Ancient Mariner

The question is a little more involved than that. I can't find the serial number on it. It does not appear to be on the bottom bracket; I even took off the little plastic cable guide doohickey to see if it was under that.

I'm thinking of selling it to make room for something (anything) else, and I'm trying to determine what it might be worth, but without knowing the exact year it was built, I can only get close. 1991 sounds about right, but I simply don't remember.

The bike is in really good condition. It was ridden very little. It was too small for my brother-in-law, and I never got the off-road bug. There are very few scrapes, and almost everything is original except the tires (which were grey when it was new), and the grips (also grey when new). Components are Deore LX





As always, thanks ahead of time for any information you can provide.

Bill Kapaun

Use the date codes off the Shimano bits.
It'll be 2 letters.
You can usually see it on the inside of the FDER

You might also click this link and see if one of the years matches the gruppo

https://www.bikepedia.com/QuickBike/B...e#.USwVkVdULMU

ftwelder

I remember when those came out. 2% silicon carbide aluminum matrix tubing. That was some stiff material.

Kos

Looks like it could be a 1993 or a 1994.

oldskoolwrench

The color is the kicker; if it's 8 speed LX (M563-565) I would say '95 or '96, if memory serves. Parallax hubs, or standard? (OS hub shell vs standard 'road' size shell)

frantik

does "Parallax" mean anything?

seely

Looks like a 1 1/8" threadless setup, which Specialized started using in '94-ish as I recall.

Bill Kapaun

Cheap?

Ancient Mariner

I'll ignore the comment about my cheap hubs. I think I've solved the mystery somewhat. I needed good light to find it, but the serial number is stamped on the inside of the left rear dropout. It's in the format 94-XXXXX. I assume the 94 denotes the year of production, and the general opinions you've given me seem to confirm that. That's what I'll go with.

Thanks, everyone. I love this place.

Cynikal 

They are great frames. I have a 97 and a 98. I would say that 94 sounds about right by looking at it.

Bone Machine

The 94 catalogue says it came in black or team red. https://www.retrobike.co.uk/gallery2/...kes94_Mini.pdf

Clavace 

[QUOTE=Ancient Mariner;15316680]The question is a little more involved than that. I can't find the serial number on it. It does not appear to be on the bottom bracket; I even took off the little plastic cable guide doohickey to see if it was under that.

I have a 1994 Specialized S-Works M2 that I am also thinking of selling and had the hardest time finding the ser#. Specialized did not even know where to look. I found it stamped on the inside triangle holding the rear wheel on the side opposite the gears. The first two digits on my ser# are the year of manufacture. I was also able to date it by the fork and componants.

twinTI

It kind of looks like cantilever brakes on there. Also I think the fork is a replacement. By 1994 I think all Stumpjumpers had suspension forks.

rebel1916

Could that stem possibly be stock? It looks to be 200mm.

twinTI

There seems to be alot of things that are not stock on this bike. Stem, Fork?, Brakes, Pedals, cranks, Handlebars, and maybe wheels.

JJScaliger

I had a 95 matte red M2. I loved it. It was the first bike I had that I spent major cash on; $1000. I rode it all the time, everywhere. Very light stock but stiff!

CenturionIM

Need dating advice? Take her out for a nice dinner or two....or maybe a nice cleaning + grease. Go for ride. I am sure you will be fine.