Building (and test-riding) an OLD-SCHOOL 1999 CANNONDALE F700 on modern parts!

[@TwistedWheels]

USE discount code TW-WHEELS for a 10% off on all www.lightbicycle.com wheels and 5% off on all rims! Use code TWISTED-WHEELS for 100 USD off any www.farsports.com wheels! Use code TWISTED-BAR FOR 50 USD off the Farsports handlebar!

[@brunocerous]

I just picked up a red 1997 F700 and absolutely love what you did with modern components.

[@spooky8662]

The component choices were perfect. You have very good taste!!

[@TwistedWheels]

Thanks :)

[@DeanPattrick]

I’ve actually got this bike still in almost mint condition.! Got it back in 98 😎

[@rodsguerreirodefaria]

me too. 1998 model, changed all XTR componenents

[@aaronchyea]

Super nice build! Love the blue and yellow. So much style back in that era

[@TwistedWheels]

Thanks Aaron

[@andrewmcnulty7961]

Awesome bike and it matches your building perfectly 😂

[@TwistedWheels]

andrew mcnulty haha true!

[@joeyd4899]

I just rebuilt a F3000 same color (same frame basically) but went 27.5 X1.5. Turned out great. I actually was searching vids to rebuild the headshock when I found your vid. Looks sweet!

[@l333boa]

One of my favourite hardtails, great build looks ace 👍

[@joelankeny6277]

I got into mountain biking around the time this bike was originally being produced (I even got to visit the old Bedford factory where they made them) and had the poster of the old Volvo/Cannondale team on my wall. When doing my latest build I really thought about doing something similar to this but decided to save it for another day. I kinda wish I would have seen this when it first came out because it probably would have pushed me to do it! Great job and now I have another project to add to my future list.

[@TwistedWheels]

Nice one, man. It’s never too late to build it! It’s getting harder to get one in good condition, but there are still quite a few on the market 👍🏼

[@luvenstefan]

​@@TwistedWheels I have one😊

[@gusreyes5447]

Beautiful old school!

[@_xnk7257]

I'm so glad I found your channel, I have a soft spot for older Cannondales, keep up the great content!

[@wasupwitdat1mofiki94]

I raced with Tinker on several occasions, well not with him but against him. He was an animal and could not be beaten. My first mountainbike was a Cannondale Super V but then I got the Cannondale F700 similar to your bike there. I loved that bike. That Fatty fork was the best for stiffness. I wish I could get my hands on another one.

[@TwistedWheels]

Wow 🤩 F700 pop up on Ebay every now and then.

[@jeremynorth]

I love blue and yellow, this is a stunner

[@hornet224]

I have a Cannondale F800 w/Sram Duo-drive and it is amazing to ride. Stomps any kind of terrain. Fantastic drive train.

[@shwndh]

Awesome build man! This was my all time favorite mountain bike. This bike was actually the hook that got me back into bikes after a hiatus from my freestyle days.

[@BatFastard01]

Nice. I used to race mine yrs ago. And still have the frame set. 👍🏻👍🏻

[@mik3mill3r11]

So glad I waited until the end!

[@CiderPang27]

Fantastic, bunny hopping down the corridor lol. 👍 lovely bike!

[@aaronharris5275]

I'm currently renovating my F700 in the same colour. I've owned the bike since about 2002... I converted the v brakes into discs and 10 years ago with Hayes nine and 200mm rotors. Trouble is the mountings for the old brakes are still on the frame and sticking out. I'm thinking of going for a clean modern look. I want to cut off the old mounts, fill and repaint the frame. I love the blue but I'm thinking of going for a matt black and buy black gloss cannondale stickers. Keep it quiet subtle but those who know will know its quite old. Getting all black components, new clark brakes, new shimano gear shifts and cranks. Black welgo pedals. Hybrid trail king tyres. I'm also doing this whilst building a big garden shed!

[@TwistedWheels]

Wow, those are big plans! The final result should look good 👍🏼

[@Niobium23]

Stunning build and great skills!!! Good job my friend!

[@TwistedWheels]

Thanks mate

[@patricioito878]

Nice build. Love the OG color. I made my f700 to a gravel with a 700c convertion and 1x11 ultegra mix.

[@Frankthegravelrider]

Nice!! Any pics? What size tires did you get on at 700c?

[@patricioito878]

Cross boss 700x35 tan walls. I dont think i can post pics here. Lol

[@Frankthegravelrider]

Ah I meant like maybe you had a link to somewhere on line. It fit on the Fork too?

[@juketreks2192]

I converted my 1997 T700 to a gravel bike. I rode it from Seattle, WA to Washington DC in 1997.

