Asian Serial Number Guide
09-24-22, 08:01 AM
#601
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Shogun was a full range marketing brand owned by Marui, a Japanese trading company. The Shogun brand was introduced in the USA for the 1977 model year but disappeared in the mid-1990s, only to resurrected early this century by Kent International. Marui sourced Shogun from a number of different manufacturers, including but not limited to, Mikki, Nomura and Yamaguchi. Shogun tended to exemplify the Japanese bicycles of the era, typically being well built and offering good value, particularly at the entry and mid-range levels.
Circa 1989-1990, Shogun was being distributed in the USA by Seatlle Bicycle Supply. The 1989 version of the Alpine GT was spec'd with a mix of Shimano Mountain LX brakes, Exage Trail derailleurs and Suzue hubs laced to Araya 16A rims, with the rear having 40 spokes. The 1990 price list is more vague, only stating Shimano Exage components. It could still go either way. FYI, MSRP pricing was $475-$500 US, depending on the model year.
Circa 1989-1990, Shogun was being distributed in the USA by Seatlle Bicycle Supply. The 1989 version of the Alpine GT was spec'd with a mix of Shimano Mountain LX brakes, Exage Trail derailleurs and Suzue hubs laced to Araya 16A rims, with the rear having 40 spokes. The 1990 price list is more vague, only stating Shimano Exage components. It could still go either way. FYI, MSRP pricing was $475-$500 US, depending on the model year.
Last edited by Deal4Fuji; 09-24-22 at 08:25 AM.
09-24-22, 10:58 AM
#602
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Thanks for all the serial # info here T-Mar & others. I'm curious about the Shogun Primo Sport I have that came (to me) with so many mis-matched parts. It had those 1st generation Grip Shift fat translucent shift knobs and Nitto cable-hole drilled bars that had to be made specifically for these shifters. Anyway do you think the year of manufacture was '87? Does anyone have any Shogun catalog information on this year or model bike? Thanks !
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09-24-22, 12:15 PM
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Yep 
Tange 900 and you're spot on on the Shimano Z brakes & front derailleur but the rear is a Suntour Alpha 5000. An Araya 27x1¼ alloy front rim & Rigida steel rear rim with porthole type holes on the metal dork disk - so it's a real Frankenbike, especially with the mystery Gripshift. Shogun catalogs from the 80's must be rare, I haven't been able to find any searching the web so I'm still hoping someone here might have one.
Tange 900 and you're spot on on the Shimano Z brakes & front derailleur but the rear is a Suntour Alpha 5000. An Araya 27x1¼ alloy front rim & Rigida steel rear rim with porthole type holes on the metal dork disk - so it's a real Frankenbike, especially with the mystery Gripshift. Shogun catalogs from the 80's must be rare, I haven't been able to find any searching the web so I'm still hoping someone here might have one.
Last edited by Deal4Fuji; 09-24-22 at 04:50 PM.
09-25-22, 05:29 AM
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Concorde Europa
Concorde Europa, the usual yellow and purple coloured colossus. Mine is from 1991 I suspect given the November 1990 date on the cranks.... I've got this one here purely as part of my, possibly misguided, research in to Concorde history. Searching doesn't come up with any hits on the manufacturer based on the TD serial prefix. Full number is TD11017703. The only marking on the frame otherwise is LUNG I (or 1) MADE IN TAIWAN on the steerer tube.
Also, something I did find whilst searching this thread was a 3 year old reference to the Australian Ricardo brand. These were made here in Adelaide, South Australia. I have attached a picture for T-Mar as reference.... L7L1719 is Leisure Cycles, 1987, a model code, a sequential number.
Also, something I did find whilst searching this thread was a 3 year old reference to the Australian Ricardo brand. These were made here in Adelaide, South Australia. I have attached a picture for T-Mar as reference.... L7L1719 is Leisure Cycles, 1987, a model code, a sequential number.
09-25-22, 09:59 AM
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Concorde Europa, the usual yellow and purple coloured colossus. Mine is from 1991 I suspect given the November 1990 date on the cranks.... I've got this one here purely as part of my, possibly misguided, research in to Concorde history. Searching doesn't come up with any hits on the manufacturer based on the TD serial prefix. Full number is TD11017703. The only marking on the frame otherwise is LUNG I (or 1) MADE IN TAIWAN on the steerer tube.
Also, something I did find whilst searching this thread was a 3 year old reference to the Australian Ricardo brand. These were made here in Adelaide, South Australia. I have attached a picture for T-Mar as reference.... L7L1719 is Leisure Cycles, 1987, a model code, a sequential number.
