Author Topic: MRD / March Racing - Serial Numbers (Read 11866 times)

greentoad · « **on:** November 01, 2006, 05:21 PM »

Hi all

I have been meaning to try and work out the MRD serial numbers and what they all mean for a while now.

I posted some pictures about 18 months ago on the old RAD of an original bike and also emailed Tim asking for any help and got the following reply -

Quote

I cant for the life of me remember frames nos. it looks like a pro, if its the same length top tube as the badlander it is, all mrd were built in 83-84. Not much after.

So could you please post all numbers - pics ideally as well, so that hopefully we can work out what it all means.

Thanks

J.

greentoad · « **Reply #1 on:** December 03, 2006, 09:17 AM »

On looking into this somemore....

I have looked through some adverts that have MRD for sale in the 1985 Action Bike and Tims own bike is tested by Pro's (de-stickered) in July 1985.

I therefore think that they might have been made late 1984 and went on sale in early 1985 (some compaines state 'coming soon' in the 1st quarter of 1985) - did they come out in 1983?

Looking into the serial numbers could people with Badlanders, Mini's, Pro's and Experts please post the full numbers to help in working out all the digits.

As a guess (after looking at a couple of Pro's) I think that the first is the size (20 = 20") next is model (pro = 001 what is expert, mini etc), the next numbers are under the '20' and read year (3 digits though? - 084 - so I reckon 1984) and lastly the serial example = 70

So as an example if the coding is correct -

20" - 001 (MRD Pro) - built in 1984 - serial number 70

Cheers

J.

greentoad · « **Reply #2 on:** December 03, 2006, 02:19 PM »

It seems to be correct so far.

I have been sent a PM and have the following details from an MRD Expert.

20" - 002 (MRD Expert) - and number 064087

So some of it seems to fit, just need Mini and Badlander codes now.

I should hopefully be sent scans of a Badlander serial tomorrow.

J.

AJWD · « **Reply #3 on:** December 03, 2006, 04:52 PM »

My two:

Chrome Pro - 20 001 084 84 (cool!)
White Pro - 20 001 084 75

They will be making a guest appearance next year I promise!

Adey 'shabby' Darby.

greentoad · « **Reply #4 on:** December 03, 2006, 05:57 PM »

Cheers for that Adey -

Can you take a picture of both of the serials and post them.

Cheers.

J

greentoad · « **Reply #5 on:** December 03, 2006, 06:02 PM »

A quote from a Rad member -

Quote

Yes for the expert frame it is definitely 064087 without any gap in between.
Actually, there *could* be a code for chromed and painted frames.
For the manufatureing process it would make sense.

Just read what you posted. especially the Tim March quote.
I doubt they just made the frames in 1983/84.
In Germany these were advertised later, maybe 1986.
My personal story was that I destroyed nearly every other frame like Skyway, Gt Performer, and some I don´t remember.
This way I noticed the MRD Badlander which has been offered with 99 years warrenty. Well, I killed at least 4 forks, but the frame is strong as hell.
I can ask Stephan Prantl who had a MRD full sponsorship back than.
As far I know he still owns his Badlander as well.
BTW, check out the Tizer 1987 Worlds DVD frequently offered on Ebay. There you find at least 2 Badlander during service. (Stephan an me).

From what information I've gathered, the bikes where all made in a short run within a year or so, so there might have been quite a few that sold years later that filtered through distribution and shops.

And interesting that they went abroad too.

greentoad · « **Reply #6 on:** December 03, 2006, 09:27 PM »

Another one is just about cracked -

S = Size, M/C = Model Code, M = Model, M/Y = Month & Year Code, M = Month, Y = Year, ID = Serial

S M/C M M/Y M Y     ID
20   OO2   Expert   O64   June   1984   87
20   OO1   Pro   O84   August   1984   70
20   OO1   Pro   O84   August   1984   75
20   OO1   Pro   O84   August   1984   84
20   OO4   Mini   O94   Sept   1984   11
20   OO4   Mini   O94   Sept   1984   38

20   OO2   Expert Forks

If this is correct each model had it's own numbering for production.

The list is from information that has been sent to me today and seems to fit . The date is 1st in order then the Serial. This works as the production of Pro's all are in order.

Epic gaver me a rocket up my backside, I didn't sleep much last night and thought about these numbers some more..............

J.

Moose · « **Reply #7 on:** December 03, 2006, 09:37 PM »

Are all the forks stamped as well?

I have a set of MRD forks I was told are badlander forks that I'd like to confirm?

AJWD · « **Reply #8 on:** December 04, 2006, 09:12 AM »

I will try to take pics tonight, but the white one was repainted so might not show up too well.

Frosty · « **Reply #9 on:** December 04, 2006, 09:51 AM »

J,

I'll get the number from mine and pm it it through when I get a chance to get to it.

