sam_shelton
Dirt Disciple
Just did some reading around the serial number. If I understand this correctly the F means it is the Fairly bike company and made in Taiwan. The 5 would indicate a 1995 date? The plot thickens!
Would that suggest that this is an early 1996 model welded in 1995 but using prestige tubing? Perhaps it was then also painted in 1995 colour but decals applied in 1996?Blimey, this is indeed curious. The frame was indeed welded at the Fairly Works in April 1995, which rules out it being sold in 1994. The 1995 Kilauea is also made from Tange Prestige Concept Tubing, and your frame's serial number is just about in keeping with production for that year - most but not all frames are welded up during the previous year from the Catalogue model.
The Kilauea in particular has thrown up a few anomalies in the past with regards to a colour that differs from the Catalogue listing, but I'll give this some more thought.
Pip