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.