Hey guys!

I’m looking at an 80s specialized Allez. Seems like it would fit the S(1) serial number guide.

Can anyone tell me what “S(1)” is though?
Or anything about them?

thanks!
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...b114c907e5.png

My understanding is that the "S" manufacturers were not known, at least not with certainty. BTW your s/n is a digit short for S(1), tho it still may be. Tsunoda is another possibility. Specialized fans may have a better idea of the builder. Good luck.

That Specialized Allez serial number is from the OJI Bicycle Manufacturing company.

More information about OJI can be found at this link:

OJI Bicycle Manufacturing

Awesome! Thanks for the information!

OK Folks......Another Headscratcher !!!
 

Pics to follow.......but in the interim......
At the bike co-op today, my buddy Al dragged out a Norco Rally from the donation pile to see if we can do something with it.
It's a men's with a 25 inch frame, mismatched wheels and a crank set I've not seen before with no name on the guard
and only 170 on the back of the crank arms. The bike has SunTour Spirt front der and a Suntour GT rear der.
The serial number is SH226518 which seems to fit the S3 (Japan) manufacturer's numbering scheme, It does NOT
fit the listed manufacturers for Norco i.e. Dodsun, Kawamura, Miki and Yamaguchi. Any ideas anyone ?? Has anyone
else ever seen a Norco with a serial number starting with S ?? All contributions/suggestions gratefully appreciated.

Norco Rally? I have never seen or heard of a Norco Rally.

The "S" prefix serial numbers are commonly found on 1981 to 1983 Norco models Avanti, Nomad, Sports, and Tourister.

Pics to follow on Friday evening because Friday aft is my regular stint at the bike coop where the Norco is.
I sure hope my memory is right.:D

Nope, my memory failed me......again......and you are absolutely right, Hummer. The bike NEXT to the Norco was a Rally.
I really need to get new glasses........LOLOLOL

Serial number PS56388
a Miyata 1000 best I can tell as it's lacking the 1000 decal.
Original owner said it was the 1000 model bought in 1988 but said he had it custom painted red.

If I understand the Miyata serial number scheme correctly it would have been manufacture in 1987 ,
19th fortnight which makes maybe late September timeframe and then sold in 1988.

At least all the parts save the saddle, pedals and barend shifters match exactly with the 1988 Miyata 1000 in the catalog. The seatpost does have 87.10 stamped on it.

The odd factor is the color for 1987 was a shade of blue and the 88 model was listed as black according to the catalogs. Original owner I bought it from said he asked the shop to custom paint it red.
I disassembled it completely yesterday and there are no signs of another color other than the red.

Interesting.

More pics on the Miyata 1000 thread.

http://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vi...l#post23397743

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...1614295a44.jpg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...83db822064.jpg

Something else I've noticed from what photos I've seen on Miyata 1000's is that 'Miyata' is stamped on the seat stay cap starting in 1988. I did not see that detail on previous year models.

I cannot say that's absolutely correct but I looked at a lot of online pictures and that appears the case.

I could be wrong. Please correct me if I am wrong about this observation.

What do I have?
 

First, I hope I am in the right place. If not, can you please direct me?
I recently acquired a bike abandoned in our neighborhood. I just CAN'T let a bike go to scrap.
Head badge has been removed and I find no other decals or markings anywhere on the bike. Couple different numbers stamped on the bottom bracket shell. Looks like "753244 and 6837 D". The 6837 D was stamped with enough force to flatten the area on the shell. It doesn't appear to have been repainted. I have never seen a "Titlist" front derailleur before with the Suntour rear unit. The rims are of different manufacture with one being from France and one from Italy. A Simano Dura-Ace crankset and Campi shifters along with various other components lead me to believe this bike may be "cobbled together". I'm hoping that someone will recognize the frame, most notably the lugs at the head tube and the chrome cap on the front fork. I have combed through dozens of images and have yet to find a bike with these lugs. Also note the engraving in the aluminum handlebar. I see Kabuki has a similar engraving on some of their bars but this is not a match. I'm hoping I have something that I can still get a head badge and possibly factory decals for. Thanks in advance for any help.
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...9c4b886bc3.jpg
I'm guessing July of 1975? Or 1985?
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...144d858e1d.jpg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...6c9734b5d9.jpg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...46e1de58e3.jpg
Notice large tooth-count gap from largest chainring to next largest.
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...007b587b3c.jpg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...3f832d7208.jpg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...5e091579d2.jpg
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...973943601e.jpg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...096b33aa6a.jpg
With only two font chain rings, I'm seeing a 10-speed bike.

This is from a 5 year old post # 199. It has been bothering me.

I had a 1994 Trek with a close serial number.

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...4281cb5624.jpg
Trek 970 serial number

I think that your frame was manufactured by Trek. It is similar to the 930 and 970 models but not identical.

Engraved on the bottom bracket along with serial number are: the model number, frame size and BI-0000 code.

On your bottom bracket the model number is 110, size 17.5, and no BI-000 code.

Trek never made a model 110 mountain bike to my knowledge. Trek put the the BI code on all the Trek branded frames that Trek manufactured during 1994 (and many other years).

I think this was a Trek manufactured frame but not intended to be sold as a Trek because the model number is odd and there is not a BI code.

This thread is the Asian Serial Number Guide.

Perhaps you should start a new thread for your queries about this bicycle.