[@bicyclist2]

I would have gone with Shimano XTR M980 or the XT equivalent. I mourn the loss of the front deraileur. I hope it makes a comeback sometime soon. I love the wheels and hydraulic disc brakes. If your going to go with skin wall tires, I'd go with Continental as they're made in Germany. Because of the crank I would have tried a bottom bracket with a slightly longer spindle. Around this time most high end bikes were going with a Octalink bottom bracket. I love Octalink and have it on two of my bikes. This bike would have come with that yellow seat and yellow grips from the dealer. I thank you, and salute you for choosing it as this is the only bike model it belongs on. I love the impressive trials moves. I can't hop on my rear wheel like you do, but I can very easily do the stairs the way you did. I have lots of experience riding stars. I was a big fan of Tinker back in the 90's. Thanks.

[@TwistedWheels]

Thanks. I had no objective to build the bike of that era, hence the choice of more modern components. And front derailleur is not coming back :)

[@BenjiDerKleine]

I was buying the same frame last year. It works fine with the shimano xt M8000 Components :D

[@mikey7278]

Awesome build

[@stefannewels1823]

Codas for the saddle 😎 I worked 15 years on Cannondales and especially on that model very often. Still love the headshock fork. Have fun with it 💚

[@TwistedWheels]

Thanks Stefan

[@koomo801]

Would you know of any online service manuals for it? I have the same HeadShok and my dampening has almost completely disappeared, and I'm not sure if I can justify shipping it to Cannondale for service. None of the bike shops in my area will touch it! Thanks!

[@stefannewels1823]

@@koomo801 Hey! Here's a link where you'll find the sparepart numbers. Problem is you will need some special tools to do the job. Maybe you can borrow them from a Cannondale dealer? The only problematic part is the linear bearing assy (which you can leave alone when only the damper needs new oil and seals!). Ask me if you need more info 😉 jumpsport.cz/media/files/4_HeadShok-Fork-pages(1).pdf

[@koomo801]

@@stefannewels1823 Thank you!! I think it lost its oil, judging by the accumulation of caked-on dirt just below the Headshok. I should have been more specific, though...mine is a Silk Path unit (SP600) from the late '90s, and a little different than those pictured. Probably a lot simpler, and not designed to receive as much abuse. Lasted 20 years, though!

[@stefannewels1823]

@@koomo801 Hey! In that case, if you don't need the damping or lockout (if it has one) it's easiest to knock the fork out of the headtube (loosen stem, remove topcap or lockout lever) with a hammer and some wooden block, knocking on top of the fork downwards. With the pin spanner you can undo the top plate of the fork (two little holes on top for the pin spanner) The outer tube of the fork should now be movable downwards by hand so you see a gap towards the inside, the linear bearings and damper rod. It sounded as you already took the rubber boot down, if not cut the two zip ties that hold it in place. I would suggest spraying some WD40 or something similiar through the gap on top of the fork and drain the old grease and rust downwards (put a cloth around the fork crown area to soak everything up. When no dirt comes out wipe everything as clean as possible and drip some thick lube from the opposite direction onto the 4 linear bearing surface areas as long until it comes out of the other end of the tube. It should be really sticky stuff,something like Rohloff chain lube for example. While doing that move the outertube up and down a while to massage the oil into the bearings. Watch out that the rubber boot is intakt! Otherwise get a new one cause that's the weak part of the bearing area! That's it for the simplest "service" of the fork 😉 You can't do major mistakes that way and the fork should at least run a lot smoother. Have a nice weekend 👍

[@moritz1]

This bike is so sick!

[@donbeallhatandnocowboy]

hey, awesome job you did there! I’m happy to have found this video. I’m a proud owner of the same bike & I’m still riding it :) my build is bit heavier than yours, but it’s still an awesomely fun& agile frame, never failed me.

[@jessebrame]

Nice, I bought my F900 in 1999. Still a great bike!

[@Agamum]

Looks sick. I remember tooling around on alot of 3x6 bikes, of this era. The color scheme really works for the time period. As alot of bikes back them were bright, and neon colors. Aces man, keep riding.

[@TwistedWheels]

Thanks mate. Indeed those colour schemes were sick!

[@jimburtwell2731]

Awesome looking bike, the investment in the saddle was worth it. Enjoy.

[@Zarrx]

beautiful build

[@TwistedWheels]

Thanks!

[@guillermohoffmann8417]

well done mate!... Tinker would be proud of you!...

[@TwistedWheels]

Haha 👊🏼

[@henryb.ugarte3726]

Beautiful bike, and vídeo!!!!!!!!

[@TwistedWheels]

Thanks, Henry!

