Help please - Steel GT serial numbers

[pilule911]

Good day eveyone,

I would like some help identifiying this GT frame I just bought. The groupset seems to be Shimano Exage 300LX, U Brake in the back, canti lever in the front and Kalin seat post which I am not sure is original or not. From what I can make of it, the serial number on the bottom bracket shell reads TM 8904 8906 but I am not sure, you can look for youself on the pictures. It was respayed by a previous owner thus me not knowing what it is. The paint has chipped and you can see a white/cream color underneath. I believe this frame to be a 1989-1990 GT Timberline but your opinion would be greatly appreciated

 

[senorroboto]

Good day eveyone,

I would like some help identifiying this GT frame I just bought. The groupset seems to be Shimano Exage 300LX, U Brake in the back, canti lever in the front and Kalin seat post which I am not sure is original or not. From what I can make of it, the serial number on the bottom bracket shell reads TM 8904 8906 but I am not sure, you can look for youself on the pictures. It was respayed by a previous owner thus me not knowing what it is. The paint has chipped and you can see a white/cream color underneath. I believe this frame to be a 1989-1990 GT Timberline but your opinion would be greatly appreciated

I think the 89 timberline has the rear brake by the bottom bracket and the 90 has it internally routed? 300LX makes me think 1991 Talera

 

[kingoffootball]

Good day eveyone,

I would like some help identifiying this GT frame I just bought. The groupset seems to be Shimano Exage 300LX, U Brake in the back, canti lever in the front and Kalin seat post which I am not sure is original or not. From what I can make of it, the serial number on the bottom bracket shell reads TM 8904 8906 but I am not sure, you can look for youself on the pictures. It was respayed by a previous owner thus me not knowing what it is. The paint has chipped and you can see a white/cream color underneath. I believe this frame to be a 1989-1990 GT Timberline but your opinion would be greatly appreciated

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Thank you for sharing this, 1989 probably saw the most change, so it is helpful to have more numbers from that year.

I think there is a "T" before the numbers on the left, so I would record it as T8904 TM 8906. I think it's probably an '89 Timberline, as you say. One interesting point is that the ubrake is on the seat stay, whereas a suspected '89 timberline made 3 months earlier which came up had a chainstay ubrake:

https://www.retrobike.co.uk/threads/help-identify-pre-90s-gt-frame-mid-90s-gt-frame.483707/

However, I would still think it is an '89 rather than a '90 because it has the TM model code, before they switched to numerical model codes for 1990, and top routed but not internal rear brake cable.

 

[senorroboto]

One interesting point is that the ubrake is on the seat stay, whereas a suspect '89 timberline made 3 months earlier which came up had a chainstay ubrake:

Interesting point, now that I look at the old magazine page from '89 with the Karakoram, Outpost, and Avalanche on it https://mbaction.com/throwback-thursday-the-bikes-of-1989/ I wonder if any of the '89 models have the chainstay ubrake after all.

 

[senorroboto]

Here's a 1991 Timberline 22" in Blue Fission. Serial T910 A6 0407? Tange PG MTB sticker despite the catalog having it as Ishiwata. Previous owner was original buyer. Cleaning in progress

 

[PhillB]

Interesting point, now that I look at the old magazine page from '89 with the Karakoram, Outpost, and Avalanche on it https://mbaction.com/throwback-thursday-the-bikes-of-1989/ I wonder if any of the '89 models have the chainstay ubrake after all.

I have an 89 Timberline with a Chainstay U-brake

 

[kingoffootball]

Here's a 1991 Timberline 22" in Blue Fission. Serial T910 A6 0407? Tange PG MTB sticker despite the catalog having it as Ishiwata. Previous owner was original buyer. Cleaning in progress

View attachment 920428

Thank you, I didn't have one of these recorded. I think there will be one more number after T910 (which will give the month of production). Looks like there may be a 1 there.
The Tange sticker is interesting. There does seem to be occasional in year changes in tubing for this year.

 

[senorroboto]

Thank you, I didn't have one of these recorded. I think there will be one more number after T910 (which will give the month of production). Looks like there may be a 1 there.
The Tange sticker is interesting. There does seem to be occasional in year changes in tubing for this year.

Yeah seemed like a missing month number. I think after cleaning some more I can make it out, it's been welded over but you can just see the upper left part of a "4"

 

[kingoffootball]

Yeah seemed like a missing month number. I think after cleaning some more I can make it out, it's been welded over but you can just see the upper left part of a "4"

View attachment 920703

Thank you, I'll record it as a 4 then.