Author Topic: OZ/x500 Carbon Bike serial Numbers (Read 4482 times)

Colin · « **on:** May 19, 2009, 07:34:10 am »

Continuing from another thread that started this discussion, I thought I'd start a new thread purely about this.
The aim is to gather Carbon Bike Frame serial numbers to try to establish any pattern to the numbers, maybe with a view to being able to age bike frames.
So, only 4500's, 5500's, OzX's and OzM's please (plus any unmarked frames and "959" wannabees!)

The serial number is on the inside of the shock mounting side plates, it's best to remove the shock for a good look.

Usually on the RHS plate (from above and forwards on the bike.)

It may be die stamped or hand engraved (in which case there may be numbers on both plates)

Col.

Colin · « **Reply #1 on:** May 19, 2009, 07:35:38 am »

I'll start things off with mine:

Large OzX: 242-18 224 0001 (all numbers die stamped into the RHS plate) Swingarm: 090716

Medium OzM: 242-16 292 0114 (all numbers die stamped into the RHS plate) Swingarm: 108695

Large Blank Frame: "352" on one plate, "1901" on the other, (both hand engraved and not very clear.) Swingarm: 100578

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

Do I own Oz "Number One" ??

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

What do the 3 groups of numbers mean?
242 = Model, i.e. the Carbon Frame part number.
16 and 18 are sizes Medium and Large

Unknown what the middle number means (224, 292) anyone got the same?

Why does the blank frame have hand engraved numbers on it? Is it an "x500" ??

Col.

craiga · « **Reply #2 on:** May 19, 2009, 08:59:46 am »

Serial Numbers 001, Yes Number1, 0114, 1901

Model Number 224, 292, 352

OR 242-18, 242-16 Could be model & variant ie 242= Oz, 18=X, 16=M
Having said that 242-18 & 16 Could be date, operator or something else.

I'll post mine later, struggling to get them.
Craig

craiga · « **Reply #3 on:** May 19, 2009, 01:04:09 pm »

http://idriders.com/proflex/smf/index.php?topic=2516.0

May have some relevance

craiga · « **Reply #4 on:** May 19, 2009, 02:05:02 pm »

Rear shock off, good clean, upside down on kitchen table, torch in & Nothing!

However underneath swing arm white sticker with red letters 100353 - Under laquer.

Next to it big sticker with:

Omnium Cycle Works

OM-97-09619

Now Omnium did assembly work for Proflex /K2. If the serial number is inside the shock mount plate, sometimes stamped, sometimes hand done, then maybe Omnium did a more professional job & put it on a readable sticker.

Mine is a high gloss with XTR so maybe a 5500? The swing arm no. puts it between your 2 Oz's Colin.

OM 97 -Does that mean 97?

I also suspect that mine has spent time overseas. There is a sticker on the back of the fromt SID fork with a Spanish sounding bike shop, like a service sticker & the brakes are reversed, American style, front on left.

More questions than answers

Spokes · « **Reply #5 on:** May 19, 2009, 03:12:07 pm »

I have a Medium OZX serial no. 1350 - hand engraved on R/H/S shock plate.
There is a mark where the swing arm serial number should be but no sticker.

Willie_B · « **Reply #6 on:** May 20, 2009, 01:41:30 pm »

OzM frame 242-16 307 0253 swingarm 097193. Living in Georgia, USA.

craiga · « **Reply #7 on:** May 21, 2009, 12:17:36 am »

Quote from: Spokes on May 19, 2009, 03:12:07 pm

I have a Medium OZX serial no. 1350 - hand engraved on R/H/S shock plate.
There is a mark where the swing arm serial number should be but no sticker.

Anything else in there? 242-18?

Spokes · « **Reply #8 on:** May 27, 2009, 08:10:29 am »

No nothing? The left shock plate has nothing at all on it and the right has 1350.
Some one has removed the swing arm serial number sticker.

shovelon · « **Reply #9 on:** June 05, 2009, 06:07:37 pm »

Frame right side shock plate. 242-18 355 0335

Swingarm 091174

Mine is an OzM, Large.

So if I gather there were 3 series. 4500, 5500, Oz.
Since I remember that 4500 made it's debut in 1998, and 5500 would be 1999. Oz should be 2000?

Carbon_Angus · « **Reply #10 on:** June 07, 2009, 12:49:52 pm »

Terry me thinks the 5500 was the one with the high end parts vs the 4500....in 1998

i am always shifting my brain to remember this stuff. The OzM was available in 1999...in a few upgrade levels.

the frames were made in two runs near SLO or Santa Barbara (San Luis Obispo, CA) for those outside of California

it is still unknown how many were made from each run. there was a alot of dicussion about this on the old forum. Hammer may have it, or Old Proflexer

Colin · « **Reply #11 on:** June 11, 2009, 08:00:55 am »

I've just realised what part of the serial numbers on the frames means!

I was looking at the K2 Tech sheet for the 1999 Carbon Frame assembly
http://idriders.com/proflex/coppermine/albums/userpics/10284/99carbonframeassembly.pdf
and noticed that the part numbers for the frame are:

PART#       DESCRIPTION
16232-169M    99 FRONT TRIANGLE, OZ M MEDIUM
16232-189M    99 FRONT TRIANGLE, OZ M LARGE
16232-169X    99 FRONT TRIANGLE, OZ X MEDIUM
16232-189X    99 FRONT TRIANGLE, OZ X LARGE

i.e. 232-16 etc, which is very similar to the "242-16" and "242-18" on my Oz's, so I looked at the 1998 Carbon Frame assembly Tech sheet
http://idriders.com/proflex/coppermine/albums/userpics/10284/98carbonframeassembly.pdf
and lo and behold:

PART#      DESCRIPTION
15242-16-558    98 FRONT TRIANGLE, 5500 MEDIUM
15242-18-558    98 FRONT TRIANGLE, 5500 LARGE
15242-16-458    98 FRONT TRIANGLE, 4500 MEDIUM
15242-16-458    98 FRONT TRIANGLE, 4500 LARGE

So, despite my two being badged as Oz's, the frames have x500 serial numbers which supports the view that all of the frames were made in one or two batches at an early stage before they had thought of the "Oz" Name.
Also the -16 and -18 tie up with the sizes correctly.

This doesn't clear up the "scratched" serial number versions, i.e. my "352 1901" blank carbon frame.

Col.

orange · « **Reply #12 on:** June 11, 2009, 01:33:39 pm »

nice detective work

iliv2k2 · « **Reply #13 on:** June 13, 2009, 08:56:08 pm »

I don't see any numbers on mine either and my triagle only has a headseat attached right now so I can look at it at multiple angles. I have no idea what it is because I bought it on ebay and it has no decals other than Pro Active and Easton on the swing arm.

The swingarm is 092866.

Carbon_Angus · « **Reply #14 on:** July 14, 2009, 02:06:22 pm »

242-18 279 0069

swingarm 099111

BTW I found a bunch of PDF files i had burned on a disc, most are for the 857, noleen air-fork and carbon bikes. PM if you want anything specific

like specs from the OZ-M superlight, etc

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Author Topic: OZ/x500 Carbon Bike serial Numbers (Read 4482 times)