[@Juos10kustu]

what an beauty!

[@benholzwarth2235]

Just bought this exact bike off a guy in California for $500. It’ll be in New York City for the foreseeable future. Cheers for the bike!

[@brentirvine2336]

I can't decide whether or not to sell my 2000 F1000SL, and I decided I would, but now see your video... so now I ask myself if I should keep it!!

[@TwistedWheels]

Brent Irvine haha, this is always a problem for me. I want to keep them all!

[@richarde1355]

What a beautiful bike! And you did such a wonderful job on the build and created such a fun video! These Cannondales have so much personality. My family has a F900 (in mint shape, my daughter outgrew it and it needs rehomed), a 1997 F1000 in the very awesome mango color, a 2000 Bad Boy, a 2003 Caffeine, and the latest addition, a 2012 F3. We aren’t hardcore mountain bikers, and the Headshoks work just fine for urban and light trail riding. Looking forward to watching more if your videos.

[@TwistedWheels]

Wow, what a collection! Working on the F-Si video in the same colour right now. Hopefully should be out in a week

[@rafaelortega2712]

Es de lo buenísimo que ha sacado, canondale, felicitaciones

[@imstillhereileft7530]

Awesome build , subscribed, been daydreaming of this kind of build , have components, but searching for that oooold skool frame , thanks for the video

[@TwistedWheels]

Thanks, mate 👊🏼

[@LeoMontify]

Great job ! Amazing bike... I have a F800 year 2000 same color and need to update many components due to attrition. I will save your video for guidance. Cheers from Argentina !

[@TwistedWheels]

Thanks. Glad that you found it useful! Good luck with the upgrades!

[@DaveyC4810]

I've just gotten myself an F900 to build almost this exact bike!

[@brv002]

I just picked up an old Specialized Stumpjumper M4 that I'm planning on modernizing like you did. I was looking to see how the schwalbe billy bonkers look on and I really like it. Great looking bike mate!

[@TwistedWheels]

Thanks mate

[@bjoernkoerdt3561]

Such a nice bike , looking forward to seeing the 29er and seeing how it compairs

[@TwistedWheels]

Thanks Bjoern. I can’t wait to build the 29er too. Don’t know when the boarders with the US will open though...

[@CDOES]

This is excellent! Im going to be using this as a template for my 26"er. You deserve more views.

[@TwistedWheels]

C_DOES thanks! Glad that you liked the video :)

[@madblunted]

Nice I did the same thing sorta with a f900 same year orange. I put a less expensive parts on it but it rips, I put the advent 9 speed on mine.

[@TwistedWheels]

Nice one 👍🏼

[@hampuslinden4056]

People dont realise this channel is fire!!

[@TwistedWheels]

They don’t!

[@billmarsh3767]

You're great----really enjoy your videos----I have a late 90's Specialized S-works M2 with a rockshox judy with 40mm of travel in my collection-----fork travel has come a long way.

[@thedudefromla]

Great Job!

[@TwistedWheels]

Thanks mate!

[@olegiakovlev2757]

Nice cannondale, and advanced inside biking skills !

[@TwistedWheels]

Спасибо, тёзка :)

[@olegiakovlev2757]

@@TwistedWheelsПривет, мне твой акцент показался каким то чешским/ польским :) Почитал about, узнал что ты из Лондона, класс, я живу в Голландии, тоже собираю разные байки как увлечение. Спасибо за видео, вдохновляет.

[@TwistedWheels]

Всегда пожалуйста. Рад, что понравилось :)

[@valeriaangelova7147]

beautiful bike i'd gladly ride it

[@jeromeguex1334]

Great job 👍 for the video and the bike !

[@TwistedWheels]

Thanks Jerome, glad you liked the video :)

[@vlee3880]

Love this vid! I just picked up an f600 Furio and the frame is badly scratched up. Seeing your video, I”m so excited to get to work on it, and am debating what paint I might give it now -the blue and yellow looks sick! Loved watching your set up, and the tip about the 105 11sp!

[@TwistedWheels]

Enjoy! You can also use Shimano XT or XTR 11-speed cassettes - they fit the standard shimano freehubs. Good luck with your project!

[@petitjet]

Awesome, I have the same bike but needs this king of update, It would be great if you write down the components parts that you used at least for not english speakers like me... good vibes

[@TheSlowworms]

This is a really really nice build, well done 👏 I love the old Cannondales. They’re so weird. Love the saddle too! I really want one now!

[@TwistedWheels]

Thanks mate! The saddles come up every now and then on Ebay, you just need to be patient.

