Most post-'84 bike models can be identified using the serial number. In most cases there is a single letter in the serial number that signifies the model. The most notable exception to this is the "P" series frame. (more info)

Earlier frames are more difficult to identify. During the first few years of production there were not specific models available - only the MountainBike - however, bikes can differ greatly. In 1982 "production" bikes began to be offered. This differed from previous models in that frames and their components were delivered to a "set spec" that was not varied, at a reduced price. (Shops may have swapped parts out before delivery, so bikes may not have always been exactly as listed.)

To determine models of early bikes, consult the summary of the features and components for the 1980-1984 bikes.

The Earliest Frames   Orig. Owner Year Bike Description   Tom Ritchey 1979 the first Ritchey mountain frame   Alan Bonds 1979 one of the first 12 new 1/27 Joe Breeze & Otis Guy 1979 1979 SF-NY record attempt bike "R" Frames One frame style was offered through 1982, although custom features could be added. The majority of the serial numbers appear to be "final digit of year", "R", and then a frame number.   Serial Number Year Size Bike Description   1R0077 1981 21 Everest   1R0079 1981 22 Everest   1R0087 1981 23 Everest   1R0089 1981 22 Everest   1R0091 1981 21 Everest   1R0115 1981 21 Everest   1R0122 1981 20 Everest   1R0136 1981 21 Ritchey   1R0151 1981 22 Everest   1R190 1981 23 Ritchey   1R199 1981 22 Ritchey   1500R 1980-2 22-23 Ritchey   1560R 1981 22 Ritchey   R 133 1981 22 Ritchey   2R004 1982 23 Everest   2R010 1982 22 Everest   2R016 1982 21.5 McKinley   2R017 1982   Everest   2R019 1982 19 Everest   2R031 1982 20 McKinley   2R044 1982 21 Everest   2R062 1982 23 McKinley   2R104 1982 23 ?   2R119 1982 23 Tamalpais   2R149 1982 21 Sierra Other early Frames Yet to classify these in any way.   Serial Number Year Size Bike Description   none 1981 21 Ritchey   none 1981 22.5 Ritchey   30P 1982? 23 Mt Tam (?)   3 54 1982-3 23 Everest   21d 1982 21 McKinley   2Pd 1982 23 McKinley   1d3 1983 20 McKinley   185 1982 20 McKinley   2085 1983   Mount Tam   253 1984 23 Mount Tam   393 1983 21.5 Mt Tam   0 0 8 0 1984 19 Everest - Fisher "A" Frames Some of the "Everest" frames recieving "A" serial numbers (origially these were "R" or randomly numbered frames). These frames seem to have a peaked seat tube cluster instead of the more common flat top. Sometime in '83 the Annapurna model starting using this serial number designation. Prior to this, "C" model frames had the same features as the Annapurna (although no mention of the model name is made until the '85 catalog).   Serial Number Year Size Bike Description   24A1 1981 24 Everest   23A5 1983 23 Everest   21A15 1983 21 Everest   3A2 1983 23 Annapurna   2A4 1985 22 Annapurna   0A21 1985 20 Annapurna   0A22 1985 20 Annapurna   2A23 1986 22 Annapurna   1A25 1985 21 Annapurna   A12 1986 22 Annapurna   8A6 1988? 