Fat Chance Yo Eddy! Team Identification

[MuchAlohaNui]

Hello Fat Chance Fans,

I don't know much about these bikes.

This bike pictured here is for sale locally. I reached out to the seller about inquiry and he said the bike was always kept in a shed (out of the weather), but as you can see the condition is a bit rough and hasn't been touched for a few decades. Parts are missing, some parts are not original. The paint around the head tube has worn through to bare metal...you see the issues.

Identifying the bike year from photos is difficult for me and that is where I ask for experts (or Yo Eddy! lovers). The seller told me that "the serial number is not legible" but I don't know if he's being lazy or is too old to go flip the frame upside down and take a picture. I will press them further for a photo in the mean time whether the serial number is there or not.

Additionally, he states the frame is size 53 cm. What does that mean in real world experience talk for body size? Do these feel long/short?

What is this color fade called?

I look forward to your comments.

 

[PanoIgano]

This looks to be either a Large or XL Yo possibly from 1993 but certainly after 1991. Based on the decals on the seatube it looks to be made in Sommervile so before the move to Serotta's factory in 94 for sure.

The issue here is that there can be quite a bit of rust within the seatube and particularly in the bottom bracket area especially if it has been stored like this under a shed.

I would go visit this myself to check it in person or ask the seller for pictures of the seat tube so you can assess its state.

 

[retrobate]

I think the paint job is called Cosmic Dust Fade

 

[MuchAlohaNui]

This looks to be either a Large or XL Yo possibly from 1993 but certainly after 1991. Based on the decals on the seatube it looks to be made in Sommervile so before the move to Serotta's factory in 94 for sure.

I hope it's not a L or XL... I have no idea how this seller measured. The serial number would state that from what I understand. Still waiting for a reply from the seller. It could all fall through too. People selling stuff can be a delicate dance with their emotions some times... Even if this goes nowhere perhaps the info is helpful to someone else.

As I keep digging into this, I wonder why this bike has XT and Syncros components? I was under the impression Yo Eddy's shipped with XTR m900?

I *think (read: no f'ing clue) the "Team Fat Chance" decal colors on the down tube are as follows:
1990: black & pink
1991: black & yellow
1992: white & yellow
1993: black & pink
1994: black & yellow
1995: white & black
1996: black & yellow and white & black

Grellow frames: black & pink irrespective of year

Or was the sticker color relevant to create contrast only and the year is irrelevant?

I think the paint job is called Cosmic Dust Fade

I think you may be correct.

From the 1990 Catalogue:
"NEW!! YO EDDY! TEAM. The Yo Eddy! Team has an oversized sloping top tube and cantilever brakes. (...) the fork is our newest design, light weight (1 lb 12 oz), plenty of clearance utilizing oversized butted straight blades for maximum shock absorbtion and 1.5" rake for quick handling without compromise." Stock color in Flourescent Yellow with Metallic Blue. No mention of custom colors. Frame size: M

From the 1991 Catalogue:
"...frame colors in Flourescent Grello, Kandy Wild Cherry, Black and Sovereign Blue." No mention of custom colors. Frame sizes: S, M, L

From the 1992 Catalogue:
"...frame colors in Black, Yellow, Metallic Teal, Kandy Wild Cherry as a frameset or a bike with Shimano XTR components." Frame sizes: S, M, L

From the 1993 Catalogue:
Colors offered: unknown. Frame sizes: S, S/M, M, M/L, L

From the 1994 Catalogue:
"YO EDDY! TEAM FAT CHANCE with Manitou Fork 2 option. Frame and Yo Eddy! fork option available in your choice of Team Violet, Aquamarine Fade, Cosmic Dust Fade, or Metallic Charcoal. OUR BIG ONE INCH fork saves 1/4 lb over the stock Yo Eddy! Fork. Ask about it!" Frame sizes: S, S/M, M, M/L, L

From the 1995 Catalogue:
"...shown in Saphire Black. Also available in Arrest Me Red!, Harlequin Metallic (silver on one side, charcoal on the other) and Aqua Fade. Frame sizes: S, S/M, M, M/L, L

From the 1996 Catalogue:
"Colors include: Chameleon Metallica, Saphire Fade, Harlequin Metallica and Arrest Me Red!."Frame sizes: S, S/M, M/ M/L, L, XL

 

[retrobate]

My guess would be that it's a 1994 in large.

1994 in large


1995 in large


I'm not sure that you can determine much from the decal colours as I think that they used different colours depending on paint colour.

I think that most Yo's were sold as framesets so the component's don't mean a lot

 

[MuchAlohaNui]

Thank you for that. Well, the seller wrote back. He said he bought it new in 1995 and he is the original owner. So this paint makes the frame a 1994 and he bought it the following year some time. He said he can't be bothered taking a picture of the serial number area as it is 'scratched or rubbed away'.