Specialized frame number info

[Retro junkie]

Popped along to local car boot this morning and bought a hard rock comp a1, all original apart from seat post. Seat post is a bit of a strange one. Has the specialized S on it but is a 27.2 suspension post.
The seat post tube on the frame was shimmed with a 30.9 to 27.2, something I've never seen before.

Any way bike is now stripped because I hadn't seen a deep saw mark on the top bar. Must be 4-5mm at the deepest and about 1" long so to much to use the frame, unless some of you have any ideas for a repair

So back to the frame number M8E5 51289. If you could shed any light I'd be most grateful.... The frame is red with a1 markings on it

 

[mk one]

what did you want to know about the serial? pictures would be great, and 27.2 shims are probably the most common as more posts are made in that diameter.

mark

 

[Retro junkie]

Re:

Really it's the year is like to know. I get that 27.2 would be the most popular size, it's just that I've never seen a spesh branded suspension seat post. I have heard of the future shocks but they're all black, from what I've seen... This one is black where it inserts into the frame but the top bit and seat mount are polished alloy.

 

[mk one]

ah, ok

I would say aound late 90's early 2000's. pictures would help more

 

[Retro junkie]

Re:

The only place I can find a definite date is on the original handlebars, that says 05 but I can't find any pics of the same frame. Would the specialized rival 130 seat be original for that year also.