Skyway TA History

[Zippy]

I acquired a TA the other day that has a frame number that suggests it was made in '81 and has a curved brake bridge.

It was white but has seen better days so will be winging it's way to the paint master pretty soon.

Just fancied knowing a bit about the TA history really. I've been on that skyway site but it's a bit bare with details of the TA history.

[Bob_Acid]

What's the serial number and how is it written around the bottom bracket? Is it dated as well as numbered? Does it have weep holes in the rear dropouts?

[Zippy]

It has the cutouts on the rear dropouts and little holes in the ends of the chainstays and seatstays near the dropouts.

The BB Shell has Skyway written on it and the frame numbers is K 02681

[Bob_Acid]

Jap one then, Si 

[Zippy]

Is that good or bad?

[Bob_Acid]

Good, pre US made frames. 

[kuwahero]

FYI
http://freenet-homepage.de/SKYWAY/SKYWAYindex.html

[Zippy]

When did they start to make them in the US then?

I've been on that site but didn't find it very useful for the TA history.

[Bob_Acid]

I contacted Marco years ago about the K serial bikes and didn't get a reply. I don't think that sites been upadated for a long time.

[kuwahero]

no worries. I just can across it randomly and saved in my bookmarks. I aint looked at it myself.

[Bob_Acid]

there's a SN registry here

http://www.radbmx.co.uk/forum/index.php'topic=16494.0

and another old thread on the subject here

http://www.radbmx.co.uk/forum/index.php'topic=12419.msg138329#msg138329

[Bob_Acid]

I've seen another variant on the TA since though.

Four variants so far, the K's, the USA's and the 86's which were all made after 2002 or i'm a totem pole and another one that has a couple of differences which i can't remember off the top of my head but Funmonster had two of them at MK07.

That's not counting the TA's that came later and were nothing like the early 80's frame or the DBI frame which was just a stock TA.

[Zippy]

I had a DBI bike which I bought to turn into a decent Skyway. But sold it to Dan so he could keep it as it was.

Am I right in thinking that all DBI framers were actually TA XL's.

[magna13]

Dont think it can be an '81 either Si, i swear the T/A became made to the public in late '82

[Zippy]

Looks like it is an '82. I thought the 81 at the end of the frame number meant it was an '81 frame.

[magna13]

i think K is 82/83 and the 2681 is the number of the frame made think US versions started in 84?