Restoring and modernizing my childhood dream bike: The Cannondale Super V

[@Circleintheclouds]

When he torques all the bolts one after the other it's so satisfying. Brilliant master stroke!

on beat, too 😃

[@lucasxpify]

Master edition

[@adrianlarson658]

Yea, I noticed, lulz, he's the master. Not me, screw that, hand tighten and be done with it.

[@XavierAncarno]

That’s what she said!!!

[@pedroclaro7822]

@@XavierAncarno when? When did she EVER say that?

[@theneilah1912]

I have an old super-v 1000 in my garage from around 2001 that I have not had the heart to get rid of yet. I love that bike and now seeing you completely modernize the brakes and drivetrain makes me happy that I still have mine. I feel a project coming on.

[@BuildaBetterBike]

Just don't do like I did and put a square taper bottom bracket on it. Upgrade it to a hollow tech ii

[@ajmckay2]

As a kid who grew up in the 90's I distinctly remember drooling over this bike in "Mountain bike" magazine. I still have some of those issues to this day for nostalgia. Very nice restoration.

[@juketreks2192]

I owned a Super V 500 but traded it in 1997 for a T700 to ride across country. I still ride it and miss my Super V. I am rebuilding my 1999 F1000 hard tail and luckily I have a disc brake ready bike and will only change out the front fork and keep my ChromaLusion Purpleen paint. I will upgrade my BB and Cranks and add 12 speed SRAM system and Magura Brakes. Your video is very detailed and got me missing my Super V even more. Love that detail on crossover from a Fatty to traditional fork. By the way in France they still rebuild the Fatty. Thanks for sharing your dream.

[@mwj5368]

All the special tools, the oven and painting chambers, and how you even cut off and changed the fittings on the frame, pressing bearings, bushings, building wheels... all so fascinating and many different skills and artistry with custom lettering, pin-striping, all the different layers of paint, and your choice of music, excellent editing and videography, all put together like one great journey of transformation. The array of talents you have is mind-boggling, and from where you learned all of this! Thanks for a real masterpiece of preservation, design, innovation, and plain all-out WOW! You got my like and subscribe!!

[@arden0]

cool project, but I can't lie, I was pretty mad at you when you blasted away that beautiful sunset fade paint!

[@BuildaBetterBike]

Haha. To each his own. I wasn't a fan. Too beat up anyway.

[@mrchriz1000]

same

[@madisonian50]

So sad to loose the paint, and the aesthetic it brings.

[@joe_3y3s]

big time, the frame has been ruined.

[@CannondaleF700]

Same. This guy silly man

[@reynelldayot1236]

Nothing is more fun and relieving than Restoring And Customizing and Old Bike which looks majestic af.

[@brownsworthy7323]

Did the same thing with my original Santa Cruz Heckler it's been with me for just over 20yrs so after serving me for so long deserved a freshen up. That bike saved my life.

[@sandrinho27ss]

SO SO SO COOL. I just finished doing a custom paint and rebuilding of my 2013 Santa Cruz Nomad C after getting injured playing soccer and I gotta say your vids were def an inspiration. Bravo

[@nelsoncaraballo9446]

Just found your channel. Brings back childhood memories. My friends and I would go out on trash day and find frames and wheels. Break them down. Strip paint and rebuild the bikes. Great Old Days 😌. Thank you 😊.

[@quigglebat]

I also just rebuilt a bike from my childhood. I was given a Saracen Havoc Downhill frame about 18 years ago by a friend. I've now got enough disposable income to invest in getting it running again. It's been a great learning experience so far.

[@Quickredsquirrel]

I really enjoyed this. You have mad skills! I own a 1998 Cannondale Super V. I have been riding it since it was new. I have replaced everything but the rear shock and the frame over the years. I wish I had your mechanical expertise. One of these days I will have to spring for a new bike. 😊

[@melissasmidt222]

I have a 1999 Super V . IMO 1" New" bikes are superfluous.

[@Quickredsquirrel]

@@melissasmidt222 I just bought a 2019 Trek Fuel Ex 5. I am enjoying both my bikes now. I'm not sure about the 29inch wheels! I am waiting on a 27.5 wheelset to come. I think that will feel more natural for me.

[@melissasmidt222]

@@Quickredsquirrel Congrats on the purchase. Great rides ahead ...friend.

[@adamletchford4018]

That is an absolute thing of beauty! It's so great seeing the meticulous attention to detail when rebuilding these old bikes. Good luck for the future!

