ApolloSoyuz1975

Local bike co-op recently received a cherry Giant AT750 mountain bike in a black/bronze (or gold?) color scheme. (One of the staffers installed a CF riser bar for kicks, but that's a digression)

I've been looking for info on this model, but details online are extremely thin. All I've been able to find out is that in the late '80s, the company poached one of Schwinn's marketing VPs (possibly in response to Schwinn's contacting with a PRC-based OEM?) and set up its own US operation... but I don't know what year, nor which models were sold.

As such, I'm curious to know if anyone here has experience with early US-market Giant models. The color scheme and logo are exactly the same as the below photo ( of a different model ). Drivetrain is Shimano, although I haven't had a chance to note the model name/num. of the derailers. Frame decal notes Tange triple-butted chrome-moly steel. Thanks in advance

https://flic.kr/p/osAqiG

Lazyass

Good luck with that. I've never been able to find anything on Giant.

ApolloSoyuz1975

(edited first post to add a photo I'd intended to attach )

T-Mar

Giant didn't start marketing under their own name in the USA until circa 1988 and the logo changed for the 1990 model year, so it should be 1988 or 1989. The serial number should tell us for sure. It sounds like one of the top models and would only have had that model number, not a name.

wahoonc

Giant built bikes for Schwinn in the late 70's, then Schwinn decided to switch manufacturers in the late 80's and Giant started marketing in the US under it's own name. Giant had been around since the early 70's in Taiwan.

I have always found Giant bikes to be a good value. I currently own three all from around 1989 or so. Two Excursions and one Iguana. I think the number name bikes started with the 1990 model year, but I may be off on that.

Aaron

Lazyass

I've never seen a Giant that old. That's a cool bike. With the top mount shifters I would guess it's an '83-'85.

T-Mar

Agreed, that's a mid-1980s, European, touring model, but then the OP only used it as an example of the paint and decal scheme.

ApolloSoyuz1975

Thanks for that input. I was able to take a closer look at it:

198x_Giant_AT750_BlackGold1_small.jpg

Full overview. I'm not learned on MTB frame sizing, but the reach is comparable to my 56 cm C-dale roadie. Aft of the striping, the finish switches from black paint to a sort of gold-tinged black-chrome effect.

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198xGiantBioPace_small.jpg
198xGiantRmech.jpg

The drivetrain appears to be Shimano Deore MT60. 'Rings are BioPace 28-38-48T, with a 6-speed wide-range freewheel out back… not sure if it's Uniglide, but def. not Hyperglide.

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198xGiantTubing.jpg
198xGiantSN1.jpg
198xGiantSN2.jpg

I was mistaken on the "Tange" bit; tubing has only "Giant" branding. S/N is either GU844509 or -539; the second-last digit was stamped crookedly, and looked to my eyes to have a faint apex of a numeral 3 that does not show up in the photos.

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198xGiantUbrake.jpg

Under-stay U-brake. Ahh, the '80s!

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Finally, a bit of fun:
198xGiantCockpit.jpg

CF handlebar? Well, why not!

Lascauxcaveman 

That's a pretty cool bike, and I bet the paint looks even cooler in person. You should buy it.

T-Mar

Based on the serial number, it's was built in October 1988. Normally, this would be late enough in the year for it to be a 1989 model. However, the component group is the first generation of the ATB version of Deore (earlier there had been touring versions of Deore). This group was manufactured for the 1987 & 1988 model years, being replaced by Deore II for the 1989 model year. So, either Giant made a huge last time buy of Deore and used it for 1989 models, or they were still building 1988 models very later into the year.

I was able to find a 1988 reference to this model with Deore in my magazines However, I couldn't find anything on the AT models for 1989. Giant was heavily pushing the Iguana and Sedona that year. I'm not sure if it's significant but in 1989 the lower ATB models were using a different head emblem and it was a decal.

ApolloSoyuz1975

I noticed that, on Bikepedia, the early-'90s model lists include an ATX7** series… I assume those were updated versions. Head badge is definitely an actual badge on this one. I'm sorely tempted to buy, but the car needs heavy maintenance… maybe I should hold off any decision until after the first of the year.

T-Mar

The ATX models started in 1990 and used oversize tubesets.

Clang

Somewhat related, I always thought my Giant RS950 was an '87. Can you verify T-Mar? Serial GC355353

TiHabanero

As explained to me at the time by the Giant rep, they produced some basic frame platforms that received other brand name treatments and parts spec. The AT 750 was their top tier frame. Again, this information came from the rep in 1988, the had the AT 720, 730, 740 and 750 frame series. The difference was tubing. The 750 was full cro-mo TB. I had a co-worker that raced the 740 frame quite successfully. I raced, but sucked at it, and had the 740 frame as well. The 750 frame has failure issues due to the thin walls, and was dropped by Giant within a 2 year cycle. For some reason I want to add here that the tubeset was based on the Ritchey go light as possible theme, but the temper of the tubes they used was incorrect. They were light and fast, just pushed the envelope too far.

Wordwreckin

I have a 1987 or 88 Giant Exoedition that says hand brazed in Holland. I high end randonneuring bike. Has the same script.

T-Mar

The serial number doesn't make sense, as reported. The RS950 was a very late 1980s model with Shimano New 105. That group would place it 1987-1989. Consequently, the lead '3' is almost certainly an incomplete '8'. It was built very early in the year and should be a 1988 model. I suspect that the previous owner probably determined the age via component date codes and there would have been several from late 1987.

T-Mar

According to the 1988 specs, the AT-740 was also full CrMo. While Giant didn't divulge the tubeset, the material and geometry descriptions for the AT-740 and AT-750 are exactly the same. The difference was the component group. Using the same frame platform for multiple models is a common cost savings strategy.

Clang

Hah- you're totally right about the first (and also last) 3 being an 8. It's much easier to see in daylight. The white paint on the bottom bracket makes for difficult reading. Thanks!