18 Everest new 1/27 8A8 1988 18 Everest "B" Frames The "B" frames came out of the "Mountain Bikes II" frameset, the slightly less nice version of the Ritchey Mountain Bike frame. Originally called the Mt Tam in '83, it was replaced by the TimberWolf in '84. The TimberComp was the same frame with slighlty nicer components and roller-cam brakes. The Commando was the same frame with camo paint and black components.   Serial Number Year Size Bike Description   2B102 1982 21.5 McKinley   218B10 1983 21     22B2 1983 22 ?   23B28 1983 23 Mount Tam   20B42 1983 20 Mount Tam   20B48 1983 20 Mount Tam   21B51 1983 21 Everest   20B67 1983 20 Commando   264 1984 18 Commando   5B1 1984 25 Timber Comp   8B10 1984 18 Timber Wolf   8B15 1984 18 Timber Wolf   9B23 1985 19 Timber Wolf   4B26 1984 22 Timber Wolf updated 1/27 0B27 1985 20 Timber Wolf   9B39 1984 19 Commando   8B44 1985 18 Commando   1B48 1985 21 Timber Wolf   3B48 1985 23 Timberline   0B50 1985 20 Timber Wolf   8B53 1985 18 Timber Wolf   8B57 1985 18 Timber Comp   8B134 1986 18 Timber Comp   1B135 1986 21 Commando   0B136 1985 20 Timber Comp   8B138 1986 18 Timber Comp   1B168 1984-5 21 Timber Wolf   8B169 1987 18 Timber Comp   1B170 1987 21 Timber Comp   unknown 1984-5 20 Timber Wolf   8B176 1985 18 Timber Comp   8B177 1985 18 Timber Comp   1B190 1985 21 Commando   9B190 1985 19 Timber Wolf   8B199 1988 18 Timber Comp   8B203 1988 18 Timber Comp   0B218 1985 20 Timber Comp   1B227 1985 21 Timber Comp   0B248 1984 20 Commando   1B256 1985 21 Timber Wolf   B260 1985 19 Timber Comp   9B261 1985 19 Timber Wolf   0B275 1985 20 Timber Wolf   1B276 1988 21 Timber Comp updated 8/1 0B278 1985 20 Timber Comp   1B291 1985 21 Commando   9B291 1986 19 Commando   0B300 ? 20 Timber Wolf   9B317 1987 19 Timber Comp   1B324 1986 21 Timber Comp   9B329 1987 19 Timber Comp   0B343 1985 20 Timber Comp   1B346 1985 21 Commando   0B365 1984 20 Commando   9B367 1986-7 19 Timber Comp   9B371 1985-6 19 Timber Comp   0B388 1985? 20 Timber Wolf   9B399 1988 19 Timber Comp new 6/7 9B406 1988 19 Timber Comp   1B414 1988 21 Timber Comp new 6/7 1B420 1988 21 Commando   0B432 1989 20 Timber Comp   9B449 1989 19 Timber Comp   0B449 1985 20 Timber Comp   1B478 1989 21 Timber Comp   1B480 1988 21 Timber Comp   0B484 1986 20 Timber Comp   0B534 1986 20 Commando   0B602 1986 20 Commando   0B631 ? 20 Timber Comp   0B642 1988 20 Timber Comp   unknown 1988 19 Timber Wolf   R75 1989 20 Timber Comp   8B216 1990 18 Timber Comp "C" Frames Introduced in '83 as the Competition model, replaced in '84 by the TeamComp, and again in '87 by the SuperComp. The SuperComp was made from Tange Prestige, and the previous models were Columbus steel. Also, Competition frames which later became the Annapurna get this designation. "C" frames were introduced in '83 with the Competition model, which was replaced by the TeamComp in '84, and later by the SuperComp in '86.   