[@BuildaBetterBike]

Thanks for your kind words Adam!

[@miro_juric]

Great work! I have an old Cannondale F500 from 2003 upgrated with Shimano XT groupset, DT Swiss 240 hubs and DT rims, all restored including Fatty Ultra DL (both of them, spare Fatty is in blue & yellow colour, Volvo days...) and this bike I will never sell! This bike remids me of my cross country racing days and as a bike mechanic now, I can only appreciate the craftmanship behind these bikes because they were built to last! Best regards from Croatia 👍

[@diegobiankhi]

It became again in beautifull bike just like when it was launched in the 90´s !!! You make an incredible restoration work. Congratulations !

[@JoseMartinez-ws4ob]

This is one of the most amazing restorations I've ever seen. Superb work sir. Absolutely brilliant.

[@tony929katz2]

Thanks!🚲 NICE WORK❣️👌

[@mbonfa69]

my first mountain bike was a red and black SuperV 1000 ......... banana carbon rear wagon and front shock pivoted into the steering head, Spectacular

[@ghoum56]

I really like the voice over intro! Excellent production value and craftsmanship!

[@Junior3z]

Jesus.. Seeing you remove the old outdated Deore LX made me sentimental as hell. Reminded me of my dad, trying to do his best with what monney he had fixing and renewing my bike back when I was a kid constantly trying new tricks and riding like a mad man. Thanks dad, and thank you Sir for this very relaxing quality build :)

[@franziskus0342]

My first bike was a super V and i endjoied it sooo mutch that I upgraded the stock fety with a new lefti. So sad i cant ride this bike because now im too tal. Now the bike is in the shed since for a couple of years. So glad to see someone making sutch a beauty out of this legend.

[@Mapantz1]

This is absolutely magnificent! I had a Super V 1000 which I got in 1997. It had a green frame, yellow swing-arm, and red headshok. I always had cheap hardtail bikes up until I bought it, so like you, it was my dream bike. I enjoyed every meticulous second of this video, and in my eyes, you have paid homage to the Cannondale Super V series with this build - a true masterpiece. Thank you for sharing this.

[@BuildaBetterBike]

Thanks!

[@5150-u2m]

@@BuildaBetterBike dude I have a one year only 96 for sale the super v active 3000

[@5150-u2m]

I would like to trade or sell it

[@MrTravelPete]

Having the Cannondale M2000 from 1995 - all parts still original excepts the wheels. Loving it still like from the first day. Best bike ever!

[@BuildaBetterBike]

That's great! But you should think about replacing chain and cassettes. ;)

[@MrTravelPete]

@@BuildaBetterBike Thank you! I already wanted to visit my local bike expert and now I have some more ideas what to ask him 😉 Best Regards from Germany

[@breakdownbill1]

I have the Cannondale Super V 400 I bought in 1998 and have only ridden it 6 times. I just pulled it out of retirement. Only thing I need on the bike is a new chain and inner tubes. Paint at the back wheel where it connects to the frame has flaked off,otherwise it’s in perfect condition. Nice video here

[@angelrueda2848]

Used to ride this bike at work everyday. U.S. Border Patrol Eagle Pass, Texas 🇺🇸

[@RageForSeven]

i am glad to see that you moved the chainring inwards with additional spacers. i was thinking about doing the same for my kids' bikes, seeing a pro doing it validates my idea.

[@chrisjones6699]

Can’t even begin to say how impressed I am with this! Absolutely incredible! I take my hat off!

[@RexApplegate]

I've got a mint one i inherited with xtr everything, kore stem, hellbent bars and spin rims. It really should be in a museum, but I gently ride it a single mile per year. I've thought about picking a beater one up for a project like this,but the design is so friggen antiquated with regards to handling in spite of the best ever sexiness.

[@andyherrmann4345]

I had the 900 with disc brakes in ‘98 and a 1000FR after that. Brings back memories

[@SgtMcNasty]

Great job. Used to sell those at Helens cycle in Westwood Los Angeles. I still ride my 1998 Santa Cruz Heckler frame. Mix of components from the 2000-2010. Still running V-brakes.

[@ThePsr1500]

Hello i have had the bike since 1997 and saw your video it is unbelievable what and how you restored it, it is and remains a cult bike i know what i have to do now, the winter can come 😀 greeting Jürgen .

