ClydeClydeson

There are a few differences for sure. Headsets are easily changed when changing forks, though. Also, if OP's is a later model of the same or a related bike, it would have switched to threadless headsets in the mid nineties.

It's very possible that the frame was ordered by a different company but from the same contract manufacturer who made the bike for Scott, and they requested a few of the details to be different. I found Scott catalogues online and different model years have slightly different details - a model year different from the picture I linked has the cables routed on top of the top tube like OP's bike, but the chainstay junction with the seat tube is different. Didn't look like the bike was made past 1994 though.

fishboat

Thanks for continuing to try to figure this out.

While researching the Scott I came across a couple similar bikes, but no matches:
Yeti Ultimate & Extreme Draco
https://mbaction.com/throwback-thurs...bikes-of-1991/

As for the Scott Evolution, it really does look very close given the frame design and over-size tubing. I contacted Scott with some photos and asked them if they made the frame. I'll report back if I hear from them.

fishboat

Heard back from Scott today with the following:

Thank you for reaching out to us.

That bike indeed does look like an old Evolution. Unfortunately we don't have any way to authenticate that since we do not have serial number records from back then. That bike was designed back when Scott USA was based in Sun Valley Idaho. Our headquarters has since moved to Switzerland.

So it looks like it might be a Scott Evolution, though without a serial number confirmation(or at least SN format) it's only a reasonably good chance.

Thx to all for any sleuthing work.

zukahn1 

One big difference on this bike from most 90's OS Alloy frames is the tube ends are not slightly oval flared to match the head tube and seat tube rather they a look to be oval pressed shaped the enter length. Not much but a clue can't seem to find any good examples of MTB's from this time frame with fully oval tubes. Other than some Canodale's which this is not.

curbtender

Ran across this image...

fishboat

Hmm..that's a bit of a sticky wicket. The chainstay says "research". The welds are similar from what I can tell..adequate for a prototype. Maybe I should contact Cannondale.

Korina

well biked

This thread is awesome, really enjoying following it. curbtender's photo looks like a match to me.

T-Mar

Currently, there's a Scott Superf Evolution frame for sale on Ebay; https://www.ebay.com/itm/33412899937...QAAOSwHWBhKgNi

The OP could try contacting the seller to see if he would provide the serial number, to see if the format matches that of their frame.

fishboat

Done..thx T-Mar. The seller is in Hungary. I sent him a link to photos of my bike and the serial number on the drop out. His photos don't show a stamping on the drive side dropout(where mine's located). I'll post an update if I hear anything back.

Also..just sent Cannondale an enquiry along with some photos..we'll see..

T-Mar

I couldn't see a serial number in the seller's photos either but the dropout pattern is a deal ringer for your frame, so I thought it couldn't hurt to ask and pehaps help to confirm or eliminate a possible source.

The serial number format doesn't match Cannondale. Of course, they could have used something unique for prototypes but that looks like a production serial number to me. Still, you never know...

Hopefully, one or the other will provide some answers and it's not another case of back to the proverbial drawing board.

fishboat

Heard back from Cannondale. What I gather from their response, based on the lack of a serial number on the bottom bracket, they've concluded it isn't a Cannondale. I mentioned that it was possibly a Scott and they thought that may be it. They didn't comment on the "research" Cannondale pic or how they approach prototypes. I doubt if a company of their stature would release a prototype to the wild. I'd expect it would serve its purpose and then be destroyed..or retained by the company somehow if it were really something special.

Darth Lefty 

Even though the Scott Evolution Super 91-92 seems like the best bet so far, they still have the canti stop bridges, and their FD stops look lower

That second "Cannondale" looks like a repaint too. Just going by font

bargainguy

I spent some time looking at frames in the Cannondale catalogs. In '96, all those canti stops are still there except for their downhill frame (Super V DH Active), which had disc brakes. In '97, they switched to V-brakes across the line, so no more canti stops. If it really were a C-dale, this implies a date of '97 or later. Can't predate a design change that hasn't happened yet.

There's something else that bothers me. In the OP's frame, there is a threaded eyelet on the seatstay just below the seat tube juncture, and it looks like there's one at the rear dropout too, so for hanging a rack maybe? Odd for a performance frame. I don't see any such eyelet on the Scott frames mentioned.

curbtender

Searched that image and it came up here.
https://www.mtbr.com/threads/elevate....590280/page-7
Looks like it was some kind of tribute painted bike made by Top Image.

well biked

^I think that's it. I had typed out a reply saying, basically, that whatever the frame is in curbtender's photo, I think that's a match to fishboat's frame. I deleted the post because we apparently typed our posts at the same time. But they look to be the same frame to me. Regardless, fun thread.

fishboat

T-Mar, finally heard back from the guy in Hungary with a photo of his bottom bracket. Can't catch a break on this 'mystery' thing. I was hoping on his frame that at least the SN would be in the same location as mine(driver rear dropout), if not the same format, but no joy there. Oh well. It'll remain an orphan. I know what it isn't, that's something.

pfriedl

Kinda looks like an Alpinstars I rode back in the day, but that had a curved downtube to tuck the back wheel even closer. Man that was a fun ride.

red5996

Agree with mattswabb and others. This does not look like a Cannondale. I'd be more interested why the previous owner would have spent time putting on decals, though.