Serial Numbers Decoded

[AngryScientist]

Originally Posted by davidj

I have a 2002/3 ti Rapid Tour with the serial nos RI 56 063.

added to prefix list. my "to do" list includes alphabetizing that list too, i just havent gotten around to it. thanks for posting, stick around, maybe post some pics of that rapid tour!

[davidj]

Find attached a photo of my 2002/3 titanium rapid tour. I use it as my every day bike and add Tubus racks front and back for touring duties.

The bike has traveled over 50K km over the past 10 years. Stripped down I can mix it with the bunch. Add the mud guards and lights it makes a great commuter. Loaded it becomes a comfy and stable touring rig.

Great bike highly recommended.

[oliver1850]

Exactly what that bike was intended for. Great that you've made such good use of it.

[Marcy]

I've got a Ti Concours Cross bike that starts with CU, so I'm guessing that a CU prefix means Concours. I haven't seen the Concours model discussed in this thread, so I thought I'd share.

The rest of the code follows the modern 'rules' -- the second grouping is the size (59) and the third I assume is the number made (003)

Great bike, a keeper.

-- Marc

[oliver1850]

Concours Ti is CT, but perhaps the cx version got a different code.

[oliver1850]

There's a 50th anniversary Campagnolo frame on ebay, which has the Campy shield engraving on the stay caps and crown. That pretty well establishes it as a 1983. The serial number is 831131.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Serotta-Camp...item4abd85eeaf

Another ebay frame: 1981 Club Special with the oval seat tube decal, above BB cable routing, seat stay cap engraving (Serotta), BB shell with "Cinelli" cast in, round brake bridge sans engraving, serial number 81156.

Would be nice to find a 1984 frame to see if the serial number starts with 84 or 4.

Towards the other end of the history, a 2006 Couer d'Acier with steel seat stays, coded CCO. I'd like to see a carbon stayed one. I think Colorado IIIs and CDAs were both CO (CCO for custom), but the CDAs with carbon may have had another code.

[mtflycaster]

OK. Read through this thread and don't see the answer to this question. If a Serotta frame has a sloping top tube, does the serial number "size" designation refer to the actual or effective top tube length?

For example, a CTI541811 with a sloping top tube.

Anyone know for sure?

Thanks.

[Keith A]

Originally Posted by mtflycaster

...

Anyone know for sure?

Thanks.

Not "for sure", but it only makes sense that this would be the effective top tube length.

[oliver1850]

The nominal size of Serottas has always been seat, not top tube.

If you look at the 2003 catalog's geo charts, you will find one for standard road and for compact geometry. Size range is the same for both, so nominal size on the compacts is the seat tube length as if the TT were level, c to c.

Chart scan is hard to read but:

Size 57 Standard Geo has a 57 ctc seat tube and a 57 ctc TT

Size 57 Compact Geo has a 51 ctc seat tube and a 57 TT


Size 58 Standard Geo has a 58 ctc seat tube and a 57.5 ctc TT

Size 58 Compact Geo has a 52 ctc seat tube and a 57.5 TT

I assume the compact TT length is effective measurement although it's not specifically stated.

If you want to back this up from an actual frame, find one in the gallery and ask the owner for serial number and measurements. It can't be too new, or you'll get into the new serial number system.

[jasonw661]

GD 56M 001
From my Hors GP Suisse cross.

CDX 56 001
From my Coeur D'Acier cross.

[ryanfromflorida]

My steel cx bike is numbered G8 48S 030.

It's tig welded, has a 1" headtube, painted to match wound up fork, downtube shifter bosses, a Reynolds 853 sticker, and a Serotta WC stripes sticker. The frame only says Serotta with no model name.

Any idea what year/era this is?

[Dromen]

SN CN 57 235 Advertised as a 2005 Concours Ti frame. Searched the thread and cannot find a correlation for the SN or CN. The thread indicated that SN - Nova Special X and NHX but that designation is usually in the second slot of characters. Also, CT is the designation for Concours Ti.

So what does the SN in the first slot and CN in the second all mean?

Thanks for help with my 'anality'.

[dave thompson]

Most often "SN" is used as an abbreviation for the term 'serial number'. I think that's what's happening in your case.

[Dromen]

Dave,
More importantly, why are you listed as a "vistor" with that post count.

Great point on the SN. But how about the 'CN'? Is this a designation for a Concours Ti vehicle? I haven't been able to find where CN designates anything?

[rccardr]

Just acquired an unusual, and one presumes early, Davis Phinney Serotta. 60cm seat CTC, 58cm top tube CTC. Over-the-BB cable routing, red and black paint scheme. Serial is 80854, also has "C 69 E" on the edge of the bottom of the BB (raised, not stamped).




Components are a mish-mash of Campy Record wheelset with 8 speeds (it's a Sachs and 130 OLD so one assumes it's a freehub, although the hub itself has no telltale freehub bulge), Shimano Tricolor crankset, FD and brakeset, and a DA 7402 RD and shifters. All of the components would therefore seem to be newer vintage than the frame.





Did Serotta make Davis Phinneys as early as 1980? It doesn't have the later asymmetrical rear stays and they seem pretty straight to me.