I got a nonconforming serial
 

Tankara Highlander with a non-conforming serial #: ES418555 Guide for Takara is to look at Fuji and Kawamura:

Fuji
1980-1989: PMyxxxxx
S month doesn't fit, 4 year too early for MTB.

Kawamura
1975-1987: PYxxxxx, where P indicates the market (A = Australia, C = Canada, E = Europe, K = USA 1975-1984 and late 1980s non-ferrous frames, W = USA 1985-1987). Y designates year where E = 1975, F= 1976,.... J=1980, then A = 1981, B=1982, ... G= 1987. Easily confused with Katakura format.
E for Europe market, ok.
S for year (99?), too late for lugged mtb.

Maybe I'll get lucky and T-Mar will drop by with his insight. In the meantime any help appreciated. I'm working through any serials ending with a "yxxxxx" format. Checked all the "xxxxxx" ending entries and those didn't seem to match.

Edit: sticker on seat tube says "Made in Japan."

Edit#2 FOUND IT
S(1) (Japan): MSyxxxxx
Nov '84 manufactured, so '85 model year.


https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...d8f533d42f.jpg
Cereal
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...9071621d05.jpg
Takara Highlander, year unknown (assuming 80s ish)

Was redirected here from a Shogun thread. I have a mystery Japanese market bicycle that was imported to my country of residence. Looks very similar to the purple "Bruce Gordon Hikari" posted in this thread, although it has some slight differences on the frame. Same Tange 2 stickers. It's been repainted so make and model unknown. Also has a funny serial number.

Serial No: Y9F13 9. (Yes, there is a space between the 3 and 9)
700c Araya rims
Nitto stem
Shimano 105 indexed groupset
Selle San Marco Laser saddle
Shimano clip-in pedals
Tange 2 tubing

It's a 1989 something. Tange sticker, components, and serial number indicate so.

Need a few more posts before I can add photos.

https://www.bikeforums.net/g/picture/36545297
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...ca3432bc49.jpg

Rest assured it's not a Bruce Gordon Hikari. No cantis, totally different seat cluster, it's apples and oranges.

Your serial number matches this format:
YAMAGUCHI (Japan): YyMxxxx. To date there have 11 letter codes reported for the 3rd character (A through N, skipping D, I & J), so it is believed to be a month code. Of the 3 missing codes, D is probably the legitimate code.

I suspect the space is a really a lightly struck 1 that is obscured by the cable.

edit: Not that this frame looks like a Yamaguchi who was a builder for Cherubim & 3 Rensho before moving to the US in '87. But the serial format is the same.

curbtender Thank you for posting the picture.

MrGastrognome

Yes, it's definitely not. Only it was the first one I saw in the thread that was somewhat similar.

You're correct it is indeed a very lightly struck 1. That makes the serial number Y9F1319.

I've tried searching extensively on Yamaguchi and results are obscured by the famous framebuilder who moved to Colorado in 1987. I've also searched in Japanese via Japan to no avail. I would be delighted if it were one of his, but a few things don't match. It's seemingly a 1989 because of the serial number and it's likely a Japanese market bicycle. There's an anti-theft sticker that says "Sagami Saiku 1992" on the frame. The indexed 7 speed Shimano 105 groupset is also an indicator.

It has a unicrown fork and a "spool" chainstay bridge. The unicrown fork with the Tange 2 stickers is the main thing I haven't been able to match to any other picture. I've found a couple Shoguns that look nearly the same but without the unicrown fork. I've found a Panasonic 4000 with the unicrown fork not the semi circle tube that attaches behind the seat.

I've uploaded a few other unique identifiers in the gallery.

Got a new name? Looks like a Fuji headbadge.

There's a limit to the number of posts in 24 hours.

It's some generic sticker the reseller put on after painting it.

The sooner I find out what it is the sooner I can restore or upgrade it.

The serial number is from OJI Bicycle manufactuing in Japan.

More information in this link

OJI Bicycle manufacturing

Excellent, thank you.

If I'm understanding things correctly that would mean its the end of the line in my search and this bicycle could be a number of different brands. I had planned on a repaint and replacement decals since it seems to be of decent quality, but I suppose it's a custom now.

The frame was manufactured in 1989 by Yamaguchi Sports frames Sakai Japan.

Yamaguchi Sports frames

Hey guys sorry for double posting but this thread seems appropriate for my 3rensho question. I recently got my hands on a 3rensho super record export. I contacted Andy at yellow jersey and asked if he could identify when the bike was made. Based on the Serial number he said it predates him importing my particular bike. The serial number is 545 031. If anybody has any info I would greatly appreciate it
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...58bb48f41c.jpg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...7c326ab31d.jpg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...d0440f25df.jpg

Bianchi Limited (yeah, that old Italian bike company).
Made in Japan.
1986 Shimano date codes on 600 Tri Color components.
LS787723
So a 1987 model year in "Metalic" with Celeste decals and trim.
Ride quality is okay. Needs a full overhaul. Very rusty frame, like it was on an indoor trainer for years.


https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...b81a491d4.jpeg
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...02e1443d56.jpg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...8dd388aada.jpg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...4783914c33.jpg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...f9b9e5f36d.jpg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...df6456ac88.jpg
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...ab065179ad.jpg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...4627b77715.jpg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...21b65362ec.jpg

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...9e64e3d468.jpg

1987 Bianchi Legend catalog pages
 

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...280addc410.jpg
1987 Bianchi Catalog pages