Additional info on this KHS Montana Sport, in case it helps:

The serial number is stamped on the bottom of the bottom bracket.
It has a "Made in Taiwan" sticker at the bottom of the seat tube.
No tubeset sticker.
Construction is welded steel throughout, save the chainstays being socketed into lugs on the bottom bracket.
Front derailleur is Shimano FD-AL11.
Rear derailleur is Shimano RD-AL11.
Shifters are Shimano EM thumb shifters.
Crankset is A.ERO/ALERO Cold Forged "Super Duralumin" triple.
Brake levers are Paragon.
Brake calipers are Paragon cantilevers.

GT ZR 2.0 Roadbike 2001 Model
 

Theres not much info on the specs of the GT ZR 2.0 Roadbike now. Would anyone know the GT stem specs of the size 52 frame ? I plan to get the right specified stem for this old model frame, which i got recently. Its a good stiff frame. This is a 2001 model.

Semi-educated guess would be a 1984 model from late 1983. I'm only saying that because of the 'C' in the S/N and I haven't seen any of of KHS' Montana ATB series that pre-date the 1984 model year. Looking forward to some photographs.

Is this the exact same bicycle as posted by Korina or a different Montana Sport?

Same bike; he's my husbeast/mechanic. :)

And the brakes are Polygon; I've never heard of or seen brakes like them.

Given that you are asking about a 52cm frame, I assume you're concerned about the OEM stem length. If so, forget about it. Choose your stem length to give you a comfortable riding position. Assuming you've already got your saddle fore/aft position properly set using KOPS or your preferred method, pay attention to whether you pull yourself forward or push back on the handlebars, to get comfortable. That will tell you if the current stem is too long or short.

Ah, thxs for the clarification! Polygon was a Taiwanese brand and one of the dozens that seemed to pop up out of nowhere when ATBs started to become popular in the mid-1980s.

T-Mar I picked up this Bridgestone Carmel mixte for my wife today. The stamping under the BB shell is N380172. Solely with no other information than what I got off of the Sheldon Brown website, I hoped it to be an '82. But after picking it up, it seems to have a Suntour Accushift 4050 Edge RD which I don't know if it dates the bike later 80s or early 90s or if it was a replacement RD. Overall it is a nice bike and should serve her well. But I would appreciate your decoding the serial so I have a better idea of what I have.

Thank you.

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...42e43e33d.jpeg

I'm intrigued by the lug of the stay to the top tube. At first I thought that was the stay cap, but that's part of the lug isn't it?

Frame was manufactured in mid-1983, so it should be a 1983 model. The rear derailleur is definitely a replacement. The frame is manufactured with Bridgestone's Technart process, whereby the lugs are die cast around the tubing. The seat post uses a expander bolt (like on a handlebar stem) to secure it in the seat tube, rather than a traditional cinch bolt.

Thanks again. I will probably try to find a Suntour Seven to replace it with then. I think that it is the only non original piece on the bike other than the tires.

Having difficulties identifying a particular bike. The serial number is JP63433, it's a blue colored Norco Monterey Monshee. Trying to decide if it's worth fixing up. I went through all the serial number possibilities and can't seem to figure this one out. It's made in Japan, has a Suntour Seven rear derailleur. Maybe thanks.

That may be a Maruishi serial number format, which would place it around the transistion between a 1980 and 1981 model and put it within the era of the SunTour Seven. The Monshee Monterey that I've seen were upper entry level models with hi-tensile frames, stem mounted shift levers, safety brake levers and nutted hubs. IIRC, they were 2nd from the bottom of the lightweight line, just above the Nomad.

I need some help identifying a Diamond Back frame I picked up. It's a chrome frame and believe to be an Ascent. S/N could be 6FQ0305 or SFQ0305 also, the S/N is not on the bottom bracket but towards the bottom of seat post. TIA

You should be able to find pictures under gallery since I can't post pictures yet.

I believe the S/N is 6FQ0305. Unfortunately I haven't enough of these serial numbers to have confidence in their interpretation. Nor do I have anything for the 1985 Ascent. However, this fame is an excellent match for the 1986 Ascent, which was available in chrome for $15.00 US extra.

Thank you T-Mar. Once complete with the build I'll post some pictures for sure. I'm tearing down a similar bike in Teal for parts. Very similar S/N as well. 6FA2378

What a great list thanks!

Thanks! Great list of seial numbers!

T-Mar - Hi T-Mar. I have some Zebrakenko serial numbers. Not sure if you have any info on them. I know at one point the list said not enough info for Zebrakenkos. Let me know if any of this is decipherable. Am curious if it indicates month of manufacture, etc. Many thanks!

Black zebrakenko Wind - I think this is a 1977 model
ZK 77 A
D7A0355

Wine Zebrakenko Storm 1978?
Z78C
D3B0780

Red Zebrakenko Storm 1980?
D0X3365
Z80M

Mixte Thunder - I think this is a 1978 model
Z81C
D1A1078

Zebrakenko Blue Sky
Z80K
D0X1392

If you go back go post #1, you'll see that the Zebrakenko entry directs you to entry D(1), which I believe may represent Kenko. The 2nd character appears to be the year indicator, while the 3rd could be a month or fortnight indicator. You report two serial numbers starting with DOX, suggesting the latter and that the frames were manufactured during the 24th fortnight of 1980. The one outlier to the interpretation is the D3B S/N on the 1978(?) storm. I'm wondering if the 3 might be a partially stamped 8? I'd appreciate an good, overall, drive side photo of each bicycle and the serial numbers.

