Help me identify my newest retro Orange purchase!

[Grant]

A mate brought this round today, and somehow I have managed to buy it!

It's an Orange Aluminium of some kind, but what exact model/year I don't know and I'm sure one of you lot will

(excuse the crap pics, not a very wide kitchen!)

its got xtr canti's, levers, shifters and mech's but not crankset unfortunately and original (I assume) hot rod bars as well!

I have the frame number if it helps?

 

[orangeally]

Judging by the squared rear end,i'd say its an 'O' with the wrong decals on it,those decals are much newer bikes,and for Clockworks unless im mistaken?is it 1.25'' h/set?

 

[Grant]

Judging by the squared rear end,i'd say its an 'O' with the wrong decals on it,those decals are much newer bikes,and for Clockworks unless im mistaken?is it 1.25'' h/set?

Thanks for the reply. I guessed at an 'O' given the square rear end as well.

The headset is deffo bigger than 1", but currently in bed with lappy so not venturing down to the kitchen until the morning! Will give it a proper measure then.

Any idea of production dates of the 'O'?

 

[Grant]

looking through the readers mtbs on here spotted this :

looking closely the 'aluminium o' decal on the top tube of the black bike has been put on the seat stay of my bike and then smashed to bits (not too clear in my crapy pictures), couldn't work out what it said until I've just seen that

 

[FluffyChicken]

Post the serial number.

There's not many years to choose from though.

 

[Anthony]

This was sold on eBay recently, looks quite similar

 

[boy"O"boy]

That's definately an Aluminium "O"

Looks like a 17" frame and has the later top tube mounted cables. Colour doesn't look like the original grey like in anthony's pic - was also offered as Orange/white fade initially, then black / purple anodised later. Here's mine -
http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/viewto ... c&start=15

I'd say later '91 but your frame Number would verify this

Should be something like -

A1 01 0001

The A1 = 1991
The next 2 digits = month of manufacture
The next 4 digits = number built.

Hope this helps!

Cheers,
boy"O"boy

 

[Grant]

its A1086766

so Aug '91?

It needs stripping back and re-painting any way as its covered in chips. Someone has also forced in an 8 speed rear cassette which had made the chain drag on the chainstay

Nice little spring project anyway!

Thanks for all of your help guys!

 

[FluffyChicken]

its A1086766

so Aug '91?

It needs stripping back and re-painting any way as its covered in chips. Someone has also forced in an 8 speed rear cassette which had made the chain drag on the chainstay

Nice little spring project anyway!

Thanks for all of your help guys!

It not the 8 speed cassette what caused the chain drag, since M900 XTR is 8 speed), it is the move to a compact drive front (the modern deore chainset) and then not removing enough links. given it's using a power link (so also a new chain ?) that should be easy to fix by removing a few links.

See if your mate still has any of the old parts lying around that have been replaced

 

[Pickle]

Last to the party, but yes thats an Aluminium O.

Its got the same back end, drop outs etc as the purple one I'm baby sitting in my shed