Paul

Ilja · « **Reply #10 on:** December 04, 2006, 11:17 AM »

Great job you doing!
As promised here the Badlander details:

20 005
001837
White painted by factory.

Given to me in 1987 as a co-sponsoring from
TJ-Racing in Oldenburg, the German distributor.
As a personal note these were damn hard to sell since
all were hooked on US stuff and people prefered
"true" welds...
Official German retail for f&f was 800 German Marks (EUR 400)
Have been advertised with 99 years warrenty, wonder if this
is stil valid.

Cheers

Ilja

greentoad · « **Reply #11 on:** December 04, 2006, 08:05 PM »

Hmmm

Quote

20 005
001837

It's getting interesting

.

I guessed that a Badlander might be 003, but if it is 005 are there any other models that could be 003 - is this a Turbo?

The date code also does not work with this Badlander. More Badlander (and any other MRD's) serial / codes please.

Plus pics / details if possible of serials on the forks.

Thanks

J.

ORB · « **Reply #12 on:** December 04, 2006, 11:07 PM »

As requested by Sir Toad of Toad Hall.

ORB's Landbadder

Does that help any?

Frosty · « **Reply #13 on:** December 04, 2006, 11:22 PM »

mini expert f+f just gone on the bay - not mine I'll add

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BMX-Tim-March-Racing-MRD-Vintage-frame-fork-NOS_W0QQitemZ160059726842QQihZ006QQcategoryZ22677QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

ORB · « **Reply #14 on:** December 04, 2006, 11:24 PM »

Quote from: Moose on December 03, 2006, 09:37 PM

Are all the forks stamped as well?

I have a set of MRD forks I was told are badlander forks that I'd like to confirm?

Show us a pic Mr S and I will confirm...

Moose · « **Reply #15 on:** December 05, 2006, 12:19 AM »

ORB · « **Reply #16 on:** December 05, 2006, 12:36 AM »

animal · « **Reply #17 on:** December 05, 2006, 06:56 PM »

In response to your PM,my MRD frame

The top tube measure is 18 inches

Serial no is 20 001 Cannot see a no on forks suspect they are all the same design & build !
084 83

Just to say i appreciate you doing all this work on these no's and it was nice to put a face to a name on sat

The bars that i suspect are MRD bars are 28 1/2 Inches wide by 9 Inch rise and they are braized not welded may get some pics up when i get more time ok !

greentoad · « **Reply #18 on:** December 07, 2006, 04:56 PM »

Tape measure time -

Quote

j***** you are a persistent bugger. good news about the codes. one thing you don't know is that there are 10 frames out there somewhere with top tubes one inch longer than the pro, ****** has one. god know where the rest are. thanks for spending the time doing this. you might be interested to know i have located the first prototype mrd frame ever made.

It's getting interesting.

J.

ORB · « **Reply #19 on:** December 07, 2006, 11:59 PM »

So, what does my frame tell you Mr Toadism?

animal · « **Reply #20 on:** December 08, 2006, 06:22 PM »

Quote from: greentoad on December 07, 2006, 04:56 PM

Tape measure time -

Quote
j***** you are a persistent bugger. good news about the codes. one thing you don't know is that there are 10 frames out there somewhere with top tubes one inch longer than the pro, ****** has one. god know where the rest are. thanks for spending the time doing this. you might be interested to know i have located the first prototype mrd frame ever made.

It's getting interesting.

Who is the quote off buddy? What length top tubes do the respective frames have? That would be good to add to the details you already have ? How many frames do you think are still in existance ?

J.

greentoad · « **Reply #21 on:** November 10, 2007, 12:17 PM »

Up....

Got a PM a few weeks back -

Quote

20 005 20 is frame size and oo5 is the Model

002278 Not sure on these any ideas?

This puts this as a Badlander.

So far we have -

1   20   OO5   Badlander   OO1819
2   20   OO5   Badlander   OO1837
3   20   OO5   Badlander   OO2278
1   20   OO2   Expert   O64087
2   20   OO2   Expert   O54088
1   20   OO4   Mini   O94 11
2   20   OO4   Mini   OO1232
3   20   OO4   Mini   O94 38
1   20   OO1   Pro   O84 70
2   20   OO1   Pro   O84 75
3   20   OO1   Pro   O84 83
4   20   OO1   Pro   O84 84

Any more out there? Steve, Phil?

J.

sawzall · « **Reply #22 on:** November 10, 2007, 05:56 PM »

here you go jem-20 002-054071

animal · « **Reply #23 on:** November 11, 2007, 08:57 PM »

The 002278 Baddy is mine with Shredder forks now.

The Expert from MK is NOS and is 20 002
054003

Author Topic: MRD / March Racing - Serial Numbers (Read 11866 times)

greentoad

greentoad

greentoad

AJWD

greentoad

greentoad

greentoad

AJWD

Frosty

Ilja

greentoad

Frosty

greentoad

greentoad