Hi, thanks very much for the info! There is a thread from last year on Zebrakenko bikes here - https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...ebrakenko.html Another poster added a serial number for one as well - post #12 - https://www.bikeforums.net/21519401-post12.html

My post (#28) has photos (from the drive side) of the bikes with the serial numbers I listed by color - https://www.bikeforums.net/21721993-post28.html The blue Blue Sky was not a great bike, and I sold it. It had stamped drop outs, etc. I will try and get photos of the serial numbers.

Do you think Zebrakenko had their own factory, or had the frames made by another frame manufacturer?

Thanks again!

I went back and checked my database. Curiously, I've recorded a 1978 burgundy coloured Storm with what initially appeared to be serial number D3B0781, only one frame removed from yours! Closer examination indicated the '3" was actually a '8' , as you could just see separate curls to the left of the intersection of the top and bottom circles (see attached). Given the proximity of the two frames to each other, it would appear that the manufacture had a issue with the '8' stamp or the holder.

Regarding the manufacturer of your bicycles, I don't have a definitive answer. Zebra bicycles date back to 1901. Circa 1969 they merged with the Kenko brand to form Zebrakenko. They started USA distribution in the mid-1970s. I've seen some evidence suggesting that late 1970s model were being produced from the Kenko side of the operation. Whether this is true or was still true into the 1980s remains to be determined.
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...eb6a3823db.jpg

Thanks again T-Mar, yeah, not sure about that #3 stamp thing. Other number 8 stamps seem to come through well, as with the 81 Thunder Mixte below and the 8 in the serial number photo you provided above. I don't think it is a scribal error, could the letter D perhaps interfere with the 8 due to spacing? I am adding the photos you requested of the serial numbers together with the drive side of each bike, starting with the burgundy 78 Storm. I was mistaken about the last three numbers, it appears to end in 700, not 780. I have always liked this era of Zebrakenko bikes aesthetically, both for the head badge and the lack of decals on the down tube. Around the end of 1981 they changed the head badge to a Zebra head and started adding the Zebrakenko name on the down tube, and every now and then you encounter one with the older lion head badge with the newer Zebrakenko decal on the downtube. Thanks!

1978 Storm - burgundy


https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...74eb266650.jpg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...6b65d2b279.jpg

1980 Storm - red

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...02593324dc.jpg


https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...5a1ebdc258.jpg

1981 Thunder mixte - burgundy


https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...5494423a93.jpg


https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...0e44e433a8.jpg

1977 Wind - black - please note that this frame was powder coated as the chrome sox were too far gone. It originally resembled this bike - https://www.bikeforums.net/21690954-post27.html Same chrome sox front and rear, brakes, crank, and wonderful ratcheted friction shifters.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...5cf90e36c1.jpg

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...d65e0ed7f5.jpg

I am limited to 10 images per post, so adding the last two on an additional post for the 1980 Blue Sky - blue.

1980 Blue Sky - blue - Definitely a lower end bike, turkey wings, stem shifters, stamped dropouts. Nice color though.


https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...b51fc61afa.jpg


https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...08b1b881ff.jpg

Thank you for source🙏

Norco Monterey SL
 

This followed me home yesterday - Norco Monterey SL, Ishiwata EX tubing. Wheels are Sansin/Araya, bar/stem WIN, post Strong alloy (with a steel cradle), brakes DiaCompe, crank Sugino VP, rear mech Suntour 3040, it and the shifters say Accushift. Post is 26.8mm.

Serial decode / year and manufacturer?


https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...0bb8359ddb.jpg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...7f89deb89d.jpg

While I don't know the manufacturer or the serial number format, pending confirmation on the rear derailleur, my leading candidate is a 1988 model. Norco didn't introduce that logo style or the SL version of the Monterey until the mid-1980s. The seat tube logo wasn't added until after 1987 and the 3040 rear derailleur was introduced for the 1988 model year as a member of the Alpha series, being re-designated as Blaze 3040 for the 1989 model year. The rear derailleur doesn't resolve well in the photo but since you don't mention Blaze, I assume it's the 1988 Alpha version (see attached). Assuming this and reverse engineering the serial number format would suggest a 1988 model manufactured in late 1987.
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...699bcdff2.jpeg

Rear mech is <alpha-character>3040.

I have seen at least one other similar serial for this model; only the last three digits differed.

I have not seen any photos of this model with a bare chrome fork - or indeed any plating. Is it a rairity or a replacement?

I have seen other same-model frames that are not Ishiwata EX - was it a particular year(s)' production?

If you've seen another Monterey SL with a serial number that differs only by the last 3 characters, it is likely from the same production lot. Therefore, the fork on that that bicycle would be the best indicator to tell you whether your fork is a replacement or original to the bicycle. .

You'll find the Monterey SL with Tange and Ishiwata tubing and different tubesets from those two manufacturers, depending on the year. For instance, in 1985 it used Tange #5, changed in 1986 to Ishiwata EXO and was downgraded to Ishiwata EX for 1987. Various factors come into play when selecting the tubeset such as frame builder preference, availability, pricing, etc. BTW, given the bicycles level, I wouldn't be surprised if your bicycle doesn't used the full Ishiwata tubeset and has hi-tensile stays and/or blades as a cost concession.

I still can’t post pictures until I hit 10 posts and I can only do five per day before getting locked out. I’ll upload pictures tomorrow, but here’s my serial: R331034

The bike is a Bridgestone with a 3-speed hub.