![]() Lower build order numbers tend to have beenīuilt earlier. The serial number can also be used to estimate age. If components are original to the bike, the manufacture date codesĬan be used to fairly accurately estimate the date that the bike was assembled. Some later Utlras omit the size (first digit)Įstimating the year a frame was made can be a bit more difficult. Painted in camo paint with black componentsġ990s frame that sometimes follows this schemeĪlthough TIG welded, some frames follow this scheme TIG welded although the serial number looks like this scheme the first digit does not conform to the frame size ** For build order, in this example, this is the 227th 21 inch "B" frame built. The final digit of the size in inches (measured center to top) is represented. * Frame sizes ranged from 16 to 25 inches. Where N=number and L=letter, and the trailing numbers can be 1 to 3 digits Size * The fillet brazed scheme, and these frames are likely US-made (but presumably not by Tom Ritchey) these were likelyīuilt in-house due to either quality or supply issues with the imported frames. TIG welded frames were imported from Japan and follow a different scheme. The serial numbers of this era fall into one of two schemes based on the construction method:įillet brazed frames were built in California by Tom Ritchey and follow one scheme. I'll start off with the easy to follow numbers Serial numbers are useful for identifying most Ritchey frames, particularly for those made from 1983 to about 1990.īefore and after these years, the serial numbers are less consistent. Make sure your bike has seat stays that attach behind the seat post and have a bolt passing through them to secure the However, if your bike does not have the stays attached in this manner it is likely There are a few exceptions: the Soft Tail and "Beam" bikes do "fastback style" stay attachments (see the picture to the right). The best indicator of a Ritchey frame are how the seat stays attach to the seat tube. Just becauseĪ bike is built with Ritchey componenents, or has "Ritchey" stamped into the dropout, it is not necessarily a Ritchey. Throughout the 1990s Ritchey sold frame parts:įorks, dropouts, and tube sets and components: stems, headsets, cranks, pedals, rims, etc. The first task is to determine is your bike actually a Ritchey. Help anyone determine what model they own. Once you've looked at enough of them, in most cases, determining the model is pretty easy. Many Ritchey frame didn't come with the model name decals on the bike, which can make identifying them difficult. ![]()
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