Early Serotta bikes: Cough 'em up !

[Flinch]

Since I'm easily fascinated by puzzles, I see a need to more fully document early Serotta bikes. For this thread, only bikes from 1980 or EARLIER please! This means that most/many bikes will have a serial # with "BS" or maybe "80" prefix/starting digits.

Show/tell about what you have and we can get a better idea of these early beasties. Info from former Serotta employees, or 'experts', is also appreciated.

Also, I've been trolling the 'Net collecting all the serial number info I can, and have added to/modified the master list that has been floating around for a while. Post any additional info/corrections for any year Serotta. Here is the list:
"--------- Serotta Date Codes --------
We hopefully can now say that 1982 - 1984 Serotta serial numbers started with a two digit year code. [OP Note: I've seen serial #s starting with '80', so maybe numbering scheme started in 1980? Also, saw 1979 (?) with ser# BS594, so maybe 'boundary' was 1979-80? ] .I believe that 1985 to early 1990 started with a single digit for the year. A Nova Special recently surfaced on the forum with a serial number that begins with zero. I still believe the switch to the two letter model codes happened in 1990, because my Nova Special is coded SL58xxxx, and 1990 was the last year for the Nova.

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
Note: Date code changed to Roman numeral prefix in 2010, ie: X = 2010, XI = 2011, etc.
aa codes:

AK - Attack, The Attack uses the TC3 tube set (carbon)
AS - Atlanta
AT - Colorado Legend AT (1993 AT is AT44L-007 )
AX - ATX
BR - Colorado Legend Ti ???? Also have seen BS BR #### serial number. One BR listed was actually TST made (TST based in Kennewik Washington, titanium fabricators)
BS - Ben Serotta Special? Several examples from 1970's
CC - Custom Colorado II through CRL through early CSi (I think), Legend series?
CD - Coeur d'Acier CS (with carbon stay)
CH - See Hors Categorie
CL - Legend series - Saw a CRL advertised with CL prefix, so not sure if CRL prefix exists
CL - Later also used for Calssique Ti, circa 2009+?
CR (?) Legend series???
CRL Lightweight CC version, Colorado Legend CRL was the precursor to the CSI, and was made in the early '90's - '93 and '94 (?), the CRL being the last model before the CSI
CO – CIII
CR - Colorado Legend, only made in 1993
CS - CSI
CT - Concours Ti
CT-S - Colorado Soft Tail MTB
CU - Concours cross bike
FC - Fierte Carbon
FE - Fierte IT
FG - Fondo Ti
FI - Fierte (steel)
FT - Fierte Ti
FX - Fierte Cross
GD - Hors GP Suisse cross.
GT - CX Cross bikes
GX - Heritage GP Suisse cross bike ( GX 58 006 fall of 2008 )
HB - HSG in carbon
HC - Hors Categorie (Hors is normally HC, but there was one posted recently that was stamped CH.)
HG - HSG IT (Carbon + Titanium)
HI - early Ottrott DKS (Hors Integrated)
LE - Legend Ti GS tubing
LG - Legend ( LG 58 003 = 2009 )
LI - at least some Ottrotts
LI - early Ottrott (Legend Integrated)
LS - Titanium Legend with carbon seat stays, ST model, "Rider-specific ST carbon stay and pivot system (ST model only)" (C = Custom, L = Legend, S = ST Carbon seat stays) Example serial#s: CLS 55 0972 = 2008 model, LS XI 548 = 2011 (Fork serial number: C LS X100548 see note above re date change coding as of 2010), CLS 52 339 = 2012???
NV - Nove
MG - Meivici SG, circa 2013
MV - Meivici
OS - Ottrott ST
RD = Research & Development
RI - Rapid Tour (ti)
SC - Colorado II, most likely other Colorados as well. SC54 2691 and is a confirmed 1991.
SD - Davis Phinney Model
SE -Legend, confusion between ST and SE, not sure if SE prefix exists.
SL - Nova Special
SN - Nova Special X and NHX (Nova Special morphed into the NHX (the 'H' standing for Hallanan - a guy who worked with us who first put the second bend in the c-stays to make the S bend and give much needed cassette clearance).
)
SP - HSG in Ti
SS - Serotta Classique 853 Steel
ST - Classique Ti.
TB - Colorado TTR (time trial), circa 1994
TC - Colorado LT
TI - Legend Ti as mentioned but also earlier Colorado Ti
TL - Colorado Legend TG
TM - Ti Max MTN bike frame
TS - Colorado Soft Tail MTB....or
TX - Colorado TG
AI - Ti titanium bike noted on Facebook

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
---
The "Legend" series of Serottas began in 93 and had the Legend Ti (titanium), Legend CRL (a lightweight CR), Legend CR, Legend TG (tig-welded instead of lugged) and about 5 other ''Legend' models including mountain bikes and Tri bikes. It was basically a re-naming of their bikes to capitalize on Serottas fame as builders of Tour de France and the Coors Lite Race Team bikes. The differences in the CRL and the CR are the triple butting on the top tube only.
---
There was no TT length option starting in 1995. Serotta began sizing all stock road frames the same that year, and decided on the L top tube length for frames above 52 cm. So while L appears in the serial number, there were no shorter TT stock frames after 1994 (at least for a few years), but by 1998 not all models had exactly the same geometry."

[Flinch]

Here's some examples:

My 'mystery model' Serotta bike (1978-79?), perhaps a Criterium as the fork rake is 28mm (Note: Repainted, probably in early 90s)?


