Serial Numbers Decoded

[oliver1850]

Originally Posted by racemanspiff

Hello,
New to the forum, but a vintage cyclist (53yrs young). I have a CSI that I am trying to determine what year it was built. The serial number is CC 59 1114, what is strange is that the top tube is long like 60.5-61cm ctc, the seat tube is 59cm ctc and the head tube is 176mm, it has a F1 carbon/Ti 1" threadless fork.

Unfortunately this bike just sits as it is just a little too large/long for me, it is for sale as a frame/fork/Chris King headset/Deda 100 cockpit. It was resprayed with Dupont Imron and is stunning in the sunlight.

Great looking CSI. Serotta was building at least 300/year, so I'd say yours was made in 1998. Might have been made in 1997 but no way to tell without the original paint (and anniversary decal). Standard geometry CSI would have CS prefix. Your CC designates custom geometry, so that explains the long top tube.

The 1998 catalog shows head tube mounted cable stops instead of the down tube shifter bosses. That may or may not indicate that your frame is a 1997. Since it's a custom, the buyer may have specified DT shifter bosses.

[fourflys]

Hey all, figured this question from my other post most get some more traction in this post...

Serial # CLS 57 134

I know this is a custom Legend ST, 57cm seat tube, and was the 134th built.

My question is this, what year do you all think this bike was built? It has the C4Ti tubing sticker and an S3 fork (can't confirm if fork is original though). I would assume this was a somewhat early bike, but since I have no idea how many of the Legend STs they built...

Thanks!

[oliver1850]

I would say 2003 or 2004. If it has the exterior milling on the head tube it would be later.

[fourflys]

Originally Posted by oliver1850

I would say 2003 or 2004. If it has the exterior milling on the head tube it would be later.

Thanks, that's kind of what I figured. I don't think my HT is milled from me looking at it (seems pretty straight).

[oliver1850]

I think that you would notice the milling. It leaves a definite ledge near the top and bottom of the front of the head tube that tapers off into no ledge at the rear.

[henrypretz]

Hey there Serotta experts - I am looking at a bike that I can’t quite figure out the “model” of. It is Ti and is described as an all arounder and not necessarily a purpose built cross frame. Linear pull brakes. 3D type dropouts, down tube cable stops.
Serial number reads CCU 54 055
I was under the impression that the first “C” indicates custom, but don’t know model what the “CU” would identify as. Or is the “CC” indicative of a Colorado and the “U” something else?
In the end it doesn’t really matter, but would be nice and kind of fun to figure it out.
Thanks in advance.
Henry

[oliver1850]

I would say it's a custom and the model is CU. Some detail photos might give a clue as to what the model actually is. 1 1/8" head tube? What is the fork? Does it have down tube shifter bosses?

[damon216]

Just picked up what looks like mid 90's Serotta Concept bike.
It's a bit of a Franken Bike in my mind as it's got a 7400 Dura Ace BB ISO taper- 112mm spindle with Campy Chorus cranks and what looks like an Athena rear with Campy hubs.

The cranks have the shield logo which are pre-1995 and take a 111mm spindle.
Saw in a catalog from '96 that Serotta offered Pearl

Serial is SC 42 3386 , Metallic pearl with red logos.

The frame is in amazing shape but the chain line is off as the right crank arm is way too far outboard... and the campy ergo shifter need to be adjusted.

Wondering if I need to go to a shorter spindle.

Sorry for the ramble, but what year do you think the frame is?

[oliver1850]

That sounds like a very late Colorado II, so late 1992. Does it have brake cable ports in the top of the top tube? 42 or 52? I can't imagine them making a 42 cm frame that wasn't a custom.

The combination of the slightly longer spindle and the JIS taper probably puts the crank about 5 mm outboard of where it should be. Both arms should be effected. Hopefully the crank tapers are intact and you can just switch to a
Campagnolo bottom bracket. The recent black Centaur or the older Athena are both easy to find and will work fine - as should the AC-H, AC-S, SC-S, Veloce, etc. I really like the Athena as neither cup has a stop, so you can adjust the chainline a bit if needed.

[oliver1850]

Meivici SG, circa 2013: MG

This was the stock geometry Meivici model. Serial numbers had size first, then the model code, another letter code (date?) then the serial number. For example:

56-MG-A0184

[Rorc4L]

Hi everyone,

Few months back I got my hands on an Ottrott. The owner wasn't a cyclist and received the bike from his brother in law so he could not give me much information. He stored it for years without a single ride.
Serial is CLI 59 584. It has the carbon seat stays, F2 fork but the headtube and bottom bracket are not machined. Following what I read in this thread and in the catalogs I believe the production year is 2003, maybe 2004. Does my guess seem right ?

[oliver1850]

That sounds right. If I was betting, I would guess 2003. If you search old sale threads, you might find one with a close serial number from a seller who knew the build date.

[Alexi]

so Nova Special with serial 84113

• 1984 113th bike?
• 1984 January 13th bike?
• 1988 April 113th bike?
• or something completely else?

[oliver1850]

If it has fastback stays I'd say 1988. If sidetrack stays 1984 - but it could be either of the two systems you mentioned. I don't remember seeing one that rules out the month/serial system. Need to find one with last two digits greater than 32 to be sure, but in that era Serotta may have not been making more than one frame a day.

[oliver1850]

Originally Posted by rdv

Don't see my Cd'A IDed on list, so may want to add, though there's nothing particularly unusual about the frame: steel with carbon fork and seat stays (built in 2008, monitored by K. Bedford). Serial is C-CE-61-000xx.

Just confirming the info above for the Coeur D'Acier or CDA. I have a 2008 Coeur D'Acier GS with the CCE model code.