[Entrenador]

What do you make of it, or better yet, what should I make of it?

Just bought it a few weeks ago, but not sure what to do with it. Any suggestions? (of course I'll ride it, but as what -- SS, 8-speed, rainbike, 27 speed? Rigid fork, etc...

Thanks.

 

[imridingmybike]

Are you sure that's not a silver painted Bontrager?

didn't KB use two peice seat stays? I remember them always having a "step down" thingy between the uni stay and the drop out...

 

[Rumpfy]

Are you sure that's not a silver painted Bontrager?

 

[holden]

Definitely not Bontrager

I think the key giveaway its not a Bontrager is that brace between the chainstays. I don't think Bontrager had any frames with eyelets also.

 

[imridingmybike]

I think the key giveaway its not a Bontrager is that brace between the chainstays. I don't think Bontrager had any frames with eyelets also.

I'm not convinced it isn't a '97 or '98 Giant Iguana!

 

[Boy named SSue]

Are you sure that's not a silver painted Bontrager?

In addition to the brace, a bontrager would have different dropouts, cable guides, and the seatpost clamp would be removable.

Totally not a bontrager. I'm with you on thinking it is painted though.

 

[Rumpfy]

I think the key giveaway its not a Bontrager is that brace between the chainstays. I don't think Bontrager had any frames with eyelets also.

Nontrager/Rock Lobster then? I really don't think it's Ti.

 

[Boy named SSue]

Nontrager/Rock Lobster then? I really don't think it's Ti.

Not a nontrager. Those all just looked like Bontragers. If it's a 'lobster, I would guess it would be one of the English or Taiwanese ones made under liscense.

 

[Entrenador]

It's not Ti... Pretty sure it's stainless steel!?!

Magnet stuck good & well to it. Weird frame. It's not painted, and there's just a hair of clearcoating left on one of the stays. Giant Iguana? You're silly. But hell, maybe you're right.

If have no idea what it is, but the serial number is M3BG29777; any ideas on how to decrypt it?

 

[imridingmybike]

Nontrager/Rock Lobster then? I really don't think it's Ti.

105mm... already said it's not ti - see his other thread.

I'm thinking it's an old Giant Iguana - but am having trouble locating pics...

 

[DeeEight]

Not the Iguanna....the ATX 870/890 from about 1996. The ones with those super-fancy quad-butted chromoly tubesets Giant's was making a big deal out of in the advertisements. The frames were supposedly around 3.5 pounds, but they spec'ed them with the same parts and price level as their Aluminium frames ATX 9xx models, so they consequently sold rather poorly (nobody wanted steel frames anymore at the high end).

 

[imridingmybike]

Magnet stuck good & well to it. Weird frame. It's not painted, and there's just a hair of clearcoating left on one of the stays. Giant Iguana? You're silly. But hell, maybe you're right.

If have no idea what it is, but the serial number is M3BG29777; any ideas on how to decrypt it?

I just had a "friend" run that serial number through a database of more than 100,000 bikes. The prefix "m3bg" happens to be found on many Diamondbacks, Raleighs and Mongooses.

The number m3bg297** matches a Mongoose. The DB and Raleighs had very different numerical sequences.

I'm thinking it's a Mongoose IBOC. I had one of these and they did have the monostay in the back.

The first letter M in the serial number, is for Merida - one of the largest manufacturers of bikes in Taiwan. The next few ID the plant and the following digits are simply numerical values identifying the sequence of manufacture.

I'm fairly certain Giant does NOT use Merida - and I am equally certain that Mongoose DOES.

Connect all the dots and you are the proud papa of an International Bicycle of Champions!

Congrats!

 

[Entrenador]

I just had a "friend" run that serial number through a database of more than 100,000 bikes. The prefix "m3bg" happens to be found on many Diamondbacks, Raleighs and Mongooses.

The number m3bg297** matches a Mongoose. The DB and Raleighs had very different numerical sequences.

I'm thinking it's a Mongoose IBOC. I had one of these and they did have the monostay in the back.

The first letter M in the serial number, is for Merida - one of the largest manufacturers of bikes in Taiwan. The next few ID the plant and the following digits are simply numerical values identifying the sequence of manufacture.

I'm fairly certain Giant does NOT use Merida - and I am equally certain that Mongoose DOES.

Connect all the dots and you are the proud papa of an International Bicycle of Champions!

Congrats!

Sweet, IBOC -- kind of goes with the mullet, I guess. I thought I remember hearing that the "nicer" old Mongooses came with White Industries hubs, like the one in my hand at the moment (current jpeg upload problems.) Are these hubs worth repair -- ie, new bearings?

Consider the dots connected; I'm changing my mtbr id to "mynameismud". Thanks for the detective work, imridingmybike.

 

[Mudflaps]

Sweet, IBOC -- kind of goes with the mullet, I guess. I thought I remember hearing that the "nicer" old Mongooses came with White Industries hubs, like the one in my hand at the moment (current jpeg upload problems.) Are these hubs worth repair -- ie, new bearings?

Consider the dots connected; I'm changing my mtbr id to "mynameismud". Thanks for the detective work, imridingmybike.

I just tuned into this thread. Imridingmybike called it. I had a shop that sold Mongoose at that time. The model year will be either a 1993 or early 1994 IBOC (M3.... gives that away), by 1995 they were aluminum with the infamous "Toblerone"toptube.
As to the question of the White Industries hubs, they are worth restoring to functional shape. The weakest point about them was the "spring" for the ratchet in the freehub, which was just a folded piece of copper, if I recall correctly (subject to correction). I just remember for certain it was not spring steel. The bearings were good sealed units. The hubs are smooth operating, if a little loud.

 

[shiggy]

I just tuned into this thread. Imridingmybike called it. I had a shop that sold Mongoose at that time. The model year will be either a 1993 or early 1994 IBOC (M3.... gives that away)...

Didn't they offer a "titanium" paint color, too?

As to the question of the White Industries hubs, they are worth restoring to functional shape. The weakest point about them was the "spring" for the ratchet in the freehub, which was just a folded piece of copper, if I recall correctly (subject to correction). I just remember for certain it was not spring steel. The bearings were good sealed units. The hubs are smooth operating, if a little loud.

White Ind still uses a folded metal pawl spring though is is now steel. Knowing them it will fit the older hubs and they will happily supply you with the parts you need (including bearings) at a very good price.

 

[Lutarious]

Bearings

Or you can take out the old bearings and head on down to NAPA auto parts or a King Bearing distributor. Any decent bearing house can measure and deliver the bearings you need for those hubs.

Buy Timken brand if you can get them. Made in Europe, and superior quality all the way.

 

[Zanetti]

Didn't they offer a "titanium" paint color, too?

There were quite a few "Titanium finish" steel bikes in the early '90s. I think they were given a nickel or chrome finish, then brushed to look like Ti. They looked just like the real thing to the untrained eye.

 

[Entrenador]

"Untrained" -- that's a nice way to put it.

Yeah, this one with the funny Germanic stickers, mulleted headshot & the "made italy" sticker fooled me. Proabably SS it just for fun since I already have the parts to do so.

It'll be an eggbeater... without the egg.