Rocky Hammer race frame - need help Id'ing date

[dirttorpedo]

Just acquired a Rocky Mountain Hammer race frame. I believe its a 97 or a 98 based on the paint and decals. The tubing decal is in rough shape, but I can read the number 5 on it. Bikepedia indicates the 97 was made with Tange tubing and this doesn't look like a Tange sticker. Can't find a serial number on the bottom of the bb shell - did Rocky not put them on or is it in some odd spot?

Also, my plan was to swap parts from a 94 rampage onto this bike, but this frame is obviously designed for v-brakes. Should I put the canti's on this frame or put the 94 kit onto my 95 zaskar frame and make this a more practical modern build?

Any help would be much appreciated.

Here are some crappy phone pics.

 

[dirttorpedo]

On closer inspection it has a Reynolds sticker on it. Only tube set number legible is a 5 at the end of the string. Would that be 725?

 

[raidan73]

Pretty sure a couple of the late 90's Hammer's used 525

 

[Anthony]

Judging from the colour and what's left of the decals, I would say it's a 2000. That was the first year of the R and the M going below the line of the other letters. It was also the second year of the Hammer Race being made from a Reynolds tubeset.

There will certainly be a serial number under the bb shell if you look harder. They aren't always easy to see, but it must be there. It will tell you the production date.

 

[dirttorpedo]

2000 eh - didn't think it was that new? Ok, I'll look closer for the serial no. How do you decipher Rocky serial no.'s?

 

[RockiMtn]

decals would say very late 90's, early 2000.

 

[Anthony]

It may well be along the non drive side of the shell. You often need to shine a torch along the surface, not down onto it.

The serial number format will vary depending on where it was built (it wasn't built in Canada I'm afraid!) At around that time, it may start with a B followed by the date, but other factories did it slightly differently.

 

[dirttorpedo]

It may well be along the non drive side of the shell. You often need to shine a torch along the surface, not down onto it.

The serial number format will vary depending on where it was built (it wasn't built in Canada I'm afraid!) At around that time, it may start with a B followed by the date, but other factories did it slightly differently.

I found it. Its almost impossible for me to read. My best guess is

B99120.96

That powder coat is really thick. Ya, I suspected it was Taiwan built - hammers of that age weren't particularly high up end. Not a big deal - this is to be a work bike. It has made me rethink the build however. I think the retro parts will go to my Zaskar and this will get the "modern" mix that is on the Zaskar. My only worry is that my rigid fork won't be tall enough - its only corrected to 80mm.

 

[Anthony]

Then it was made in the same factory as my 1997 Equipe. My serial number is B9608 0310 - B = name of factory (but I haven't found that out yet), 9608 means August 96. So yours was built in December 1999, which is consistent with it being a 2000 model.

http://www.bikepedia.com/quickbike/Bike ... oEu8OIx1LA