'92 Mountain Cycle San Andreas resurrection

[foxb13]

How did I miss this one [1] as a reference?!?? Absolutely NOS! Or maybe the article was published long after I finished restoring the frame of mine. Anyway, according to Vojomag [2], it belongs from day one to Michel Forestier, a famous name in the (early) French MTB scene. By comparison with @Baulz San Andreas and mine, I think it sits in-between: early frame as @Baulz one (the water bottle cage mounts are located below the monocoque frame) but newer swingarm as mine (with rounded ends). I'm curious about its S/N to compare with @Baulz and my San Andreas. Maybe Génération Mountain Bike [3] and/or @24pouces have more info?

 

[24pouces]

Yes : on the link, it’s Fofo’s (aka Michel Forestier) bike. he owns that stunning NOS San Andreas and we (Génération Mountain Bike) have shown it in a vintage exhibition in the Forestière event last september.
(the article was written in November 2017 fotr Véli Tout Terrain)

 

[coyut]

Sadly S/N's were pretty random and don't follow a logic.
I got a 93 and a 94 SA plus a 93 main body.
I compared to other Serials. In 93 there were a lot of 5 digit serials, some 4 digirs, but in 94 they went back to 4 digits most of the time.

 

[DACO]

Sadly S/N's were pretty random and don't follow a logic.
I got a 93 and a 94 SA plus a 93 main body.
I compared to other Serials. In 93 there were a lot of 5 digit serials, some 4 digirs, but in 94 they went back to 4 digits most of the time.

Hi coyut,

Can you post some pics of your both SanAn..93 and 94, also the S/N? Because I just bought an early version of MC San Andreas and I'm trying to figure out what year it is. The seller claimed it was a 92 model but I quickly realized it wasn't! He said that he was in contact with Mike Bulen, who welded them, and even he confirmed to me that Mike Bulen thinks it is really a 92. Of course, there's a chance Mike doesn't remember all the frames he welded nearly thirty years ago. On the MC facebook group, a guy with a lot of knowledge and I found out that it is most likely a 94. Because the 92 and 93 had hexagonal cable stops, but mine has oval ones. Also find that some 94 have both, hexagonal and round cable stops. Maybe they replace the hexagonal in middle of the 94 models production. But we were confused by the 4 digit serial number which indicated that it was seriously possible an earlier model as mine has S/N 1379. But now I found this thread where you mention that they reintroduced the 4 digit frame numbering in 94 . It's build with the Suspenders system 3 fork which also hints on 94 model. Originally on the frame was After Shock with elastomers and was replaced with the Noleen shock, ...that what he claims.

The last two pics are from 92 bike just to show the hexagonal cable stops.

Thanks.

 

[coyut]

Hi Daco

I'm the guy from the MC FB page
As we discussed on FB. I'm pretty sure yours is a 94 as 93 still had hexagonal cable stops which were changed to round ones in 95 and maybe a little earlier in 94. Suspenders System 3 was released in 94 as well.
Here are the pics of my 93 main body once again. As we discussed it has a 5 digit sn.
Many people have tried to find a logic in SA sn's. But there is no real system behind them.

 

[DACO]

Hi bud, nice to find you also here on RB .
in the last few days I have done so much research that I have filled myself with knowledge and information about SanAn.
I just haven't figured something out yet, and maybe you'll know. When did they change the upper clamping part of the seat tower? If I've noticed correctly, some 94 models have a round tube at the end, and some have a welded mount. See first and seccond picture.

I have to correct you about the design of the stickers, because the year 94 is in the third picture. I dare to say this because I also found the information in the MB Action magazine dated November 1993. It is a small advertisement inviting customers to inquire about the new R-series from 1994 and the picture shows the second series of decals graphics. This means that the guy selling stickers on ebay made a mistake. In all other MB Action magazines from 1993, they offer two versions, Team Elite (disc only) and Team (cantilever)...see fourth and fifth pictures. This also confirms the claims of user "13" who said this. I quote it below. In this case the question is why yours have that decals?
It would be nice if anyone from Mountain Cycle explain about the cable stops....when they start to replace them. It looks like in middle of the 94 production because I found 94 frames with round and also hexagonal cable stops.
I also want to see S/N from 95 models if anyone have any?

He said...

" There were subtle changes over the years that will help identify the year model but the basic layout was
92 - 1 frame kit - frame, suspenders, hubs, prostops
93 - 2 frame kits - "team elite" same as above (Paul smith version) - "team" frame only with canti bosses
94 - the "R series" with new style decals, lighter frame. Available in white or brushed finish. "R8.0" frame only. "R8.2" frame, onza mogo, mag 21. "R8.4" frame, suspenders, front prostop, matching ano seat tower. "R8.6" frame, suspenders, prostops f&r, matching ano seat tower.
95 - "R series" new decals (the more common big box style decals with San Andreas on the swingarm) Noleen rear shocks, suspenders discontinued, available in 3 models 8.0 frame only. 8.4 frame, manitou 4 with prostop. 8.6 manitou, prostop f&r.
96 - "R series" new monocoque seat tower. "

 

[foxb13]

@DACO @coyut Nice to have you onboard with information previously unknown to me, such as different subframe clamping mechanism and round/hexagonal cable stops.

 

[DACO]

@DACO @coyut Nice to have you onboard with information previously unknown to me, such as different subframe clamping mechanism and round/hexagonal cable stops.

After a week of research and googling, we put a lot together. Also, thanks to your post and some of the others I've read. Also thanks to "coyut" who is full of information. He is the one who mentioned to me about the hexagonal cable stops and many other infos.
Also, the claims from member "13" that I quoted are very important, because until I read this, I also misunderstood which stickers were which year. I thought the 94 stickers were 93. So I went looking through the 92 and 93 catalogs and can confirm the statement from the member "13" I quoted.

Best regards.

 

[MuchAlohaNui]

Holy shoooooot, this San Andreas is so sweet. A dream bike on the 'want to have some day' list. I hope you ride the piss out of it. Now that your CQP crank set is collecting dust, sell it to me.

 

[foxb13]

Holy shoooooot, this San Andreas is so sweet. A dream bike on the 'want to have some day' list. I hope you ride the piss out of it. Now that your CQP crank set is collecting dust, sell it to me.

Ha, ha, thanks for the kind words @MuchAlohaNui ! Sorry, the CQP crankset is ready for another build.