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[oliver1850]

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[regularguy412]

My buddy has an NHX from that era. It's mostly black with dark pink accents. From your pix, the fork looks to be exactly the same. Can't remember off=hand what his seat cluster looks like. Main triangle tubing looks to be very similar. No idea what the serial number is. I'm pretty sure the decals/paint are original on his bike -- so I can get some pix of the setup if someone here doesn't have some readily available.

Mike in AR:beer:

[oliver1850]

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[oliver1850]

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[dave thompson]

You may not have a Nova model. All the pictures and references that I have to the Nova models have them with a side-tack seat stay cluster, not the fastback. Plus I can find no references to the Novas having Colorado tubing.

The Colorado model from that era had the Colorado tubing and the fastback seatstays.

[jeo99]

You may not have a Nova model. All the pictures and references that I have to the Nova models have them with a side-tack seat stay cluster, not the fastback. Plus I can find no references to the Novas having Colorado tubing.

The Colorado model from that era had the Colorado tubing and the fastback seatstays.

As per usual Dave is correct. Nova's NHX ect. have "side-tack" seat stays.

:crap:

[mack]

Serotta Nova special x-1986-columbus SLX tubing......super stiff ride and response for my 170 lbs.
Not a great pic, but the best I've got.
-mack
Ok, let's try this photo upload again......serotta nova-special x.jpg

[oliver1850]

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[oliver1850]

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[dave thompson]

My 1985/6 Serotta catalog shows both the Nova Special and the Nova Special X with the side-tack seat stays. Only the "Colorado" model, in this catalog, used the fastback seat stays and the Colorado tubing (externally butted and swaged) seat and down tubes. And only on the "Colorado" model does it mention the use of the turned-out (Colorado) chainstays

On the Nova Special, according to the catalog, SL tubing was used in smaller sizes; SP in 60CM+. In the Nova Special X the catalog indicates that only SLX tubing was used.

Again in the catalog, it says for both models there were custom sizing options, non-standard color/s, chrome fork and stays and non-standard braze-ons.

The mid to late 80s were really Serottas glory years with all their very high profile racing victories and I think that Serotta most likely would build a bike pretty much any way one wanted to have one built WRT tubes, seat stay clusters, etc.

With no records for the production at Serotta now, I think it would be terribly hard to pin down an exact date of manufacture or how it was built. I'm sure that Serotta made running changes as features, technology and parts/tubes/etc./supply changed.

[oliver1850]

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[dave thompson]

I did some digging and found this 1990 catalog in my stash, forgot that I had it. Sorry for the lousy pic but I don't have a scanner.

One thing of note; it mentions the use of Columbus helically reinforced tubing which I think some refer to as 'rifle-cut'. If your bike is an NHX it would have this tubing, so you should be able to look down the inside of the seat tube and see the spirals of the helical reinforcing.

If you'd like a full sized pic, send me your e-mail and I'll get it off to you.

http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/6493/nhx1.jpg (http://img201.imageshack.us/i/nhx1.jpg/)

[staggerwing]

Here's my Nova Special X:

http://forums.thepaceline.net/showthread.php?t=39125&highlight=nova

FWIW, decals are wrong. Damaged by previous owner, repaired, and couldn't source proper decals.

From what I see, mine looks pretty close to Macks. Note, side tack seat stays, and internally lugged, sloper crown fork.

[oliver1850]

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[David Kirk]

Anyone know what the 'H' in NHX stands for?

I think it will answer some questions for you.

dave

[oliver1850]

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[David Kirk]

This was all a long time ago but I think I can recall the details. if I get them wrong please don't jump down my throat in typical interwebb fashion.

* First came the Nova.

* The some features were added (like a single bend chainstay) and it became the Nova Special.

* The tubing was upgraded from SL/SP to SLX/SPX and it became the Nova Special X.

* Lastly - a guy named Hallanan who worked at Serotta came up with a double bend chainstay (allowed better freewheel clearance) and it became known as the Nova NHX.

The Nova never had Colorado tubes and never had what was then called oversize tubing. Some were custom sized but most were not. They are a very nice riding bike regardless of the vintage or spec.

I hope this makes things better and not worse.

dave

[jeo99]

Dave,
As usual, well stated. I do believe this is the correct progression.

:beer:

[dave thompson]

http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/1902/decals1.jpg (http://img137.imageshack.us/i/decals1.jpg/)

[regularguy412]

I did some digging and found this 1990 catalog in my stash, forgot that I had it. Sorry for the lousy pic but I don't have a scanner.

One thing of note; it mentions the use of Columbus helically reinforced tubing which I think some refer to as 'rifle-cut'. If your bike is an NHX it would have this tubing, so you should be able to look down the inside of the seat tube and see the spirals of the helical reinforcing.

If you'd like a full sized pic, send me your e-mail and I'll get it off to you.

http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/6493/nhx1.jpg (http://img201.imageshack.us/i/nhx1.jpg/)

Sorry bout getting back so late on this. My friend has been gone to some motorcycle races in Alabama. Dave pretty much has the lowdown on the bike. However, here's the serial number and tube set info . My friend's bike is basically a duplicate of the pink/black one shown here. Serial number is SN56-01464 . According to the decals,, the tubes are SLX. Hope this helps.

Mike in AR:beer

[oliver1850]

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[rounder]

My NHX is like the red bike in the catalogue. It is Columbux SLX. Straight guage tubing throughout except the chainstays are curved. The geometry was standard and mine was size 58 cm. Still have the bike. Originally built with Shimano 600. Changed to Duraace 8-speed and then to Record 10-speed. No plans to sell it. IT still looks good and rides fine.