Help identifying an unmarked titanium bicycle
#1
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Help identifying an unmarked titanium bicycle
Hi,
I'm trying to identify a titanium frame that has no decals or marks. The serial number is G45118 and it has Shimano Sora components as well as a Look carbon fork. I've attached a photo as well. Thanks for your help.
I'm trying to identify a titanium frame that has no decals or marks. The serial number is G45118 and it has Shimano Sora components as well as a Look carbon fork. I've attached a photo as well. Thanks for your help.
#2
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From: Amsterdam
Bikes: 1980 Koga-Miyata Gentsluxe-S, 1998 Eddy Merckx Corsa 01, 1983 Tommasini Racing, 2012 Gulf Western CAAD10, 1980 Univega Gran Premio
How did you determine it was titanium? Is the entire bike painted, or are any parts of the frame exposed? Seems odd to me to have a titanium frame, which is usually very high end, with Sora groupset.
Edit: close up photos of the welds might help. Also a photo of the serial numbers might give a clue.
Edit: close up photos of the welds might help. Also a photo of the serial numbers might give a clue.
Last edited by Kevindale; 06-07-17 at 08:21 AM.
#4
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The bike doesn't seem to be painted, I'm just saying titanium because that's what I was told. Could be wrong, but it seems to be the case. Here's a photo of the serial number. I'd send more pics, but it's a bike I'm trying to buy and trying to figure as much out about it as possible.
#6
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#7
The bike doesn't seem to be painted, I'm just saying titanium because that's what I was told. Could be wrong, but it seems to be the case. Here's a photo of the serial number. I'd send more pics, but it's a bike I'm trying to buy and trying to figure as much out about it as possible.
#8
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From: Houston, TX
Bikes: 1990 Romic Reynolds 531 custom build, Merlin Works CR Ti custom build, super light Workswell 066 custom build
Why do you keep telling and showing us the serial number as if that identifies the maker. A picture of the head badge would be much more informative.
#9
Maybe it's the light or the photo, but that just looks like a grey bicycle to me. Titanium has more luster than what it appear that bicycle has.
As someone else mentioned, let's see the head badge and welds.
As someone else mentioned, let's see the head badge and welds.
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#10
It's logical to conclude that he's not in possession of the actual bicycle, and the photos we're looking at are the only ones he has.
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#11
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From: Above ground, Walnut Creek, Ca
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it's probably ti. i had a custom one make years ago. they gave me three finish options: polished, brushed or bead blasted. that one, like mine, looks to be bead blasted. sort of a non-descript dull grey. after 22 years and a yearly 2 minute wipe-down, it still looks the same.
#12
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Also... are those real downtube shifter bosses? Don't see those on Ti very often.
#13
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#17
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Bikes: 1990 Romic Reynolds 531 custom build, Merlin Works CR Ti custom build, super light Workswell 066 custom build
#18
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#19
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With the exception of the fork, it looks like my first and last titanium bike that I got new in the early 90's. It was manufactured by Sandvik and sold through Fuji. It had a bare brushed finish, drop tube bosses and 1" tubes. Fuji slapped some absolutely horrendous peel and stick decals on it, that I promptly removed. Other than a stamped SS# on the bottom side of the BB, it had no markings. I bought it as a bare frame and built it up. IIRC this was a common manufacturing arrangement BITD. If yours comes from that era, other than deciphering the SS# I doubt if you'll be able to figure out brand or model. Don't worry about its pedigree, just ride it. Mine had a nice plush ride, although the BB was a little noodly.
#20
Maybe it was recently spray painted grey.
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#21
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From: Mountain View, CA USA and Golden, CO USA
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In the 1990s lots of less expensive (< $1000, like the Litespeed Natchez) titanium frames came with that finish.
It does look painted - the down tube doesn't match the bottom bracket in the second photo.
Last edited by Drew Eckhardt; 06-15-17 at 04:35 PM.
#22
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From: Mountain View, CA USA and Golden, CO USA
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#23
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From: Mountain View, CA USA and Golden, CO USA
Bikes: 97 Litespeed, 50-39-30x13-26 10 cogs, Campagnolo Ultrashift, retroreflective rims on SON28/PowerTap hubs
Litespeeds came that way in the 1990s. My 1997 Natchez has down-tube bosses, just like other Litespeed frames of its time.
Last edited by Drew Eckhardt; 06-15-17 at 04:34 PM.
#24
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#25
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Stamped means metal is displaced as the indents form the number. You can see in that photo - metal was displaced. That proves nothing, but as pointed out, I normally see Ti cut/or engraved or etched - not stamped.
Being a Look - maybe production was high enough they stamped.






