PurpleFrog
Kona Fan
This is my attempt at a complete True Zaskar Identification Algorithm. For now "True Zaskar" = American Zaskar, because Taiwanese Zaskars used different tubing. I was motivated to create this because all the rules I found while googling were incomplete, and - much more importantly - I'm stuck in the house re-decorating.
I have written this so that the easiest to use rules come first.
VERY important: Later rules assume that earlier rules have been applied.
1. Rounded endcap on top tube (ie where it sticks out behind the seat tube) => no; never an American Zaskar. Might be a Taiwanese Zaskar. From here on every rule assumes a flat end cap!
2. 6061 stamp (usually on inside right rear dropout, may be missing) => yes, always a American Zaskar (unless someone has added a false stamp! has anyone heard of this?)
The only bike that can now confuse you is a 92 or 92 Pantera - the only other GTs to have flat endcaps. (??)
3 If bike has u-brake and is ball burnished => American Zaskar (only the 92 version of Pantera had a U brake and it didn't come in bb finish.)
4. You should now be left with only the few Zaskars that missed frame stamps and 93 Panteras! Try using the serial number (look at inside left rear dropout - but some bikes don't have a serial number). Then:
BUT some American GTs (early ones?) have a serial number that consists of the numbers discussed above ONLY - ie the date code followed by arbitary numbers.
..Non-American frames have a different serial number style - it starts with a letter that codes the frame maker, and possibly uses another letter to code assembly country, and then two letters to code date:
=> If the frame number is either of American styles - and both are easy to reconize - then you have an American Zaskar - because all Panteras were Taiwanese made.
=> If the frame number is Taiwanese style, you have a Pantera
5. If there is no serial number and no frame number... no one has recorded a Pantera without a serial number, so Zaskar is the obvious bet. But who really knows? Such cases are going to be very rare.
I have written this so that the easiest to use rules come first.
VERY important: Later rules assume that earlier rules have been applied.
1. Rounded endcap on top tube (ie where it sticks out behind the seat tube) => no; never an American Zaskar. Might be a Taiwanese Zaskar. From here on every rule assumes a flat end cap!
2. 6061 stamp (usually on inside right rear dropout, may be missing) => yes, always a American Zaskar (unless someone has added a false stamp! has anyone heard of this?)
The only bike that can now confuse you is a 92 or 92 Pantera - the only other GTs to have flat endcaps. (??)
3 If bike has u-brake and is ball burnished => American Zaskar (only the 92 version of Pantera had a U brake and it didn't come in bb finish.)
4. You should now be left with only the few Zaskars that missed frame stamps and 93 Panteras! Try using the serial number (look at inside left rear dropout - but some bikes don't have a serial number). Then:
BUT some American GTs (early ones?) have a serial number that consists of the numbers discussed above ONLY - ie the date code followed by arbitary numbers.
..Non-American frames have a different serial number style - it starts with a letter that codes the frame maker, and possibly uses another letter to code assembly country, and then two letters to code date:
=> If the frame number is either of American styles - and both are easy to reconize - then you have an American Zaskar - because all Panteras were Taiwanese made.
=> If the frame number is Taiwanese style, you have a Pantera
5. If there is no serial number and no frame number... no one has recorded a Pantera without a serial number, so Zaskar is the obvious bet. But who really knows? Such cases are going to be very rare.
