GT PERFORMER SERIAL NUMBER

[Steve P]

Can anyone help to identify the age of a GT Performer I have just bought . . . I'm told it's early 1984



Cheers

Steve 

[Jazzchimp]

If it's a performer I can tell you from the shape easier than the number

[Steve P]

It's definitely a Performer and I'd like to identify the age before I start restoring it





Cheers

Steve 

[QUADROPHENIA]

is there a serial number on the rear drop out?

[Jazzchimp]

Pro Performer ll, 85-86 if it has a brake stay behind the BB it's 87

Double top tube thingy level with the top of the top tube and the beefed up forks with the cable guide is the giveaway, very nice!
Here's mine which I bought BITD and still have

[Steve P]

is there a serial number on the rear drop out?

Nothing on the dropouts . . . just the bottom bracket

Pro Performer ll, 85-86 if it has a brake stay behind the BB it's 87
Double top tube thingy level with the top of the top tube and the beefed up forks with the cable guide is the giveaway, very nice!
Here's mine which I bought BITD and still have

So is this good for a Fiola build then ??

Cheers

Steve 

[QUADROPHENIA]

steve
its your bike, do what you want with it

[Steve P]

It's gonna be a Fiola tribute no matter what . . .  I've spent too much time and money so far getting the parts 

There's no brake stay behind the BB and the standing platform is level with the top of the top tube





Can the serial # not be deciphered to give an exact age . . . I'm curious

Cheers

Steve 

[Jazzchimp]

Fiola's 'flying banana' was a MK1 but he rode all types at some point. I'm sure it'll look the dogs whatever you do with it

[Moose]

I had a discussion with Biaggio recently regarding this model of Pro Performer (not this exact one), to which we really didn't agree.

I believe all these models are Japanese made '85's.  Besides the things already mentioned, the other thing that gives it away is the decals. The 'Pro' font is different to the US made. I also believe the serial number is decipherable, I think the 5 is the year and either the G or J is the month code. I don't know for definate myself but there's a member on VBMX who does, if you like I'll give him a shout.

[Nosnod]

Steve

That is an Oct 1985

I have got one identical but in white and I have seen 2 others from 85 with similar serial numbers

All have started G5 to signify a GT Performer 1985 followed by another letter ( I have seen C, D & F) which I reckon must be the month and then the actual production number in that month

[Moose]

That is an Oct 1985

I have got one identical but in white and I have seen 2 others from 85 with similar serial numbers

All have started G5 to signify a GT Performer 1985 followed by another letter ( I have seen C, D & F) which I reckon must be the month and then the actual production number in that month

Thanks for confirming my suspicions, I didn't like to say without knowing for sure

[Steve P]

Comparing various photos I've noticed the head tube is not a steep as the Mk.1 and the forks appear to have more rake. The downtube bend is further away from the head tube too



It's a very long frame for a freestyler . . . I wonder why the geometry was changed 

[jonpaul11]

I found this threat on Vintage (da dirt word...)

http://www.vintagebmx.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=4;t=004576

Hope this is of some use - or maybe I'm just passing on poo. 

all top of the line gt bikes were made in usa,
all mid to lower of the line bikes were made over seas.
gt never left the usa until recently...
all usa gt frames will be all numbers in the serial and build date will be identified by the first 4 numbers..
japanese/taiwanese gt frames will have letters in the mix in the serial number and takes a little more effort to id the build date...

from what i remember,the factories in order would be like this..
early 80's santa ana ca, mid 80's moved to huntington beach ca,then early 90's moved back to santa ana ca....
during all this they outsourced their mid to lower level bikes to a japanese factory in the mid 80's,then in late 80's they switched over to tawainese factory for the lower level bike making..

[Steve P]

Cheers Jon . . . some interesting reading there . . . !!!

I especially like this Fiola pic . . . hmmmmmm, Graphites 



Cheers

Steve 

[Nosnod]

Looking forward to pics of the build Steve, Performers were one of the best bike BITD

I am currently building a replica of this one:

[Steve P]

That looks awesome . . . yellow Performers rock 

I can't wait to get mine started and just a few more bits to get sorted now

Cheers

Steve