Having checked all the usual haunts (Sheldon Brown, Kurt Kaminer and a couple of others), I've drawn a blank in trying to decode the serial number of a vintage steel Raleigh R100.

The build is Shimano 105 1050/1051 series, which seems original and dates the bike at circa 1989. Despite the "Made in England" decals, it could be an Asian-made frame, and the standard N=Nottingham, W=Worksop... scheme doesn't extend to my serial number.

The confirmed serial number is YF98K00287, which I'd tentatively parse as follows;

- 'Y' or 'YF' may refer to the factory/location in which the frame was built
- 'F' could me a month code
- '9' may be 1989, or '98' could be (19)89 transposed
- 'K' could be a month/shift/batch code
- '00287' is likely to be the sequence number in the manufacturing batch/shift

TIA

Post up some pics of the bike.

I seem to recall that there are letter codes for Ireland, Netherlands, Canada, US and Japan. Pretty sure they are documented somewhere in either Kurt's or Sheldon's pages.

Pending pictures, I strongly suspect that this is a 1998-1999, contract manufactured Raleigh frame that has been built with parts from a donor bicycle. I admit, the country of origin decal does sound suspicious. The first thing that I would be doing is checking the construction. Lugged construction would be consistent with the Shimano New 105 era of 1987-1989 but by 1998-1999 it would almost certainly be lugless (i.e TIG welded or inexternal brazing). Also, measure the rear dropout spacing. 1987-1989 would be 7 speed (i.e. 126mm), while 1998-1999 would be 8 speed (i.e. 130 mm). The New 105 should be 7 speed, but it wouldn't surprise if the spacing is still for 8 speed and has not been cold set.

Regarding the serial number, YF is probably the manufacturer, 98 is probably the year, K is likely the month, and 00287 should be the frame number.

Thanks guys,

Since it was a craigslist find, I don't have the history of the bike. Not that I think it's anything special, I'm just trying to satisfy a curiosity.

The most comprehensive list I can find is the "1973-1982+ "Standardized" Serial System" on Kurt Kaminer's site at: Raleigh Serial Numbers & Charts, however, as I stated, it doesn't extend to "Y" prefixed frames.

Here's what the bike looks like;



This is not my bike (which is currently in pieces, but looks identical, except for the fact that mine has been "upgraded" to indexed bar-mounted brake-shifters), but one I found for sale on eBay last week - same color, same crankset etc. (the eBay seller claims this bike is original except for wheels and saddle, and probably the blue cables...).

...and the first-part of the serial number stamped under the BB shell (my frame);



...and the head-tube and a couple of frame-mounted decals (my frame);



There's also a "Raleigh England" decal further up the seat tube. The down tube features a large, yellow "Raleigh" logo decal and the top tube has a "R-100" (model) decal.

The bike is a 7-speed (consistent with the 105 1050/1051 Biopace groupset), but the rear dropout spacing is 130mm, so it would also take an 8/9/10-speed rear hub.

Lugless construction, fender eyelets. CrMo, plain gauge, main tubes. 130mm spacing. Everything is pointing towards a late 1990s, entry level frame. Personally, I don't see a lot of New 105 on it. The rear derailleur looks like an entry level model. The brakeset doesn't look like New 105 either. Given the probable November 1988 manufacturing date, it may have originally been equipped with something like Shimano RSX or RX100, which would have been 8 speed during this period.

Thanks for your informed response, T-Mar, your answers inspire confidence.

I assume you meant Nov 1998, and it makes sense, given the data points and your knowledge of frame construction over the last few decades.

Other than a previous owner sticking on Tourney 7-speed STI shifters, the components on my bike are 105 (#1050 derailleurs and #1051 cranks) with date codes from Mar-Dec 1988. The Biopace chainrings were replaced with standard Campagnolo rings.

My rear hub is also 8-speed, with a 7-speed cassette and spacer installed. It seems odd that someone installed 10+ year old parts on this bike , but not knowing the circumstances, I shouldn't judge.

I've not changed anything since I acquired the bike and never thought it was anything special, but I did find the components mix intriguing. I certainly shouldn't be calling this bike vintage and have no qualms about using it as a dedicated (indoor) trainer bike.

Yes, that was a typo and poor proofreading. 1998 would be correct.

Note that Wikipedia has helpful information regarding serial numbers, but apparently pertinent only for bike boom years into the late 80's.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raleig...Serial_Numbers