Serial Numbers Decoded

[AngryScientist]

I'm starting this thread with Keith's blessing. I'm pulling the info from what I know and other threads on the topic. A lot of this info came from oliver1850, who has a wealth of Serotta knowledge. PLEASE HELP!!, i'll update the front post as i get input from you experts!

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The modern system started with the 1990 models, I believe. Mid to late 1980s bikes used all numbers, with production year the first digit in the code. I'm not sure how far back that system was used. The very early bikes had Ben's initials included.

the modern serial number system is:

aa bb xxx - aa=model / bb=frame size / xxx= production number

aa codes:

TX - Colorado TG
AS - Atlanta
SC - Colorado II, most likely other Colorados as well
SL - Nova Special
SN - Nova Special X and NHX
CT - Concours Ti
LI - at least some Ottrotts
CS - CSI
CO – CIII
HC - Hors
TI - Legend Ti as mentioned but also earlier Colorado Ti
TC - Colorado LT
CL - CRL
RD = Research & Development
LI - early Ottrott (Legend Integrated)
HI - early Ottrott DKS (Hors Integrated)
CC - Custom Colorado II through CRL through early CSi (I think)
FE - Fierte IT
FI - Fierte (steel)
FC - Fierte Carbon
FT - Fierte Ti
HB - HSG in carbon
SP - HSG in Ti
LE - Legend Ti GS tubing
OS - Ottrott ST
AX - ATX
SD - Davis Phinney Model
TS - Colorado Soft Tail MTB....or
CT-S - Colorado Soft Tail MTB
AT - Colorado Legend AT
BS - Ben Serotta Special?
ST - Classique Ti.
TL - Colorado Legend TG
RI - Rapid Tour (ti)

Any of these codes preceded by a C means it's a custom frame. The exception to this seems to be early Colorados, which if stock were CC. So SC evidently means Standard or Stock Colorado

[Smiley]

Hey Angry,
The Legend Ti you bought from me actually my wife's was a wedding present from me to her. We did Seagull Century Oct 1998 and she demo'd a Legend Ti frame in a stock 50 cm that year. I went ahead and ordered shortly after that ride this frame. Serotta only made a Legend Ti frame then so no mistaking it with differnt letters after the name. I am sure it was built in very late 98 or early 99. Enjoy and many happy miles. Smiley

BTWwe married in Sept 1998 and postponed our honeymoon til after Seagull since I was the Serotta rep at the time and I THINK Ben Serotta was scheduled to appear with us for that event hence the reason why we put off going to Aruba til after this event.

[AngryScientist]

Originally Posted by Smiley

Hey Angry,
The Legend Ti you bought from me actually my wife's was a wedding present from me to her. We did Seagull Century Oct 1998 and she demo'd a Legend Ti frame in a stock 50 cm that year. I went ahead and ordered shortly after that ride this frame. Serotta only made a Legend Ti frame then so no mistaking it with differnt letters after the name. I am sure it was built in very late 98 or early 99. Enjoy and many happy miles. Smiley

BTWwe married in Sept 1998 and postponed our honeymoon til after Seagull since I was the Serotta rep at the time and I THINK Ben Serotta was scheduled to appear with us for that event hence the reason why we put off going to Aruba til after this event.

cool story Smiley, what a great wedding present too. rest assured - it's in good hands

[oliver1850]

My ATX is a 1996 I think. Serial number starts with AX

[ergott]

Mine's C-OS-53-003XX
C for custom
OS for Ottrott ST
53 for size
then five digit number 003XX

This was 2004

[Keith A]

Thanks to the mad scientist for pulling this together!!!

[oliver1850]

If anyone knows of someone with a model not listed, please prod him/her to post the serial code.

[Cinci Jim]

HB = HSG in carbon

SP = HSG in Ti

LE = Legend Ti GS tubing

[Andrewlcox]

My new Serotta

Serial #

CCO 59 1984

Of course its custom with a 53cm TT but what do you make of the 1984?

It has a paint scheme from the 2007 catalog.

Andy

[oliver1850]

Andy, I wondered what your bike was, looks like it's a Colorado III. The 1984 indicates that there were 1983 CIIIs built previously, I believe. I think that 2005 was the last year for the CIII.

[deechee]

My steel 650c CXII has C2 50P ### -why the P?
My gf's Coeur D'acier has CD X00 ### -X00 size?

[oliver1850]

I don't know a lot about the newer frames, and there are a lot of them. The CXII was made in steel and Ti, and the steel ones at least could be had with or without the CS carbon stays. I don't know if they built an all Ti CXII or not. There was a 650 wheel option on the all steel CXII. Perhaps the P has something to do with one of these options.

I really don't have a guess on the XOO size designation. Customs usually have the extra C at the start, then a number code indicating seat tube size. Is there anything unusual about the bike?

[deechee]

Ah, the CXII is a 650c frame, steel rear triangle, the Coeur D'acier might have some larger tubing for my gf (she's a bit ... curvy)

[yarg]

1997 legend ti

??-55L-00459

1st two letters are so lightly stamped I can't tell what they are.

Non custom but the L stand for long - top tube is 55.5
Edit/Delete Message

[AngryScientist]

i'm copying this info in from RedRider, for information:

CL indicates a Classique, the other numbers correspond to the Serotta sales order. X indicates 2010, X1 would indicate 2011.