[@TheSlowworms]

@@TwistedWheels I don’t think I could trust myself with it. I’d have to hang it on a wall or something 😄

[@TwistedWheels]

@@TheSlowworms 😆

[@vovantus926]

great idea!!

[@TwistedWheels]

Glad you agree 😆

[@konijngt5]

Awesome build man!

[@TwistedWheels]

Thanks mate 👊🏼

[@Josue-411]

Awesome video! Your bike upgrades videos are some of the best I've seen on KZbin. Keep it up!

[@franciscoafonso4726]

Great job. But the fork looks like it could accept a 27.5" wheel if the frame at the rear could also that would've been another great upgrade

[@TwistedWheels]

Thanks. It might well take 27.5” wheels. I did this before with the 26” Rock Lobster frame and Fox Float fork. In this case I wanted to make it look a bit more classic as I will also be building the modern Cannondale F-Si 29er in the same colour scheme and wanted to show the contrast :)

[@EC-ol8nz]

Wow, looks great! One of the last USA made frames by the original company.

[@GiotheGhreat]

Nice built 👍🏻

[@jesusvilla1366]

Amazing, beautiful!

[@Roginator007]

Wow nice one mate looks great 👍🏻

[@TwistedWheels]

Thanks mate 👊🏼

[@MarkCocson]

Beautiful

[@maquismark5852]

Really cool build mate and excellent video....again👍You got some skills btw😎

[@TwistedWheels]

Thanks Maquis 😁

[@darrelheiderman3458]

BEAUTIFUL BUILD BROTHER xDx

[@TwistedWheels]

Thanks 👊🏼

[@klimeriets]

Dream bike for me! Beautiful frame. I love it

[@EliTheEnlightened]

Dremel is the Resto-Mod builder’s best friend.

[@richmatthews9344]

Awesome job, really enjoyed your video, I have a ‘99 Merlin Fat Ti with a Headshok which is pretty sweet 😎

[@TwistedWheels]

Thanks Rich! 😁

[@daviddemanuele]

MASTERPIECE!!!!!! 👍👍👌👌👌

[@ilBarbonauta]

Awesome work and bike dude! 9.99 kg is not bullshit even for a bike nowadays. I'm quite sure that my next purchase is a F700!

[@ピロ式-i2m]

good MTB!! I have a 1999model F2000. It's a very lightweight and good bike. But it's an old school ・・・・

[@greygb6447]

Cool! I'm like this!

[@dustinkellycramer940]

Super cool retro build mate 🍻

[@tenminutetokyo2643]

Dood that’s nuts!

[@rodrigovelasquez744]

Quedó extraordinaria¡¡¡

[@downallyourstreets]

1440 grams is pretty damn light for an old school tubeless wheelset. Could you list the rims and hubs are you using? Also, if you ever do a rim brake build, the 1995 ‘dale 2.8 frames were 1450 grams w/paint; almost 200 grams lighter than Caad3 and Caad4.

[@TwistedWheels]

I believe it was Hope SP3 hubs, stans crest rims and 24 spokes each. You can build even lighter wheels on modern hubs and carbon rims (I’d say around 1150g is doable without compromising on the durability).

[@aaron___6014]

Is that a remanufactured jersey? I want one. Impressive trials skills, too!

[@TwistedWheels]

Thanks mate :) I’ve managed to find the old one!

[@Princess-dg4bq]

Coooool!

[@matteoalani]

Waaait a second, I thought those wheels had quick release axle, instead you used an allen key to tighten them, I'm really curious to known. They look way more classy 👌

[@gve194]

You can tell me where you bought all the pieces, I saw your video I love that type of bike, very good video.

[@TwistedWheels]

Mostly on Ebay and online bike shops

[@emilienchabot8085]

Hey mate! Nice built here! I'm doing the same one but in black and blue and I'm meeting an issue with the rear disc brake caliper. I can't find one for the rear brake. Can you help me out? Cheers!

[@johnhickman2033]

The old - school look is so much better: components; frame etc... It's not about weight when you're hacking along a gravel path or even a tarmac road: it's about enjoying the bike: and that's one fine looking machine...

[@Pillokun]

Nice, if it was a bit smaller I would have drooled like crazy. The weight is pretty nice for an old mtb with discbrakes, but my 98 or 99 Schauff Hurricane XT was 10.5kg including the pedals but yeah, that was with first gen crossmax, fully xt and a crappy indy xc fork :P

[@sashalysenkov]

Крутейший байк! Как тормоза работают? Интересно, подошли ли бы они для триала, хотя бы на морду :)

[@TwistedWheels]

Спасибо, Саш. Думаю, для твоего триала они точно бы не подошли 😂

[@matthorn9670]

Soooo Cool!!!

