Just purchased on Ebay: Looking for insights

[mdeeds71]

All,

Just picked this up for the wife as a second ride:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/161422550486

I have contacted the seller to get some further details:
partial serial number: C CO 52 136
No repaint was done by original owner

The basic geo is in the listing. What I am trying to figure out is the effective TT best fork rake/trail to put on it. This looks to be a 2005 model and either had the O2 or the F3 (basing the year on the name graphic, only year I find with that as in 2006 model is just CDA no CIII)

Thanks,

Mark

[saab2000]

Well done. CIIIs are diamonds in the rough. Some of my favorite rides have been CIIIs.

[Nags&Ducs]

All,

Just picked this up for the wife as a second ride:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/161422550486

I have contacted the seller to get some further details:
partial serial number: C CO 52 136
No repaint was done by original owner

The basic geo is in the listing. What I am trying to figure out is the effective TT best fork rake/trail to put on it. This looks to be a 2005 model and either had the O2 or the F3 (basing the year on the name graphic, only year I find with that as in 2006 model is just CDA no CIII)

Thanks,

Mark

Nicely done Mark!!!

[bobswire]

I understood you had a choice of decals when ordering CIII or CDA found this bike CAD for Serotta CIII 2005

http://www.bikecad.ca/1321238474908

[henrypretz]

My CIII is a 2004 according to the build sheet that I have. It sports the "CIII" decal on the top tube. I am not the original owner. My SN is C-CO-50-01674. I was told that the "C" before the "CO" prefix in the serial number indicates that it is a custom build.
I hope this somehow helps.

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/17843554/2014-09-20%2009.44.51.jpg

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/17843554/2014-09-20%2009.45.05.jpg

[Ken Robb]

A leading letter "C" generally means "custom". The next two letters are the model designation. Serotta catalogs described the C lll as using the same tubes as a CSi but tig welded instead of brazed lugs. The ride characteristics were deemed similar but the price was much lower for the tigged frames.

[saab2000]

Look for an F3 fork for it. I got one for my remaining Colorado III which I got a couple years ago. It's an excellent fork.

I sent my frame to Bilenky to conversion to a coupled bike with the S&S couplers and this, thankfully, did nothing to the excellent ride characteristics of the frame. If anything, it's stiffer but that could just be a trick of the mind.

I am firmly convinced that the CIII was the gem of the Serotta lineup and should have been more affordable, rather than trying to ratchet prices up every year.

Great find if it fits the rider. Here's mine this summer in Minneapolis.

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3861/14974935482_13f3df1536_o.jpg

[oliver1850]

The last geometry chart I have that shows fork rake is for 2001 models. At that time a 52 frame had a 72 degree HTA and 43 mm fork rake. Later charts show the same HTA on a 52 cm. I'd guess 43 rake was still standard.

Since the frame you bought has a top tube that's shorter than the normal 52.5, it's likely that the TT length is what's custom. I'd put some wheels on it and measure the HTA if possible, and go with a 43 mm rake if it measures reasonably close to 72 degrees.

[mdeeds71]

The last geometry chart I have that shows fork rake is for 2001 models. At that time a 52 frame had a 72 degree HTA and 43 mm fork rake. Later charts show the same HTA on a 52 cm. I'd guess 43 rake was still standard.

Since the frame you bought has a top tube that's shorter than the normal 52.5, it's likely that the TT length is what's custom. I'd put some wheels on it and measure the HTA if possible, and go with a 43 mm rake if it measures reasonably close to 72 degrees.

The TT measurement is a actual not an effective like the geo charts show.… will figure all the geo out when I have it to measure

[cmg]

the serotta fork in the classifieds would be a good starting point. It's a 43mm rake 1 1/8" and cheap enough that if it doesn't work or something better comes along you probably won't lose any money on eBay.

Great buy, i was tracking it. To get a good picture of the geometry the seat tube angle would be a good starting point. Suspect it's 74.5 .

If you need to sell it let me know.

[PJN]

http://forums.thepaceline.net/showthread.php?t=155525

Buy me!