[@RiderBlitz1.0]

Oof,i feel you man,i know how we take care of the things we love,i had to do a lot of struggle to build my dream cycle But its still not complete

[@griffin2765]

I bought a blue Super V in the 90's. Ordered the frame (new) from some random bike shop on the web. Purchased high end parts through various other retailers, then got it assembled at a local bike shop. Unfortunately as the years went on and family life happened. I ended up selling it for pennies on the dollar. I loved that bike.

[@BuildaBetterBike]

A common tale. Seems like many people regret selling their Vs. :)

[@minitorn5697]

Saw the thumbnail in my home page and at the moment i heard the voice just thought " he sounds like a guy that makes videos of cameras that i watch" and it was true, both of the things i love to do, taking pictures and im also a bit of a camera geek, and bikes. Awesome man! keep it going!. Greetings from Costa Rica.

[@BuildaBetterBike]

Haha. Love it when I hear from crossover viewers. :) Thanks for watching.

[@jonnythelegs2597]

I've got one of these coming my way soon complete with rev rox wheels coda cranks and headshox forks, can't wait to get polishing. The paint on my killer v was some seriously solid stuff as this is the same era, joy.

[@scottthompson2481]

Awesome bike , i still have myne that i bought back in the late 90s and it is like new , its a Super V 700 with super fatty LS front shock and Fox vanilla on the back . Still love it , great bike .....................

[@nobrakes7247]

Got 5.5inchs of travel out of mine . Cut in half the bolt on fork brace off a set of tange suspension forks then bolted them to the frame shock mount bracket. Got a longer fox air can . All sweet. Some one still has it. The down tube did crack at the front of the shock mount after I had it they just welded it up.

[@LeoInterHyenaem]

Regards from a fellow photographer and a cyclist (although more into the tarmac and gravel than any of the MTB disciplines). 🙌🏻

[@david029014]

This was my first dual suspension! So much fun!

[@balfaboy]

Super nice build and what a fun bike they are. I was a dealer back when they first came out so was lucky enough to be surrounded by them. My loves son still has one that i bought him way back when. I semi modernized it a few years back.

[@richarddinning6901]

I've seen a lot of these videos I love bikes. But this is the best one out there. We'll done this guy.

[@TheRambutan2000]

had a '99 Super V 500 in green, replaced it around 2005 with a Scalpel. Even though I felt way more stable on the Scalpel and the lefty could take harder hits the Super V was super nimble, more like riding a scaled up BMX, loved it!

[@bevans5611]

Jekyll swingarm and longer shock is a great upgrade on the OG Super V.

[@jeremyabbott2829]

My Super V is black with silver lettering. It was my commuter throughout college and temporary transportation when my car was broken down. I still have it and your video has motivated me to pull it out of storage and do some work to it. My frame has the mount for a rear caliper so I don’t have to buy that cool bracket you put on.

[@BuildaBetterBike]

Nice! Wish I'd had those mounts.

[@williamyanes534]

I still ride the SuperV I bought new in 1996. This was pretty inspiring!

[@damienm8416]

My dream bike was the super v 4000 DH . I was super fortunate that my Granddad supported me so my first super was a 2000 frameset with the fatty in ball burnished i later exchanged that for the superV 3000DH . I was such a fanboy back then.

[@lawoftheuniverse8089]

Wow...Everytime I watch one of your Vids I become even more impressed...!!!

[@mikejones420]

that was my dream bike in the early start of the 2000's also, it came out awesome dude, fantastic build

[@petersaunders4864]

My fav bike ever.. I owned a Super V900 carbon, put Manitou V-vert R on it also ran XTR brakes. Loved bombing the old DH tracks on it. Wish I could find another..

[@MBdrummer3288]

Wow! What an incredible build. I want to ride that! I can’t believe you got it all to work! Just amazing my brother!

[@Sceme1991]

I wish you didn't put back all the ads on the bike but other than that pretty great results! Very satisfying to watch.

[@chucati]

Awesome build! The Super V was my dream bike in the 90's also. I built one very similar to yours with the same offset headset but I was lucky enough to find a Jekyll swing arm so I could run a longer shock in the rear.

[@BuildaBetterBike]

Ah cool. A proper Uber V then. I looked everywhere for a Jekyll swingarm. Do you have the build posted anywhere?

[@chucati]

@@BuildaBetterBike No I don't but I've been meaning to do a walk around and ride of mine. It turns a lot of heads with the older riders especially around here because the old Cannondale factory is right down the road from my local trails.

