I also found that original thread some time back and re-visited a few weeks back.Kudos for adding to it
.I'm sure it can be a bit mind boggling.I've a feeling that there are going to be some patterns,but a lot of exceptions.A complete,definitive guide may be a mythical beast.Just checked the '94,'95 and '96 IFT frames I have;
'94 - FJ4 CA0063 2 zeros,not an 'o'.
'95 - FK5 BAD033
'96 - FK6 IAD127 That's an 'i' after the 6.
All 19" so unless they changed the letter designation for sizing in '95,A is the only letter that links them.Seems they added a letter anyway.
Same with model.Safe to assume they're all Fairly made bikes,correct years,the '95 and '96 show similarities,but no model numbers.
I don't unfortunately have the frame number from my original '94 FT,foolishly chucked out all the original receipt/manuals etc a few years before I joined here
.But I bought it new in June '94,came with a '95 box-stay frame,everything else was '94 spec.Guess they sold a few more '94's than expected,to run out that early.
Can't remember the other thread I spotted recently,was regarding frame numbers for another manufacturer,Ti frames from memory.It seemed that at that factory,new sequences were just 'made up' for some runs,following no pattern whatsoever.Verified by one of the employees who was there.
I guess,from their point of view,as long as each has a unique number,and is recorded,that's all they need.
Wonder if the extra 'D' is associated with the box-stays?