Oceanother
Retro Newbie
Hi, could you help me identify the serial number of my 1995 Redwoods ?
FB5FS0086
I'm not sure about the size of it.
FB5FS0086
I'm not sure about the size of it.
Help with Marin frame numbers please!
- Thread starter Benandemu
- Start date
Oceanother
Retro Newbie
Oceanother
Retro Newbie
I finally managed to measure the top tube with accuracy. It is a 20,5.
integerspin
Senior Retro Guru
If it's a steel framed mountain bike the headstock length is a reasnoable way of identifying frame sizes, well I had no trouble telling the sizes apart from pictures that included the headstock. I never had an ali frame so no need to look at them, I am sure there is some similar give away.
I think I took a picture of two teams of 18" and 19". Was it 18"? I sold my last Marin about five years ago[the one on the right]. So from the filename I am guessing the size I like is a 17"- left hand side of photo- and the bike on the right is a 19".
Marin measure their bikes c to c...NOT c to t on the seat tubes . So on 26" steel (important as it won't be the same on 700c or alluminium) the c to t is about 1" longer than the catalogue size.
So c to c catalogue sizes are....
20.5" is Xl with 180mm headtube
19" L with 150mm headtube
17.5" M with 130mm headtube.
15" S...heads vary a touch here as they changed them a bit to make the OS tubing work, but around 110mm
Works on most from 88 to about 95 ish when they made changes to fit suspension forks either as standard or as a cost option.
So c to c catalogue sizes are....
20.5" is Xl with 180mm headtube
19" L with 150mm headtube
17.5" M with 130mm headtube.
15" S...heads vary a touch here as they changed them a bit to make the OS tubing work, but around 110mm
Works on most from 88 to about 95 ish when they made changes to fit suspension forks either as standard or as a cost option.
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Cheers. 
I joined this site because of this fantastic thread. I appreaciate the steel frame serial number tutelage, but I have one of my own up for peer review.
I have a vintage Marin Bolinas Ridge Ovation (4130 Chromo) with the following:
F019BSD097
The extra digits early on are confusing as there are typically only three.
F019 tells me (guessing):
F == Fairly
01 == "bolinas ridge ovation"
9 == 1999
BSD
The D sizing notes that center to center my bike should be 19". Measured center (BB) to center (TT) it is precisely 19"; the standover is 30.9" both putting the "catalogue" frame size at 17.5" (Medium). This makes sense as that year they offered three smaller sizes, two larger, and a ladies 17.5"
Peer review?
I joined this site because of this fantastic thread. I appreaciate the steel frame serial number tutelage, but I have one of my own up for peer review.
I have a vintage Marin Bolinas Ridge Ovation (4130 Chromo) with the following:
F019BSD097
The extra digits early on are confusing as there are typically only three.
F019 tells me (guessing):
F == Fairly
01 == "bolinas ridge ovation"
9 == 1999
BSD
The D sizing notes that center to center my bike should be 19". Measured center (BB) to center (TT) it is precisely 19"; the standover is 30.9" both putting the "catalogue" frame size at 17.5" (Medium). This makes sense as that year they offered three smaller sizes, two larger, and a ladies 17.5"
Peer review?
