Author Topic: Can anyone date this PK Ripper without a serial? (Read 4203 times)

oldschoolace · « **on:** January 20, 2016, 07:08 PM »

Know fook all about em but the parts on it look to have age

Jaymz · « **Reply #1 on:** January 20, 2016, 07:11 PM »

As long as it's over 16 years old it's fine

deeman · « **Reply #2 on:** January 20, 2016, 07:18 PM »

I think looptail is pre 85 but someone who actually knows what he is talking about (like Ash) will no doubt be along soon

dancetothedrummersbeat · « **Reply #3 on:** January 20, 2016, 07:18 PM »

I thought that all rippers from 79-84 were all the same, and the serials on loopy rippers weren't consecutive, so it's impossible to determine a precise date. Here's an old thread that might help though http://www.radbmx.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,157725.msg1567412.html#msg1567412

Keep it

oldschoolace · « **Reply #4 on:** January 20, 2016, 07:27 PM »

Cheers lads. I read that looptails were early but the rest relied on serials or cable guides on later models which I can't see

oldschoolace · « **Reply #5 on:** January 20, 2016, 08:05 PM »

Might have to have a crack at it for the money

Jaymz · « **Reply #6 on:** January 20, 2016, 08:15 PM »

Quote from: oldschoolace on January 20, 2016, 08:05 PM

Might have to have a crack at it for the money

where do you continuously find these gems. I used to scour the Internet and never fook all that some other bugger hadn't already and then highlighted it by posting it all over Facebook and forums. You are a treasure hunter supreme good sir.

dancetothedrummersbeat · « **Reply #7 on:** January 20, 2016, 08:19 PM »

Quote from: oldschoolace on January 20, 2016, 07:27 PM

Cheers lads. I read that looptails were early but the rest relied on serials or cable guides on later models which I can't see

All looptails are pre 85

oldschoolace · « **Reply #8 on:** January 20, 2016, 08:28 PM »

Thanks Andy, better get it bought if I can then

chubby · « **Reply #9 on:** January 20, 2016, 10:15 PM »

Quote from: oldschoolace on January 20, 2016, 08:05 PM

Might have to have a crack at it for the money

Probably got a crack in it

dancetothedrummersbeat · « **Reply #10 on:** January 20, 2016, 11:46 PM »

Quote from: chubby on January 20, 2016, 10:15 PM

Quote from: oldschoolace on January 20, 2016, 08:05 PM
Might have to have a crack at it for the money
Probably got a crack in it

The welder who sorted my VDC can also weld alloy. His work is 'cracking' (and he's local - Warrington)

Bob_Acid · « **Reply #11 on:** January 20, 2016, 11:55 PM »

For years it was thought you couldn't decipher Ripper serial numbers but with hindsight and a few hundred people knowing what year they bought their bike and it's serial number there's one or two people that can maybe nail it down to a year, maybe.

Brian Hays would be the man to talk to I expect.

oldschoolace · « **Reply #12 on:** January 20, 2016, 11:59 PM »

Cheers gents

dancetothedrummersbeat · « **Reply #13 on:** January 21, 2016, 12:05 AM »

Quote from: Bob_Acid on January 20, 2016, 11:55 PM

For years it was thought you couldn't decipher Ripper serial numbers but with hindsight and a few hundred people knowing what year they bought their bike and it's serial number there's one or two people that can maybe nail it down to a year, maybe.

Brian Hays would be the man to talk to I expect.

Yes, there must be trends, even if they are not completely sequential/strictly date stamped. I think its a fairly safe bet to say that at the height of bmx, there wouldn't be many frames sat in warehouses and in shop stockrooms for long. If a bike was bought in August 1983, i'd say it's fairly likely it had only been in the country for 6 months max. Any thoughts?