An eBay frame, 1979?:



Other data points:

1975 serial number BS175

"Paceline: https://forums.thepaceline.net/showt...t=99078&page=2
I am assembling a 1975 Serotta Special BS178. This confirmed by Ben as genuine. "

"Club Special in really good condition. My question is the serial number #5239 1985?"

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.

Paceline: Bs 577 Late 70's / early 80's? https://forums.thepaceline.net/showt...t=99078&page=7

"Paceline: https://forums.thepaceline.net/showt...=99078&page=26 I just acquired a 1976 to 1978 59 cm ctc Serotta criterium model with the serial number: BS319. I suspect that the '83 SR components were an aftermarket addition. Wanting to know more about its age class, I tried contacting Ben Serotta, who graciously responded to my query. He said that his records for the late 70s were no longer in his possession but he said that it was built sometime between the years 1976 and 1978. I did find a 1975 frame listed here on this forum with the serial number BS175. Ben Serotta also said that he suspects that it was repainted or the decals were replaced. He said that during that time period he did not clear coat over the decals and that they easily wore off and were often replaced."
Serial BS 319:

[smontanaro]

BS 249, a repaint, 99% sure it has the wrong decals. My guess is 1977-78. Original color shown on the steerer tube in the Flickr album. Also in that album are some no-longer-functional decals that came with the frame. Heaven only knows if they were period correct for the frame (my guess would be "no"). As it was sold to me:



Buried in another thread, there's a link from Keith A to a very early brochure (PDF). My guess is 1975-ish for the brochure.

[Flinch]

Originally Posted by smontanaro

BS 249, a repaint, 99% sure it has the wrong decals. My guess is 1977-78.

Hmmm, I'd say more like 1976, based on the listed 1975 serial numbers, but just a calculated guess.

Here's the 1975-76 (?) catalog/brochure:

[Flinch]

And a 1982 (?) catalog/brochure thing:

[wgp]

The photo looks like Dale Stetina - did he race on a team sponsored by Serotta in the late 70s/early 80s? He and Wayne were two of my favorite racers of that era!

[rwsaunders]

Taken at a LBS a few years back.

[oliver1850]

I haven't been able to put a date on this frame. It has the plain round brake bridge which I'm guessing was used previous to the flat style, which I know was used at least as far back as 1983. I believe it has Shimano dropouts. The serial number was stamped in the dropout but it has been almost totally obscured by skewer clamping/slipping. There is no serial number on the steerer tube. Repainted but appears to be white originally.

[dcama5]

deleted, Serotta not old enough.

[Fat Cat]

Seemed like time to give this a bump

[Kirk Pacenti]

My Club Special

https://forums.thepaceline.net/showthread.php?t=300927

[Flinch]

Originally Posted by Kirk Pacenti

My Club Special

https://forums.thepaceline.net/showthread.php?t=300927

Kirk, I took the liberty of reposting your CS frame pic here for easy viewing pleasure. Any idea of the serial # ?

One thing that's eating me is the style of fork on my 'mystery model' frame set. It's smooth shouldered, no external lugs. - haven't seen that style fork on a Serotta before Any idea of what models that came on?
Kirk's frame:

[Kirk Pacenti]

Originally Posted by Flinch

Kirk, I took the liberty of reposting your CS frame pic here for easy viewing pleasure. Any idea of the serial # ?

One thing that's eating me is the style of fork on my 'mystery model' frame set. It's smooth shouldered, no external lugs. - haven't seen that style fork on a Serotta before Any idea of what models that came on?
Kirk's frame:

Thanks!

I'll take a look this evening.

I am 99% certain it was built in 1980/81

Cheers,
KP

aka: @bicycleposters

[Kirk Pacenti]

The serial number on the fork is:

BS12880RS588112

Any help deciphering the serial number would be appreciated.

[Flinch]

Originally Posted by Kirk Pacenti

The serial number on the fork is:

BS12880RS588112

Any help deciphering the serial number would be appreciated.

Thanks for the number - more data = more questions.

I've seen this BS/RS pattern on a couple other frames/forks - I should have taken notes - I'll look again. Next email to Ben and I'll ask. Seems to me that the first series, "BS12880" can't be a continuation of 1970's numbering scheme, as the highest I've seen for 1979 is about BS600. If you think it's a 1980, just guessing, but perhaps 12880 refers to 1980 (the "80" portion), making this the 128th frame of 1980? Again, just a guess. I've also seen frames starting with "80"XXX

The "RS" numbering...??? Any Serotta employees with those initials way back then? Could it have been repainted/reworked in 1988 ("88112")? Maybe "RS" = code for repair or repaint?


Edit/add: Serial BS 81280 BT 64203, yet another mystery number. Note the BS portion ends with 80, as with yours - coincidence, or date code? With pics (click on serial number pic - goes to Flickr with more pics). https://forums.thepaceline.net/showthread.php?t=241908


Edit to add: I think I am getting close to cracking the BS code. I suspect that the BS numbering system changed in 1980 to add a two digit year code at the end of the 'BS' set of digits. The following 'RS', 'BT', or 'BC', or whatever letter prefix may refer to a model, followed by a two digit size, ie: BS2981 BC58.5130 = a the 29th frame made in 1981, size 58cm, and the model is...whatever BC means. (Club, Criterium? Custom?). 'BT' = Track? RS = Race Special? Just guessing here guys...

I visually rechecked frame Serial BS 81280 BT 64203, and it does indeed appear to be a large frame, easily a 64cm.