involved in production, we can only guess.