Name that bike, 5500, Oz, 959

[craiga]

http://idriders.com/proflex/smf/index.php?topic=2229.540

I went & picked the bike up & it's probably the sweetest ride of all my bikes. Long round trip, but after all the talk of stolen bikes I wanted to see where the seller lived.

Needs a bit of fettling, but real quality parts on it - Rock Shox SID Hydra Air XC, Fox Float RP23, Full XTR, Magura Louise discs, Hope hubs, Mavic 717 rims.

The nearest I've come to full suspension is my XP-X, so this is very different & a much more comfortable riding position for me.

It just needs an identity - so what's it to be - 5500, 959 or Oz.

Your recommendations are much appreciated.

Thanks,
Craig

[Colin]

As far as I am aware it's impossible to tell once the decals have been removed.

It doesn't matter, you've picked up a cracker!

Come up with a personal name for it..................<GRIN>

Did the seller have any history on it? did they do the Brake and shock mods? if not who?

Well done
Col.

[Spokes]

If carbon frames have serial numbers would it be possible to date them using this number?
Ive been looking on my OZx for a number and at first couldnt find one, but I've just found one.
Its etched on the inside of the r/h/s rear shock top mount plate. The number is 1350.
This could mean mine was the 1350  frame made.?
 Does any one know how many of each model were made?   If your frame number is close to 1350 then it could be an OZx or OZm. If the number is a lot lower then it could be a 4500 or 5500.
Just a thought.

Chris

[shovelon]

I think the frames are all the same over 3 years, except for there were med and large.

Only the models and decals were different on the last year. So 1350 is close to the end as the Oz series was 1999 and  the last year. 

Terry

[craiga]

That's a good spot - I'd need to take the rear shock off & have a good clean in there to find it - I presume the numbers are small and not obvious.

Anyway I quite like the 959 decals

http://www.idriders.com/proflex/coppermine/displayimage.php?pid=61&fullsize=1

I think they'd look great

[Spokes]

The numbers are about 4-5 mm tall and lightly hand engraved. That part of the frame doesnt really get touched much so hopefully they should be there on yours. At least you might be able to get a rough idea how old your frame is 
I didnt know they made 1999 so thats cool ive aged mine. 

Chris

[Old Proflexer]

one way to tell on the difference - look between the two side carbon upper rear shock mount plates - on one side or the other, see if there is a number scratched in there - use a flashlight.  if you have a number (i.e. 0145) - probably a 4500.

they're basically all the same tho' - as i recall, they made them in two or three runs.  the later runs had a better, glossier finish than the early 98 OMNI stickered models.  i had three frames at one time, two 98's and a 99 - the 99 looked a lot nicer for quite a while but now the remaining 98 and 99 both look the same - pretty beat up.

OP

[Colin]

As far as I am aware it's impossible to tell once the decals have been removed.

Col.

You learn something new every day.!.................<SMILE>

Ah Hah! I've found my serial numbers!
but..........................it's not much clearer...................

removing the shock, I found 3 groups of numbers on the Right Hand shock mounting plate.

OzX:                242-18   224   0001   (all numbers die stamped into the plate)

OzM:               242-16   292   0114   (all numbers die stamped into the plate)

Blank Frame:    "352" on one plate, "1901" on the other, (both hand engraved and not very clear.)

Out of interest, the serial numbers on the swingarms are:

OzX:  090716

OzM: 108695

Blank Frame: 100578

and my 4000se  swing arm is: 092082

so, Q's..............

  Do I own OzX "Number One" ??

  Is my OzM number 0114 of 1999 even though it is one of the last built ?? (because of latest equipment spec)

  What do the 3 groups of numbers mean?

  Do the hand engraved numbers on the blank frame mean it is an "x500" ??

The swingarms seem to be in the rough sequential order that I would expect for my belief in how old the bikes are...............also the difference between the lowest and highest serial numbers implies that at least 17979 were made............

All food for thought..................


Col.

[craiga]

I think that the more numbers we were to collate, the clearer the picture could be, eg 18 & 16 could refer to size, 16 & 18 inch if the frames were measured differently from normal, or could refer to 1996 & 1998.

They will mean something & it will become more obvious as we get more serial numbers.

And YES, I think that is probably bike number 1!

[orange]

also the difference between the lowest and highest serial numbers implies that at least 17979 were made............

would that many have been made?

[craiga]

also the difference between the lowest and highest serial numbers implies that at least 17979 were

The 224 & 292 could be model designations or something & not part of the serial no. If the last 4 digits are the number then less than 10,000 were made.