Originally Posted by
Parabolous
I did pick up the Ross. Too cool to pass up. This one is not so original as I thought. I figured the DR’s weren’t original but it turns out the wheels aren’t either. I cannot find any info to know what year it’s supposed to be or the model. Seller thinks it’s a Mt. Hood but no way of knowing.
Here are some things I found useful when researching what exactly I had with my Ross:
Anybody know the history of Ross bikes?
The finer parts of an 83? Mt Whitney with serial number theory
Ross Bicycle - Any Good..?
Late 1980's Ross Mt. Bike Models - differences- Mtbr.com
Originally Posted by
T-Mar
The serial numbers are a very common format. The first number is almost certainly the year. The 2nd letter could be a month or fortnight indicator. If it is a month, then R3J would represent October 1983 and that is late enough in the year for production of 1984 models to have started, which would explain the black logo.
It would certainly be a coincidence if these were Japanese manufactured, given the R prefix. The Mt. Whitney may have been the only Ross manufactured in Japan during a particular model year but the evidence suggests it wasn't always so. I have a 1983 road test of a Ross Hi-Tech (note article spelling as High Tech). The model isn't stated but the bicycle is chromed and the component mix matches a Mt, Whitney, as shown in the 1983 Ross advertisements in the same issue. This article specifically mentions the Ross built frame, so I believe all the R-code serial numbers are Ross manufacture.
Looking forward to pictures when you get around to it