[@SMKHEMI]

I still have my 90s Cannondale road bike and wish I knew someone that could restore it for me. Great video

[@BuildaBetterBike]

Send it on over. ;)

[@trevorthorn5011]

Great attention to detail and no crazy music👍 job well done

[@emrik2s]

my dream bike when I was younger was the Trek Y shaped full suspension bike. forgot what it was called. love that you found your past dream bike and restoring it!

[@BuildaBetterBike]

A Trek VRX maybe? I have one and will be restoring it eventually

[@emrik2s]

@@BuildaBetterBike I did a bit of googling. it was referred to as Trek Y series made with OCLV (hollow carbon fibre) circa 1995

[@AAOMorpheus]

Well done, great restore and upgrades, loved the Super V back in the day, so innovative. I had to laugh a little though, "$1300 a lot of money for a 90's kid", that's still a lot of money now days for a bike.

[@PaladinofRealm]

@Adam Kozlevčar I'd wish it was that way... man entry level fs are at least 2k

[@330_Crew]

Based on inflation, a $1.3K bike in the mid-90's would be equivalent to $2,317 today, which incidentally is around the minimum price today for an entry level good quality full suspension from the big bike shop brands.

[@bigwave7207]

Great project man. I was an MTBing kid in the 90s and this was my dream bike also.

[@tinkerbike2510]

You got me with those bars 😂

[@Nik-gh6gz]

Ice cold dude 🥶

[@perodot]

This is one of the best bike restoration videos for looong time.

[@BuildaBetterBike]

Wow. Thanks!

[@MrNotStock]

I remember riding one of these. It really was a great bike even by today standards.

[@codybryant2546]

So cool I have a super v 1000fr I got from my neighbor I always saw him riding it as a kid and he had a yard sale so I got it for 100 bucks it hung in his garage for years like new so much so it still has the codo original grips and there not even worn at all glad I’m not the only one that still loves these bikes

[@BuildaBetterBike]

Nice!

[@eddierivera7803]

Just saw this for the first time , mind blown very well done!

[@Zomby1Woof]

My first mountain bike was a 2000 SuperV700SX. I still have it too although I primarily ride a 2015 Scalpel 29 now. But I had the cast/bonded swing arm which crack (lifetime warranty on the frame, I got 40% off on the Scalpel). So I fixed it with a tube swingarm like what you have but it was already equipped with the caliper mount. The bike came with a Lefty so that already had a disc brake. About two years ago I replaced the old Magura Clara/Louise with mewer MT2's.

[@primarycircle]

Another beautiful piece of rolling art. Great testament to your patience

[@BuildaBetterBike]

Thank you so much 😀

[@JP-oe6pw]

The cannondales looked like space ships in my local bike shop. So cool and so unattainable

[@suvespa]

Gr8! After so many years now I'm regretting giving my sv900comp away. Nice restore n build 👍

[@Emz_Jhaye]

Nice retro-modern build! Love the all-white color. 😍

[@christeschke9844]

Shimano History: The STX was essentially what Deore is now, they had STX-RC also, the only difference being the hex bolts instead of spanner bolts.

[@aaronc7074]

My old man still has his, he bought in 1996 and still rides it to this day, I fixed it up for him not to long ago and now it rides like new

[@calvinstorer]

I’d personally grind down the disc brake bracket instead of the frame

[@BuildaBetterBike]

🤔 Wow. Good point. Surprised no one else has mentioned that after 50k views. Next time I'll do that!

[@EddieErion929]

@@BuildaBetterBike great job! I have a 98 super v900. Love the thing but needs rear disc brake. Where did you get the rear caliper adapter bracket? Edit - never mind I see parts list,thanks

[@armandojuan64]

I did that with an old Ironhorse Warrior 3.1 26" and now after $ 1200.00 in upgrades , I have the jewel that everyone on the trails want to start a conversation about . They also wanna buy it but guess what? ... it's not for sale .

[@Danyriechert]

I'd really love to see some of your bike!

[@rcobsesssed]

I had an F700 in the 90’s but I always wanted the SuperV

[@timurhant469]

Soo exciting but also calming at the same time. Really enjoyed it!

[@gavinchia5841]

This was so therapeutic. Nice restoration

[@archiezulueta]

i did used that adaptor for brake mount.. but eventually found a aluminum craftsman and he fabricated a mount and weld it to the frame. so good that it looks good on my vintage Marin that my friend mistakes my frame to be a disk ready frame

[@nukeout]

Wow 😍 just restored one of these w a new fork and drivetrain but nothing on your level 😳♥️

[@Schevron]

What a Beauty she has become! Great work How the hell does KZbin know that Bike was once a dream of mine too. Man I can’t count how often I studied that Catalog. I will have to check if I still have it.

