Help with Marin frame numbers please!

[Oceanother]

Hi, could you help me identify the serial number of my 1995 Redwoods ?
FB5FS0086
I'm not sure about the size of it.

 

[hamster]

Size: get a tape measure out and measure centre-centre. Probably what looks like an 0 when painted over is a C or D.

 

[Oceanother]

Size: get a tape measure out and measure centre-centre. Probably what looks like an 0 when painted over is a C or D.

https://ibb.co/HgpG9CXhttps://ibb.co/9crfNgD
I can hardly identify a D
Can you ?

 

[Tootyred]

If thats a 700c hybrid, it probably wont be the same as for the steel
mountain bike range.

 

[shedobits]

Have you tried "painting" the Serial Number with Tipex it works treat, (if you can till get it).

 

[Oceanother]

I finally managed to measure the top tube with accuracy. It is a 20,5.

 

[integerspin]

https://ibb.co/HgpG9CXhttps://ibb.co/9crfNgD
I can hardly identify a D
Can you ?

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".

 

[Tootyred]

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.

 

[Caecias]

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?

 

[WilcoG]

Quick question about Marin serial numbers on this great thread!
My four corners serial number is 111631922 no letters at all, would this be a European number?
Many thanks