Smokinapankake

And his name was Scott all along!

Chuck M 

T-Mar I picked up another old Takara today. It is a model 970 Grand Touring with the serial stamped on the seat tube. The serial is 80 7 49463 which I assumed is a 1980 model. Suntour V-GT Luxe on the rear and Suntour NSL on the front. It has a Kuwahara headset but I don't know if Kuwahara built the frame. I would appreciate if you could tell me a little more information about when it may have been produced.

Thanks

T-Mar

The frame was manufactured in July 1980 by Kuwahara. Thxs for posting.

Chuck M 

Thanks again T-Mar

Korina

I picked up an interesting bike today; mid-'80s KHS Montana Sport. Serial number: 41C 7509, which doesn't seem to match anything. No pics yet, as it's upside down in the kitchen, drying after spending too many storms on a balcony. Any ideas of its age? Any other info? It looks like an early Stumpy knock-off, with a biplane fork and bullmoose handlebar.

Hopefully we can get that last hornet out of the handlebar tomorrow.

hb88banzai

Additional info on this KHS Montana Sport, in case it helps:

The serial number is stamped on the bottom of the bottom bracket.
It has a "Made in Taiwan" sticker at the bottom of the seat tube.
No tubeset sticker.
Construction is welded steel throughout, save the chainstays being socketed into lugs on the bottom bracket.
Front derailleur is Shimano FD-AL11.
Rear derailleur is Shimano RD-AL11.
Shifters are Shimano EM thumb shifters.
Crankset is A.ERO/ALERO Cold Forged "Super Duralumin" triple.
Brake levers are Paragon.
Brake calipers are Paragon cantilevers.

gildelrosan

Theres not much info on the specs of the GT ZR 2.0 Roadbike now. Would anyone know the GT stem specs of the size 52 frame ? I plan to get the right specified stem for this old model frame, which i got recently. Its a good stiff frame. This is a 2001 model.

T-Mar

Semi-educated guess would be a 1984 model from late 1983. I'm only saying that because of the 'C' in the S/N and I haven't seen any of of KHS' Montana ATB series that pre-date the 1984 model year. Looking forward to some photographs.

T-Mar

Is this the exact same bicycle as posted by Korina or a different Montana Sport?

Korina

Same bike; he's my husbeast/mechanic.

And the brakes are Polygon; I've never heard of or seen brakes like them.

T-Mar

Given that you are asking about a 52cm frame, I assume you're concerned about the OEM stem length. If so, forget about it. Choose your stem length to give you a comfortable riding position. Assuming you've already got your saddle fore/aft position properly set using KOPS or your preferred method, pay attention to whether you pull yourself forward or push back on the handlebars, to get comfortable. That will tell you if the current stem is too long or short.

T-Mar

Ah, thxs for the clarification! Polygon was a Taiwanese brand and one of the dozens that seemed to pop up out of nowhere when ATBs started to become popular in the mid-1980s.

Chuck M 

T-Mar I picked up this Bridgestone Carmel mixte for my wife today. The stamping under the BB shell is N380172. Solely with no other information than what I got off of the Sheldon Brown website, I hoped it to be an '82. But after picking it up, it seems to have a Suntour Accushift 4050 Edge RD which I don't know if it dates the bike later 80s or early 90s or if it was a replacement RD. Overall it is a nice bike and should serve her well. But I would appreciate your decoding the serial so I have a better idea of what I have.

Thank you.

himespau 

I'm intrigued by the lug of the stay to the top tube. At first I thought that was the stay cap, but that's part of the lug isn't it?

T-Mar

Frame was manufactured in mid-1983, so it should be a 1983 model. The rear derailleur is definitely a replacement. The frame is manufactured with Bridgestone's Technart process, whereby the lugs are die cast around the tubing. The seat post uses a expander bolt (like on a handlebar stem) to secure it in the seat tube, rather than a traditional cinch bolt.

Chuck M 

Thanks again. I will probably try to find a Suntour Seven to replace it with then. I think that it is the only non original piece on the bike other than the tires.

bmwallmountain

Having difficulties identifying a particular bike. The serial number is JP63433, it's a blue colored Norco Monterey Monshee. Trying to decide if it's worth fixing up. I went through all the serial number possibilities and can't seem to figure this one out. It's made in Japan, has a Suntour Seven rear derailleur. Maybe thanks.

T-Mar

That may be a Maruishi serial number format, which would place it around the transistion between a 1980 and 1981 model and put it within the era of the SunTour Seven. The Monshee Monterey that I've seen were upper entry level models with hi-tensile frames, stem mounted shift levers, safety brake levers and nutted hubs. IIRC, they were 2nd from the bottom of the lightweight line, just above the Nomad.

Chach0

I need some help identifying a Diamond Back frame I picked up. It's a chrome frame and believe to be an Ascent. S/N could be 6FQ0305 or SFQ0305 also, the S/N is not on the bottom bracket but towards the bottom of seat post. TIA

You should be able to find pictures under gallery since I can't post pictures yet.

T-Mar

I believe the S/N is 6FQ0305. Unfortunately I haven't enough of these serial numbers to have confidence in their interpretation. Nor do I have anything for the 1985 Ascent. However, this fame is an excellent match for the 1986 Ascent, which was available in chrome for $15.00 US extra.

Chach0

Thank you T-Mar. Once complete with the build I'll post some pictures for sure. I'm tearing down a similar bike in Teal for parts. Very similar S/N as well. 6FA2378

CoachPerry19

What a great list thanks!

CaptainFanAus

Thanks! Great list of seial numbers!

Trueblood

T-Mar - Hi T-Mar. I have some Zebrakenko serial numbers. Not sure if you have any info on them. I know at one point the list said not enough info for Zebrakenkos. Let me know if any of this is decipherable. Am curious if it indicates month of manufacture, etc. Many thanks!

Black zebrakenko Wind - I think this is a 1977 model
ZK 77 A
D7A0355

Wine Zebrakenko Storm 1978?
Z78C
D3B0780

Red Zebrakenko Storm 1980?
D0X3365
Z80M

Mixte Thunder - I think this is a 1978 model
Z81C
D1A1078

Zebrakenko Blue Sky
Z80K
D0X1392

T-Mar

If you go back go post #1, you'll see that the Zebrakenko entry directs you to entry D(1), which I believe may represent Kenko. The 2nd character appears to be the year indicator, while the 3rd could be a month or fortnight indicator. You report two serial numbers starting with DOX, suggesting the latter and that the frames were manufactured during the 24th fortnight of 1980. The one outlier to the interpretation is the D3B S/N on the 1978(?) storm. I'm wondering if the 3 might be a partially stamped 8? I'd appreciate an good, overall, drive side photo of each bicycle and the serial numbers.