[@BuildaBetterBike]

Cannondale made the best catalogs

[@panepanpan]

You brought back to life this bike , amazing job , satisfying result and video to watch , keep going !

[@michivysman]

thank you! so satisfying to watch. and nice musical support as well. great bike project for an iconic bike :)

[@arowe231]

Awesome job on the build. It reminds me of a Strom Trooper.

[@CSIPSD]

One of my dream bikes... I am at a point in my life where I want one...

[@davespears2241]

I love to see anything restored thankyou.

[@pkomarek]

Best music-synchronized torque clicks ever.

[@pkomarek]

It's the only good asmr on KZbin!

[@BuildaBetterBike]

😆

[@flyriviera]

With such care to do your restorations, we will keep watching! Congrats!

[@dawolki]

You really touched my heart with this! Excellent work + nostalgia feelings!

[@janataman9196]

Awesome work, Dude! I´ve modernized my old beloved ´05 Stevens F9 Race too, with a dropper post, longer fork, shorter stem, wider handlebars, angle headset, broader rims, offset bushings, and now it´s behaviour is supreme. But I had one problem: First I shortened the stem from 110mm to 80mm, but this doesn´t work well because of the (short) geo of these elder bikes. Now I changed to a 95mm-stem, and it works a lot better. And I had to steepen the seat angle too, because of the longer fork (+20mm) and the offset bushings, otherwise I got problems in the uphill.

[@vonmacksderkleenefdidfg767]

Did the same with my childhood dream bike. A Orange Patriot from 2003. These bikes are like us, old, rough but still sexy.

[@BuildaBetterBike]

You said it! 😆

[@Thefaslife]

now that i am adult i filled my inner child with all the things i ever wanted or never had like these bikes.. i sucks it took me years, but i got everything, i filled that void, but i wish i had all these bikes at my time is what i can never fill, haha

[@halimamori6211]

Its so amazing ... I really hope one day I would I would have the right amout of money and free time to do projects like this 😍

[@NatenNWO]

Great colours and build especially with how hard it is to get parts nowadays. Well done.

[@BuildaBetterBike]

Haha. Thanks. Yes, getting parts is half the challenge. ;)

[@dwightpries8330]

Always thought a Lefty would look good on the front of a Super V.

[@alcopower5710]

I have a Super V 2000 that I’m going to put a Left Max on. In the next year or so.

[@Grimmsha72]

@@alcopower5710 Got a 1998 1000 I got brand new, want to redo the whole bike just like he did and with a lefty.

[@JaggersLips]

Raven style !

[@pkomarek]

All leftys look good.

[@one234569and10]

Redline and Mongoose were the bikes us kids wanted when we were kids, highest priced BMX bikes...we didn't have mountain bikes yet. This white look so cleeeean. 27:40 OH NO, that's a dirty part! :D

[@Kiwigd]

A great re-build and modernise.. awesome work

[@deathlock0026]

That's the restoration bro 😎

[@scruffheadproductions7489]

i know little to nothing about working on bikes but im loving every second of this channel

[@BuildaBetterBike]

Thanks!

[@teguh.hofstee]

@@BuildaBetterBike Likewise I knew next to nothing when I saw my first video of yours but after watching all of your builds I think I'm a bit better prepared to upgrade components on my bike if/when the time comes! Nice build!

[@paulobautista1804]

Wow, I would love to do this to my old FSR from the 90's....

[@Masso1973]

Turned out beautiful, I like the seat

[@chrislee6691]

I love it man and I love the channel. I have a Super V as well that was my first mountain bike. I sold it at one point and have had a variety of other bikes since then. I ended up getting my Super V back and have been accumulating parts to accomplish a very similar build. This was extremely inspiring! Can’t wait for the first ride video. Thank man! Keep it coming.

[@BuildaBetterBike]

That's awesome Chris! I'm curious what things you'll do different in yours. Also, do you plan to share progress online anywhere?

[@davidsnow1481]

Cool looking Cannondale I love the new color it’s so crisp and clean awesome job. The other thing is love your shop so many cool tools. Keep up the good work and stay safe out there.

[@hughhenderson6661]

my favorite cannondale ever.