[Der Kleiner Panzer]

I’d like to ask for a little help decoding the serial number on my Mountain Klein. The number is 2MBB7. I believe the 2M means second generation, but I’m not sure about the rest.

Identifying features:

*I’m not sure if the paint is original or not but it has the Klein logo (correctly painted) on the frame instead of the Mountain Klein logo.
*Rear brakes are mounted on the seat stay.
*Derailleur cable is routed under the chain stay not through the chain stay.

 

[J_Westy]

I'm not a Klein expert, but I think the guys on retrobike are more into this kind of thing:

Deciphering Klein S/N

Hey guys, So, some recent discussion has prompted me to once and for all decipher the Klein S/N code for early Attitudes and Adroits. We all know that in 93 it became pretty straight forward, but the earlier ones are cryptic at best. This topic has been touched on several times and even people...

www.retrobike.co.uk

 

[William P]

Klein was owned by Trek. You might ask Trek sources. They actually have an archive of old bike specs. I know Gary Fisher stuff is in there. Maybe Klein is too.

 

[TCSglTrk]

Ask Jerry Seinfeld.

 

[Pisgah]

OP, post some pics of the whole bike.

 

[Der Kleiner Panzer]

 

[Der Kleiner Panzer]

A reply to my question posted elsewhere.

“Mountain Kleins have two serial number formats. The serials on the early ones start with M followed by the rest starting with 2M. It seems like the actual frame numbers are sequential from beginning to end of production and did not reset with the switch to the 2M format or from model year to model year. The actual frame numbers are the three letters and numbers following the M or 2M. Those are in hexadecimal format. Lowest "M" serial on file is M001 (frame #1), highest "M" serial on file is M18F (frame #399). Lowest "2M" serial on file is 2M1AC (frame #428) and highest 2MBFD (#3069). Towards the end of the production we see a few frames stamed 2M0 with the 0 indicating 130mm dropout spacing instead of the 135mm becoming the new standard. Pinnacles of that period are stamped 0 and 5 and/or 30 and 35 to indicate dropout spacing but i haven't seen that consistently on Mountain Kleins. Production started in 1985, when exactly is unclear. In April 85 Klein was still showing pre-production bikes. First frame with confirmed order and delivery date on file is #366 which was ordered in 12/85 and delivered in 06/86. #1064 which ordered in late 87 and delivered in Jan or Feb 88. Seems most likely that only a couple hundred were made in 85. Switch from rear der cable inside chain stay to underneath was between #834 and #854. Switch from rollercam to cantilever brakes between #2859 and #2879. It has been confirmed a few times that cantilever brakes became standard for the 89 model year which was the last year for the Mountain Klein.”

 

[Der Kleiner Panzer]

…so it looks like my burgundy Mountain Klein is #2999 and is a 1989 model.

 

[StouteT]

"Lowest "M" serial on file is M001 (frame #1), highest "M" serial on file is M18F (frame #399)."
Does this mean there is a list of known Mt Kleins somewhere? Maybe number and corresponding size? Just curious, Tks.

 

[Der Kleiner Panzer]

"Lowest "M" serial on file is M001 (frame #1), highest "M" serial on file is M18F (frame #399)."
Does this mean there is a list of known Mt Kleins somewhere? Maybe number and corresponding size? Just curious, Tks.

I have been slowly creating a list. The highest "M" number I have are M197 and M198 (#407 & #408). The highest "2M" number is 2MBFD (#3,069)

Do you have pictures you can share of M18F?