Serial Numbers Decoded

[sighting]

Well I decided to rebuild my late fathers Hors Categorie

It was ransacked soon after him buying it many many moons ago in SF.
Actually our first bike ride together.

Serial on it does not match the decoder.

CTI 55 45xx

I am hoping to rebuild it but I don't even know where to start to find out what group sets it came with and/or if I should use old stock or newer components.

[oliver1850]

That's an interesting serial number as it's the code normal used for custom Legends. Hors is normally HC, but there was one posted recently that was stamped CH.

[oliver1850]

Originally Posted by farmerjosh

I just picked up a Colorado LT that's a 49. TC 49 2239. Interestingly it doesn't have lugs at the head tube or the BB. I could see not using them on the tiny head tube, but the BB lug omission is puzzling. Oh well, I like the fade.

My guess is that no lugged shell existed for the Colorado down tube for a frame that small. The early Colorados and CIIs were also filet brazed at the bottom bracket until Serotta had lugged shells made.

[oliver1850]

Originally Posted by richarddd

appreciate the work you all have put in. I recently picked up ti bike #808, a 1994 Colorado ti off fbmp from the original owner. who has a newer head badge for sale? the sticker on the head tube just seems cheap for such a quality frame.

I have seen them pop up occasionally on ebay. You might check with member and former Serotta dealer coolplanetbikes as he has had some NOS parts.

[Keith A]

Originally Posted by oliver1850

That's an interesting serial number as it's the code normal used for custom Legends. Hors is normally HC, but there was one posted recently that was stamped CH.

I guess they might have considered this a custom Legend??

[oliver1850]

Originally Posted by Keith A

I guess they might have considered this a custom Legend??

That's my guess, especially given the 4,5XX serial number. Doubt there were 1,000 DKS frames made of all models. I've yet to see an Ottrott DKS except in the catalogs. The 2003 catalog shows DKS available on Ottrott and Legend but there was no Hors shown that year. So at some point the HC was phased out in favor of the Legend DKS. Not sure how one with a Legend serial number ended up with HC decals, other than these kind of discrepancies are common with Serottas.

[mmelito]

I came across a local seller who provided me with the following serial number

CNV56455

I did my best to parse through this thread, but I didn't immediately identify a reference to any "NV"

Hoping for some guidance and I apologize if i missed something obvious previously posted.

Thanks very much

[dave thompson]

Originally Posted by mmelito

I came across a local seller who provided me with the following serial number

CNV56455

I did my best to parse through this thread, but I didn't immediately identify a reference to any "NV"

Hoping for some guidance and I apologize if i missed something obvious previously posted.

Thanks very much

What does the seller represent the frame to be?

[mmelito]

Originally Posted by dave thompson

What does the seller represent the frame to be?

Hey thanks for the quick response.

Seller represents it as an Ottrott

I hate to be cynical, so that's why I'm checking with those who are in the know

[dave thompson]

Have the seller send you a pic of the serial number. It’s possible he’s mis-reading the number.

Also have him send you some pics of the bike, particularly of the rear dropouts and of the Ti/carbon joints. I think it would be hard to fake an Ottrott.

[mmelito]

Originally Posted by dave thompson

Have the seller send you a pic of the serial number. It’s possible he’s mis-reading the number.

Also have him send you some pics of the bike, particularly of the rear dropouts and of the Ti/carbon joints. I think it would be hard to fake an Ottrott.

Turns out to be a Nove; I now can understand the confusion> I guess we can update the list to include "NV"

The drop outs have bosses without bearings, however they are difficult to distinguish between models (Nove vs Ottrott)