Also, something I did find whilst searching this thread was a 3 year old reference to the Australian Ricardo brand. These were made here in Adelaide, South Australia. I have attached a picture for T-Mar as reference.... L7L1719 is Leisure Cycles, 1987, a model code, a sequential number.
09-29-22, 03:18 PM
#607
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A recent find:
SN:
This follows the U(1) guideline where:
U= unknown manufacturer
6= 1996
10= October
frame number 05494.
I don’t know what the A 25 indicates. It is labeled as a 19” frame.
On a 1997 KHS Summit with a made in Taiwan label at the bottom of the seat tube, near the BB.
SN:
This follows the U(1) guideline where:
U= unknown manufacturer
6= 1996
10= October
frame number 05494.
I don’t know what the A 25 indicates. It is labeled as a 19” frame.
On a 1997 KHS Summit with a made in Taiwan label at the bottom of the seat tube, near the BB.
Last edited by Smokinapankake; 09-29-22 at 03:22 PM.
10-01-22, 10:04 PM
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Taiwan Vista 2 Speed
I have a Vista Cavalier 3 speed. I have not been able to find much information on Vista bicycles on the net. This one has a "Made in Taiwan Republic of China" sticker and a "Vista Bicycles of Excellence by H. J. C. Dallas" sticker on the seat tube. The head badge is round with "Vista" in block letters and is topped with a red crown. Dia Compe front brake, out back is a Shimano 3CC 3- speed hub with a coaster brake, The serial number is K40322525 and is stamped on the underside of the bottom bracket. Any info about this bike is appreciated.
10-03-22, 08:01 AM
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Vista was a USA brand, originally owned by a Minnesota based company called National Independent Distributors Associates, comprised of several independent USA bicycle distributors. The brand had it debut in 1968, though it has changed ownership several times over the years. The bicycles were contract manufactured by various USA and Asian sources.
The serial number format is typical of that used by many Taiwanese sources and would appear to represent either March 1974 or March 1984. I'm leaning towards the latter but photos of the rear hub stamping, hub shift actuator and shift lever should provide confirmation, as these underwent major redesgns in the very early 1980s. The rear hub should also have a dual letter date code.
The serial number format is typical of that used by many Taiwanese sources and would appear to represent either March 1974 or March 1984. I'm leaning towards the latter but photos of the rear hub stamping, hub shift actuator and shift lever should provide confirmation, as these underwent major redesgns in the very early 1980s. The rear hub should also have a dual letter date code.
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10-03-22, 08:38 AM
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A recent find.
This follows the U(1) guideline where:
U= unknown manufacturer
6= 1996
10= October
frame number 05494.
I don’t know what the A 25 indicates. It is labeled as a 19” frame.
On a 1997 KHS Summit with a made in Taiwan label at the bottom of the seat tube, near the BB.
This follows the U(1) guideline where:
U= unknown manufacturer
6= 1996
10= October
frame number 05494.
I don’t know what the A 25 indicates. It is labeled as a 19” frame.
On a 1997 KHS Summit with a made in Taiwan label at the bottom of the seat tube, near the BB.
10-03-22, 12:42 PM
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I wiped down the hub, no date code I could find, only stamped "3CC Shimano Japan USA Patent"
Shift mechanism
Handlebar shifter
Last edited by zookster; 10-03-22 at 01:26 PM.
10-03-22, 02:27 PM
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10-11-22, 09:33 PM
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Is there much info on formats of the better-know Asian brands of bikes built in China? This one's a Diamond Back (most definitely NOT a DiamondBack) Wildwood, Mix of hi-ten and CrMo, blue speckled paint job, no suspension, quill steering, canti brakes. Serial number I5B05010 (definitely an upper case "eye" at the beginning), labeled Made in China, a typical WSI sticker on the bottom of one of the chainstays. Component (entry-level Shimano) date codes are a dog's breakfast, everything from HH (canti brakes) to MK (crank arms) to SH (rear mech). That's around a 12-year span. I presumed, it being a Diamond Back, that it would be pre-1994, but the "5B" part of the serial number makes me think February 1995. Scratching my head....