[@haskear2]

Wish they still did the headshok, a 60-80mm 29er version would be great for marathon style bikes. I guess the lefty single crown fills that role though

[@TwistedWheels]

New lefty ocho is 100mm. It must be a great fork though. Can’t wait to get my hands on it!

[@haskear2]

@@TwistedWheels yeah, I have been tempted with the aluminium version for an old Cannondale r29 alloy frame that I’ve had re-welded and I’m about to paint, was going to call it “zero carbon”. Budget couldn’t stretch though so I’ve ended up getting a carbon rigid fork to make what I’ll use as a gravel bike. Still may get an Ocho at some point though

[@jettdadswell]

a stupid question, where can i find the frame size on my cannondale,i want to possibly pimp the bike and go for a bigger front wheel however it looks like i have to change the fatty sorks for a larger size as my 26 inch wheels have not got much room for that at the moment. cheers in advanve Jett. PS love the build

[@Frankthegravelrider]

bloody beautiful, timeless!! would it fit a 650b wheel? in the rear with a 35mm gravel tyre.

[@TwistedWheels]

Thanks. I think it would. Maybe even larger tyre. Frame has lots of clearance. It’s the fork that may be an issue.

[@Frankthegravelrider]

@@TwistedWheels cheers for the info 😎😎 yes.. I imagined the same!

[@landonthings]

I love this build man!! How do you like the headtube shock? On so many of the older MTBs I’ve just gotten rid of the suspension forks and replaced with solid forks because they just weren’t very good, but this one would be a shame (and also not possible?) to do that. The single shock looks sweet. Again, great build.

[@TwistedWheels]

Landon Things hey mate, the headshock works fine but not as great as the modern forks of course. Wouldn’t take it of this bike though as I can’t imagine this frame without this shock :)

[@landonthings]

Twisted Wheels it is such a unique frame, I love the look with the classic headshock. Considerably lightweight too!!

[@TwistedWheels]

Yes, the weight is not bad at all!

[@stacybuchkowsky6376]

I have one ..I like your crank set up ..tiers

[@avalonbikeshop8422]

Nice bike! You weighted and compared this frame with a new 29” but with this one you did it with the fatty fork, so that numbers aren’t correct, its a lot lighter

[@TwistedWheels]

Fatty is also a suspension fork, and I weighed the frameset in the video as you might have seen. Otherwise, these two bikes are in completely different categories, so comparison was just for fun and to show how much the bike industry have progressed in the last 20 years :)

[@avalonbikeshop8422]

@@TwistedWheels excellent! It ends up really nice! I had a red f700 but with old parts, not neo-retro. Good short track that hallway jajaj

[@corny9904]

Just curious, why not use a 11-46 cassette or the new Deore 11 speed derailleur and 11-51 cassette? I'm also curious on why do you wanna use a 11-34 on a 1x set-up? Cool build! Keep up the good job. 👍🏼

[@TwistedWheels]

Thanks. I went for 11-34 because it will be used mostly in the city + I like the looks of smaller cassettes. If it was for the proper XC rides, then I’d go for 11-40 XTR cassette.

[@corny9904]

@@TwistedWheels oh that's why... thanks for fulfilling my curiosity 👍🏼

[@TwistedWheels]

@@corny9904 you are welcome 😁

[@bicyclist2]

11-34 is a cassette size commonly used back in the 90's. By using it he's staying true to its heritage.

[@jackiegammon2065]

LOVE it!!

[@janmiguelinocente2392]

i love it

[@nvincent2215]

Dude, i have my 1997 cannondale m700 cad2....It is oldschool than that but I dont know what is better, that bike or my m700

[@kevinborovsky3558]

Love the build what stem length did you go, and how does shorter stem handle?

[@TwistedWheels]

Kevin Borovsky I went for 85mm and since the frame size is XL, it fits just right for my 182cm. I prefer shorter stems for handling in MTB

[@raylaux8295]

Chain ring was heat treated before you ground that layer off.... LOL

[@TwistedWheels]

I can live with it :)

[@lucashulselmans2084]

Hi, thanks for the great video, gave me some inspiration for my build. I'm working on the same frame and have a question, I had to angle grind the LH original crank arm off and trashed the original bottom bracket (BB-UN72) without measuring the axle width. Do you know how much this is on your bike? Thanks in advance

[@danbi8125]

Great Job! Which length does the stem have? It fits very good to look of the bike? I've an '99 F600 and looking for a shorter one but it's hard to find one.

[@evse.bike.andorra]

Это офигенно!

[@TwistedWheels]

Спасибо 👊🏼