Selling Lemond Frame Problem

[keno]

I want to sell a large Lemond frame, 61/61, but having trouble identifying model/year. I have contacted Lemond, given them a picture of the frame as well as its serial number. While they have tried to help, they have not been able to identify the frame, including by its serial number, which they say is not unusual.

I bought the frame a few years ago specifically to use on my trainer and rollers. I bought it on ebay and between then and now my HD went to garbage and I lost all information on the transaction. I'm only looking for about $400 for it and it is pretty imaculate.

It is either aluminum or ti, but I cannot identify by tapping it and another ti frame I have. I will take it to my lbs for their opinion. The frame is a metallic blue with yellow panels, as the picture shows. I've also shown the serial number, FWIW.

Any information or leads would be appreciated.

[WickedWheels]

Titanium frame (based on the integrated headset).
2003+ model year, if the fork is original
non-production (I don't remember that color)

I'm a little baffled by the drop-outs. They look odd. Can you post close-ups?

From where I'm sitting it almost looks like an old Clark Kent drop-out.

[jthurow]

Titanium frame (based on the integrated headset).
2003+ model year, if the fork is original
non-production (I don't remember that color)

I'm a little baffled by the drop-outs. They look odd. Can you post close-ups?

From where I'm sitting it almost looks like an old Clark Kent drop-out.
From what I can see, those dropouts look like the ones on my 2000 Ti Lemond.

jimi

[rwsaunders]

Try the archives....

http://www.lemondbikes.com/bike_archive

[jthurow]

The tubing sticker on my Tete de Course says 2000 but according to the decal colors listed on the Lemond site it's from 2002.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3232/2619924726_f4be0fce32.jpg

Here's a pic where you can kinda see the dropouts...
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3023/2619897188_7eedcc5c4e.jpg

jimi

[John H.]

It is not a Ti frame. Steel True Temper OX- model was Croix De Fer.
But I have been wrong before, feel free to stick a magnet on it to check.

[Marcusaurelius]

Well it's definitely not steel because Lemond steel frames didn't have an integrated headset (thank goodness or I would never have bought one). It's pretty easy to tell Titanium from aluminum just by feel or just tapping on the tubes. Titanium is like steel while aluminum is just like a thick beer can.

It's almost impossible to tell from a photo if it's aluminum or titanium but I would bet on aluminum if I had to choose.

[pdxmech13]

That is definetly a Ti frame and it was a warranty replacement for a damaged frame according to the serial number. I would guess it to be an early 2000's.

[John H.]

Did the magnet stick?

[keno]

'cause magnet didn't stick.

Is there a reliable way to tell ti from alu?

Here's a pic of the dropouts.

[John H.]

if it did not stick- it is Ti.
I do not think they ever made an aluminum bike that looked like that.
All the Al Lemond bikes that I ever saw had an aero shaped downtube

[jthurow]

Looks like the drop-outs on my TdC... right down to the vent holes on the stays.

jimi

[keno]

The tubes are all round, non-aero, and the TT and ST are 1 1/4" dia and the DT is 1 1/2".

keno

[mosca]

Definitely ti, not Aluminum. The dropouts and welds would be much thicker-looking on an Al frame.

Judging by the head tube and fork, it's a 2003 Victoire or 2004 Victoire Classic:

http://www.lemondbikes.com/bike_archive/2003/ti_carbon/victoire.php
http://www.lemondbikes.com/bike_archive/2004/classics/victoire_classic.php

[malcolm]

Agree with mosca, if that is aluminum its the best al welds I've ever seen or they have been machined.

[maunahaole]

I vote for Ti on this one. If for nothing else but the color of the exposed metal. The alu bikes I have had were a good deal "whiter" on the exposed metal than that - the color more closely resembles my current ti bike. That gray color is a giveaway.

[Smiley]

so keno if its ti does the price go up ?

[mschol17]

If it's ti it's a steal at $400.

[weiwentg]

'cause magnet didn't stick.

Is there a reliable way to tell ti from alu?

Here's a pic of the dropouts.

I'm going to guess it's ti because of the color of the exposed metal, and because Lemond made mostly steel and ti bikes. but, if you tap the frame on one of the main tubes, ti makes a weird kind of thonk sound, and alu makes a tink. steel makes a heavier tink, and it attracts magnets too.