Klein experts! I need (old) Klein serial number/dating help

[yo-Nate-y]

Hi!

I've got a Mountain Klein in fantastic shape and I am trying to figure out what year it is. The build is reportedly original but I bought it from the second owner so who knows. The older Klein builds were fairly idiosyncratic from what I have read. Neat stuff though- Dearhead RD, Suntour XC FD, Dura-Ace hubs on gleaming silver RM20s, XC Compe pedals, etc.

Serial number is K MO3F (with the K being the circular Klein logo mark)

Any ideas? The decals are consistent with bikes I have seen listed as '85 and '86 (the large yellow logo with mountains in it), but is there any way to tell the exact year?

 

[pinguwin]

Pictures would help.

 

[Archangel]

Pre-92 frames use a different serial nbr code than the newer ones and it's very hard or impossible to tell anything with those codes except the model.

 

[yo-Nate-y]

Thanks for the replies!

I will get some pics up as soon as I can, but for what it is worth it very closely resembles the '85 and '86s on Old Klein with the build I listed above. Cinelli seat, riser bars and stem, etc.

If the (Swiss?) owners of those two '85s are here, do you guys mind listing your serial numbers? It'd be nice to compare.

 

[pinguwin]

Pre-92 frames...very hard or impossible to tell anything with those codes...

1990 model year was generally BATnnn (i.e. BAT487, a serial number I am partial to) for Attitudes. Although I have heard of a few that are ATnnn.

91 & 92 Attitudes are Axxx (i.e. A3F2) Easy enough to tell. In 93 is when they did the 20T..... serials where you could tell size, date, and individual numberings.

 

[yo-Nate-y]

A few pictures!

 

[yo-Nate-y]

I guess pics didn't help much. Oh well.

The Mountain Klein in the 1985 magazine review PDF that is floating around (MOMBAT?) is listed with the serial 0004. Maybe mine is the third?

 

[Der Kleiner Panzer]

You wrote: "Serial number is K MO3F (with the K being the circular Klein logo mark)" Could you post or send a pic of this? I building a database of the remaining Mountain Kleins...trying to photo document them as well.

 

[Dr Dremel]

You wrote: "Serial number is K MO3F (with the K being the circular Klein logo mark)" Could you post or send a pic of this? I building a database of the remaining Mountain Kleins...trying to photo document them as well.

I saw your thread over on mtbr, so what do you think? Early model, 63th bike build (hex 03F= 63 in decimal)?

What I read about ID´ing besides the sn is that only ´85 and ´86 models had the RD cable routing through the chainstay. Models after late ´86 had the routing below the chainstay and through the brake boss like early Pinnacles.

Edit: Man this thread is OLD. But maybe you´re lucky, the OP last logged in Aug 7th this year.

 

[Der Kleiner Panzer]

I saw your thread over on mtbr, so what do you think? Early model, 63th bike build (hex 03F= 63 in decimal)?

What I read about ID´ing besides the sn is that only ´85 and ´86 models had the RD cable routing through the chainstay. Models after late ´86 had the routing below the chainstay and through the brake boss like early Pinnacles.

Edit: Man this thread is OLD. But maybe you´re lucky, the OP last logged in Aug 7th this year.

If it is 03F it would be #63. Not to doubt the OP, but some of the serial numbers are very hard to read so I like to ask for a picture of the SN just to be sure. If it is #63, it's probably an '85, maybe an early '86. Production of the Mountain Klein didn't start till May or later (per a Klein letter) so only the very early serial numbers are likely to be '85 production.

The internally routed RD cable was '85 through at least late '86. There are other differences too like seat post diameter (27.4mm early, 27.2mm late) , subtleties in the Mountain Klein logo, and others.

If you have a Mountain Klein and would like to help with the research please send me a message!