58 delray · « **Reply #14 on:** January 21, 2016, 09:00 AM »

if this frame has no serial number on the dropout the it is most likely to be pre Nov 1979, serials started then as the law in california changed and all bike had to have a serial as from 1st january 1980.

as for dating a pre 85 ripper by its serial, there is a guide but it is only that as there have been many exceptions to the guide found and Scot himself said that a ripper cannot be dated by its serial as in the early years a whole batch of stamped dropouts were made and they all got mixed up one evening when every one had a few beers......how much truth there is to that no one knows but as i have said i know of several exceptions to the year/serial guide.

guide as follows

PK2 late 1979
PK3 1980
PK4 1981
PK5 1982
PK6 1983
PK7 1984

this guide also applies to Race Inc's with the PK replaced with either RM for the cro-mo frames or RA for the alloy frames.

hope this helps

dancetothedrummersbeat · « **Reply #15 on:** January 21, 2016, 10:04 AM »

Interesting info about bikes having to have a serial number from 1980 onwards. I presume that was only California law, hence why the likes of Hutch frames continued to have no serial number (as they weren't made in California) until 83 ish

58 delray · « **Reply #16 on:** January 21, 2016, 10:11 AM »

Quote from: dancetothedrummersbeat on January 21, 2016, 10:04 AM

Interesting info about bikes having to have a serial number from 1980 onwards. I presume that was only California law, hence why the likes of Hutch frames continued to have no serial number (as they weren't made in California) until 83 ish

i believe so from what i have researched mate

kungfunky · « **Reply #17 on:** January 21, 2016, 09:38 PM »

Plenty of good info already posted for you Clint about the serial numbers.
Now along with the serial numbers the other way to age a Loopy PK is the down tube decal, 79's had a single large square SE decal, 80's had a foil type decal that wrapped the seat mast and from then on it was your type of mast decal.

Also 79's are pre serial and have a thinner brake bridge than 80 onward.
Nice looking bike and worth a punt if the cash is right and maybe it will head over to me after that

Ohh and I've now got your messages about the pedals, I'll send you a cage up if you still need one

oldschoolace · « **Reply #18 on:** January 21, 2016, 10:33 PM »

Cheers lads. Every day is a learning day

On its way! Im no Ripper fan but would be daft not to snag it at £75

chubby · « **Reply #19 on:** January 21, 2016, 10:43 PM »

Quote from: oldschoolace on January 21, 2016, 10:33 PM

Cheers lads. Every day is a learning day
On its way! Im no Ripper fan but would be daft not to snag it at £75

Yay !! Budget freestyle ripper project is go

kungfunky · « **Reply #20 on:** January 21, 2016, 10:53 PM »

Quote from: oldschoolace on January 21, 2016, 10:33 PM

Cheers lads. Every day is a learning day
On its way! Im no Ripper fan but would be daft not to snag it at £75

Flip it to me and double your money. I'm happy to take the hit

chubby · « **Reply #21 on:** January 21, 2016, 10:55 PM »

Quote from: kungfunky on January 21, 2016, 10:53 PM

Quote from: oldschoolace on January 21, 2016, 10:33 PM
Cheers lads. Every day is a learning day
On its way! Im no Ripper fan but would be daft not to snag it at £75

Flip it to me and double your money. I'm happy to take the hit

Bet you would. Be Ash

If it turns out to be an early one freestyle ripper will be even sweeter

kungfunky · « **Reply #22 on:** January 21, 2016, 11:04 PM »

Too right

Just looking, has the seat clamp got any damage ? Something looks a miss there but hope it's just the poor quality photo

oldschoolace · « **Reply #23 on:** January 21, 2016, 11:15 PM »

If the seat clamp area is damaged its just more of an excuse to tack on a standing platform

chubby · « **Reply #24 on:** January 21, 2016, 11:22 PM »

Quote from: oldschoolace on January 21, 2016, 11:15 PM

If the seat clamp area is damaged its just more of an excuse to tack on a standing platform

Big fookin Curtis type