Mountain Biking - How to tell a bike's year model (more specifically a Elite 9.8)?

If anyone read my topic yesterday about my friend who swears his 6500 is better than his Elite 9.8, I'm taking advantage of this and since he thinks its so crappy, I might as well take it off his hands (I have a hunch he'll happily take 300-500 for it, lol), the thing is, I want to know which year the bike is from, the only thing I remember is that it was blue (can't precise which blue), it had an XC seat and that the fork was labeled Trek Elite 9.8, nothing more, it didn't have a lockout fork either, I just want to know if the bike's components have not been changed or anything, I'll check other components and tell you about it tomorrow or Saturday.

Since which year have Elite 9.8s been manufactured? And is a used 9.8 worth it for 500$? Is it any good for my needs (cruising around city, trailing, jumping, roadtrips, etc)?

Are you sure it's an Elite 9.8....aren't they supposed to be Trek's carbon hardtail? Is this thing really old?

the 02 was candy blue and black
the 03 was baha blue and black
the 04 was black and silver
the 05 was blue and silver
but for the price range your talking about this bike may be way older, we want pics!

Yes, I'm completely sure its an Elite 9.8, my friend payed 500$ (according to him) for his 6500 and he thinks the Elite 9.8 (which he got from a repair shop for a trade in) is worse, he is my friend too so I think I could easily nab that 9.8 from him for just 500$ or so.

What kinda bugs me is that out of all the 9.8 pics I've seen, they all have RockShox SID labels on the fork, while my friend's has just a plastic piece covering the fork labeled Trek Elite 9.8.

Something seems fishy with that 9.8 but in any case, the frame is 100% carbon and it was pretty light so at least I know the frame is good.

I'm gonna check it some more tomorrow or Saturday and see more stuff about it.

I vaguely remember a thread where someone mentioned that they "ran" the serial number (it was mentioned in passing) and were able to get the year from that. I don't know if that would work or not.

Yes, I'm completely sure its an Elite 9.8, my friend payed 500$ (according to him) for his 6500 and he thinks the Elite 9.8 (which he got from a repair shop for a trade in) is worse, he is my friend too so I think I could easily nab that 9.8 from him for just 500$ or so.

What kinda bugs me is that out of all the 9.8 pics I've seen, they all have RockShox SID labels on the fork, while my friend's has just a plastic piece covering the fork labeled Trek Elite 9.8.

Something seems fishy with that 9.8 but in any case, the frame is 100% carbon and it was pretty light so at least I know the frame is good.

I'm gonna check it some more tomorrow or Saturday and see more stuff about it.

If your friend THINKS that the elite 9.8 is worse than a 6500, then it must be one of the super old ones. Or else he just bought the frame really cheap, and put crap components on it. Plus a lot of people on these forums will tell you to NEVER buy a used carbon bike, especially when its "third" hand.

Plus a lot of people on these forums will tell you to NEVER buy a used carbon bike, especially when its "third" hand.

Sage Advice. All signs point to 'not a good idea'.

I agree with free pizza. Third\fourth hand of any bike is risky to say the least. This one seems really old, plus it is carbon which can look and ride 100% one day, then snap the next. It also has a lifespan(not sure of it for carbon though). Plus, it may casue problems between you and your friend if something goes wrong. Only way I'd buy that from a friend for $500 is if he has put on alot of new higher end components so if the frame goes you still have the buildings of a new bike to fall back on.