Amazon (Rock Lobster) Build Quandry

[coomber]

So I picked this up from taffy (via eBay). Have finally sourced some 1" forks with a long enough headtube. Just concerned 17.5 c-c will be a bit small, but it is a smidge under 20" c-top. Im 6" 2". I have other bikes for longer rides so I will see how I get on.

I bought frame only, but for an idea, this is how taffy had his built up (I have these saved on my photobucket, think they are taffys?):






As it stands:









I'm trying to clear space in my garage to get this built. It's around a 1994 I believe, and is badged as an Amazon to get around some sort of dispute. It a Sadoff design, and believe its one of the NTI ones, so quite a good frame hopefully. 4.5lb, per the review in the archive section, double butted chromo (not prestige).

According to Sinnerman, the dispute with the name relates to this:

Basically when Merlin mail order did the deal with Sadoff for the Name, it kinda left N.T.I left in limbo a little, the remaining Far east Rock lobsters (sadoff era, not Merlin) were re-branded Amazon. Again these Frames were only available in the blue and the green.

 

[coomber]

So my quandry is what parts to put on it. Think it deserves fairly good quality bits, have some balck rigid forks for it now too.

Was thinking Ritchey finishing gear and a later groupset, around a 1997 ish XT.

Any thoughts on what groupset? M737 is nice, but was thinking M738/9. V Brakes for starters.

 

[coomber]

Archive section has a review of the frame here:

http://www.retrobike.co.uk/gallery2/v/M ... eviews/RL/

 

[ovlov440]

I think parts wise keep it simple - all silver gruppo with a relatively slender crank to show off the frame better. You could pick the yellow of the decals in a Flite and bar grips maybe?

 

[tony gti-r]

With it being an Amazon would that put it as a 1997-1998 frame?

My reasoning for this is that NTI distributed the frames between 1992-1998 and if said dispute came about towards the end then that is when they must have re-named them??

Paul also licenced out his trademark and design for these frames to two UK firms, maybe they re-named them??

If I am totally wrong and it is actually a 1994 frame then personally I would go full XTR-M900

I`m gonna be following this with interest as I have a 1992-1993 frame on its way but I will be going a little different with the component choice!

Whats the serial number of the frame?



Tony....

 

[coomber]

Hi Tony,

I have no knowledge on Rock Lobster/Nti to be honest, so you would know more than me. Sinnerman from here gave the information that I cut and paste into the thread.

Would be quite happy if it was later as would allow me to use the groupset I want without risk the wrath of period correctness!

Serial number will have to wait until I can shift some of my other goods in the garage, as this frame is stuck in the lost to save me tripping over it.

 

[coomber]

Whats the serial number of the frame?

Looking on here at Gravymonster's dad's bike: viewtopic.php?f=1&t=261539&p=1958437&hilit=rock+lobster#p1958437

His identical frame had a serial number: 0H94070490

Not sure what that teaches us? OH factory? 94 year?

 

[tony gti-r]

This might help identify them:

Numbers for steel frames:

Numbers starting with any number from 1-9 indicate road frame.

Numbers starting with 0 indicate fillet mountain frame.

Numbers starting with 00 indicate TIG mountain frame.

Number starting with N indicate Nontragers

Numbers starting with 1-9 (indicates the year of manufacture) followed by 00 and any number indicate cross frame. Example: 9006 would be the sixth cross frame built in 1999.

Current cross frames start with 24 to indicate 2004. ( 2406 for example)

Numbers for aluminum frames:

HCR followed by a number indicates an Easton road frame.

AC followed by any number indicates Easton cross or mountain frame.

SC followed by a number indicates scandium frame.

ADG followed by any number indicates frames designed by Mike Ahrens.

FA followed by any number indicates track frames made for Farid Abrahams riders of the San Jose Velodrome.


Altho this is taken from MOMBAT and might be the numbers of frames Paul made himself


Yours has the seat clamp lugs in the same place as my frame but every RockLobster frame I look at for every different year has either on the front/back/separate clamp.



Tony....

 

[coomber]

Did you see this nice build: viewtopic.php?t=130031 he reckons his frame was 95 and that was amazon badged.

 

[tony gti-r]

Did you see this nice build: viewtopic.php?t=130031 he reckons his frame was 95 and that was amazon badged.

Yes , really well done!

I think he added the Amazon decals in 1995 as it shows the bike in 1994 with RockLobster ones on it....?

Anyway all this talk has me wanting to get my frame collected asap so I can start building it up!



Tony....