What is it ? Stainless steel frame !

[zedman]

Hi

I have a stainless steel framed bike, no idea who made it, so perhaps someone can help me identify it ?

It measures 18" seat tube to top, has Ritchey dropouts on the frame and forks and the bottom bracket shell is stamped underneath with the serial number M5090091.

No stickers, badges or anything to give a clue what it is.

Photos available here

http://www.flickr.com/photos/45218624@N ... 802491219/

Any ideas ? Ta

 

[Tad]

Are you sure it's stainless steel as there are some rust spots in the pics, it could be brushed nickle plate or similar. Sorry I can't help you with what it might be though.

 

[ajantom]

Marin - about 1995 maybe? Reminds me of the colour of the Eldridge Grade of that era, also the rear canti-stop and rack lugs look very Marin.

Wouldn't think it was stainless steel (don't think anyone's ever built an MTB from SS - though I may be wrong!) Probably either nickel-plated or a satin paint finish.

 

[dyna-ti]

http://desperadocycles.com/Reynolds_953 ... Tubing.htm

The article seems to be about a stainless steel tubing used in the 90's by Reynolds
Could this be what you have :?

 

[mikee]

put a magnet on it if it sticks it aint s/s

looks plated/coated non stainless to me ,tho the dropout insertion looks odd
neat welding tho

looks a bit diamond backish too me apex/axis ?

 

[mikee]

aye with those purple bits could be a marin

 

[hamster]

It's not a Marin, they used dropouts with 'Marin' cast into them, not Ritchey. But I agree, it has a mid 90's feel about it - still got mudguard and rack eyes for instance.
Reynolds 953 is pretty new...2006 or so I think? So maybe it's the Columbus stainless tubeset.
However, my guess is that it's nickel plated and then brushed like an Orange P7.

The frame number would be a big help.

 

[mechagouki]

Actually a few companies have produced stainless steel bikes - including mountain bikes. Rhygin is the one that springs to mind.

Thread about it on MTBR:

http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=246086

 

[zedman]

Thanks for the replies so far, it is magnetic, but then I thought only certain types of stainless weren't. I've added a photo of the serial number. It may be brushed/coated, the rust mainly shows on drilled holes, there are some scratches on the frame and these aren't rusty. So maybe it's stainless maybe it isn't. Lets keep trying to identify it

 

[ferrus]

Some stainless is magnetic, but I can't remember the specific designations.
It does look like a brushed/raw finish though.. ?