10-12-22, 10:13 AM
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Is there much info on formats of the better-know Asian brands of bikes built in China? This one's a Diamond Back (most definitely NOT a DiamondBack) Wildwood, Mix of hi-ten and CrMo, blue speckled paint job, no suspension, quill steering, canti brakes. Serial number I5B05010 (definitely an upper case "eye" at the beginning), labeled Made in China, a typical WSI sticker on the bottom of one of the chainstays. Component (entry-level Shimano) date codes are a dog's breakfast, everything from HH (canti brakes) to MK (crank arms) to SH (rear mech). That's around a 12-year span. I presumed, it being a Diamond Back, that it would be pre-1994, but the "5B" part of the serial number makes me think February 1995. Scratching my head....
10-12-22, 10:40 AM
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Based on your description it is a 1995 model. Looking back through some of my old literature, they didn't go to the compound word version of the brand name until the 1996 model year and 1995 was the the 1st year for the Wildwood. It was 16th in a line of 17 ATB models. The MSRP was $298 US. It was a hi-tensile frame with CrMo only used for the seat tube. The component group was Shimano Altus C90 (brakes, shifters, derailleurs, crankset, hubs).
10-12-22, 07:44 PM
#616
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Just purchased a Bianchi Sport SX, theres a stick on downtube that says 86/87 Colorado Springs, but googling this model, looks like its made in Japan. Serial number is BS800539
10-13-22, 04:23 AM
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10-15-22, 09:53 PM
#618
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Roadway R510 bicycle.
KS85085543
Not a brand I've heard of before.
The frame construction reminds me of 1980s Raleigh's Rampar bikes or some of the Schwinn World bikes made in Taiwan.
This one had no original parts except maybe the crank and headset.
KS85085543
Not a brand I've heard of before.
The frame construction reminds me of 1980s Raleigh's Rampar bikes or some of the Schwinn World bikes made in Taiwan.
This one had no original parts except maybe the crank and headset.
10-19-22, 07:48 AM
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The S/N format resembles that used by Kawamura in the early 1970s but there are too many characters and the bicycle does not appear to be early 1970s vintage. It also resembles that used by another (unknown) Japanese manufacturer but again, it has more characters than what I've seen in the past for this manufacturer. Without more samples of this format, it's difficult to have even a reasonable degree of confidence but I'm leaning towards the first two numerals (i.e. 85) being the calendar year of manufacture. Given the apparent era and level, Taiwanese manufacture would seem reasonable. Thank-you for posting.
10-19-22, 06:31 PM
#620
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Bought a Univega Grand Premio today - believe it was made by Miyata in 1985 based on first letter of Serial # NU41724.
10-20-22, 02:06 PM
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^^^^^ Mavic "Look"-alike pedals? I just learned of their existence earlier this week in the for sale section. This bike is textbook '80s with those pedals, the black anodized rims and the aero brake levers. Gotta go drop the needle on "Ghost in the Machine" now.....
10-20-22, 07:42 PM
#622
Newbie
Bought this Miyata 912 today in LA. Serial number: I920884. I = 1980 model.
Last edited by syckman; 10-20-22 at 07:49 PM.
10-23-22, 10:15 AM
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Interesting. The I-code does indicate the 1980 calendar year, yet the sequential number is so high that I thought it would be a 1981 model. However, the decal scheme is 1980 model year, as opposed to 1981 year, and the presence of the alpha stickers on the shell suggest that it's not a repaint with aftermarket decals. Thank-you for posting.
10-23-22, 10:27 AM
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Yes, the serial number is consistent with Miyata, who was a known contractor for Univega bicycles during this era. The frame was built around the beginning for October, which is late enough in the year for it to be a 1986 model. The components appear to be SunTour Sprint and, if so, would confirm a 1986 model, as Sprint wasn't introduced until the 1986 model year and the 1985 Gran Premio was spec'd with Cyclone.
11-06-22, 02:05 AM
#625
Full Member
Fuji Ace
"Ishiwata Feather Si35 Triple Butted Cro-mo Channeled Tubing"
the seat post was painted and much was scraped of during seat height adjustments.
Serial number is very difficult to photograph but younger eyes read it.
F9104127
gloss black
mostly black components
Sakae Custom Modolo Anatomic bend bars
Suntour Accushift Blaze derailleurs
Sakae Edge crank set
1989?
=
"Ishiwata Feather Si35 Triple Butted Cro-mo Channeled Tubing"
the seat post was painted and much was scraped of during seat height adjustments.
Serial number is very difficult to photograph but younger eyes read it.
F9104127
gloss black
mostly black components
Sakae Custom Modolo Anatomic bend bars
Suntour Accushift Blaze derailleurs
Sakae Edge crank set
1989?
=