Serial Number Year Size Bike Description   21C2 1982-3 21 Competition   21C9 1983 21 Competition   22C9 1983-4 22 Competition   21C11 1983 21 Competition   SC11 1984 22 Competition - Fisher   1C3 1984 21 Team Comp   2C7 1984 21 Team Comp   8C9 1984 18 Team Comp new 1/27 9C10 1984 19 Team Comp   9C13 1985 19 Team Comp   0C14 1985 20 Team Comp   2C16 1984 22 Team Comp   1C17 1985 21 Team Comp   0C18 1985 20 Team Comp   0C31 1985 20 Team Comp   9C49 1985 19 Team Comp   0C48 1985 20 Team Comp   0C50 1985 21 Team Comp   1C50 1985 21 Team Comp   1C64 1985 21 Team Comp   1C65 1985 21 Team Comp   2C73 1988 22 Super Comp   9C77 1987 18 Super Comp   0C78 1985 20 Team Comp   8C80 ? 19 Super Comp   9C80 1986 19 Super Comp   1C85 1986 21 Team Comp   9C86 1986 19 Team Comp   9C87 1987 19 Super Comp   1C91 ? 21 Team Comp   7C6 1988 18 Super Comp   9C106 1987 19 Super Comp   1C108 ?? 21 Timber Comp   1C128 1987 21 Super Comp   1C134 1989 21 Super Comp   9C142 1989 19 Super Comp   9C155 1989 19 Super Comp   0C156 1988-9 20 Super Comp new 1/27 9C188 1989? 21 Super Comp   10195 1987 21 Super Comp   0C203 1988 20 Super Comp   0C243 1988 20 Super Comp   0C283 1988 20 Super Comp   unknown 1988 22 Super Comp   unknown 1988 19 Super Comp   0C324 1989 20 Super Comp   209 1989 21 Super Comp   6C11 1990 17 Super Comp   SC9 ? 19 Super Comp

Ascent / Ascent Comp / Aspen These bikes were the first Japanese bikes imported by Ritchey.   Serial Number Year Size Bike Description   284?? 198? 18 Ascent SE   5K00141 1985 18 Ascent   737 1987 17 Ascent new 6/7 858 1987(?) 19 Ascent   A500186 1985 20 Ascent new 6/7 A5A0427 1985 20 Ascent   A5A0573 1985 19 Ascent   A5A0684 1985   Ascent   A5G00011 1985 21 Ascent   A5G00088 1985 20 Ascent   A5G00135 1985 ? Ascent   A5G00165 1985 22.5 Ascent   A5G00229 1985 21 Ascent new 1/27 A5L00095 1985 19 Ascent   A6A00251 1986 20.5 Ascent   A6A00251 1986 20.5 Ascent   A6B00328 1986 19.5 Ascent   A6I00107 1986 18 Ascent   A7C00395 1987   Ascent   A7C00762 1987 20 Timber Wolf   A7C00779 1987 20 Ascent   A8C00071 1988 18 Ascent   5L0038 1986 19.5 Ascent   5L00079 1986 19 Ascent   unknown 1987 21 Ascent   127 1988 21.5 Ascent   unknown 1985 19 Ascent Comp   6A282 1986 18 Ascent Comp   unknown 1988 18 Ascent Comp   0A529 1989 18 Ascent Comp updated 10/18 2A572 1989 17 Ascent Comp   A618 1988 19 Ascent Comp   1A755 1989 21.5 Ascent Comp   3A876 1990 18 Ascent Comp   3A946 1989 21 Ascent Comp   **677 (partial) 1988 19 Ascent Comp   684 1989 20 Ascent Comp   A735 1989 18 Ascent Comp   unknown 1990 17.5 Ascent Comp   035 1990's Ascent Comp new 1/27 A6F00121 1986 17 Aspen   A5L00154 1985 20 Aspen   A5L00262 1985 20 Aspen   A6F00248 1986 17.5 Aspen   A6F00257 1986 18 Aspen   A6A00499 1987 18 Aspen   A6A00478   20 Aspen "P" Series The P-23 was introduced in 1990. The "Team" designation was given to fillet-brazed frames. In 1994 the frame was called the "Comp-23" as the lighter P-22 and P-21 frames took the limelight off of the slighter heavier P-23 frame. In subsequant years the frame was called the "Comp Shocker," "Crazy Pete," and finally the "Comp." The P-22, P-21, and P-20 frames where made from lighter tubeset than the P-23. "Team" and "WCS" was added to the names of the fillet brazed models.   Serial Number Year Size Bike Description   p05 1989-90 20 P-23 Team   8P5 1990 18 P-23 Team   8p11 1990? 20 P-23   9P10 1990 19 P-23 Team   1P19 1992 20 P-22 Team   8P39 1992 18 P-22 Team new 1/27 303 1990 20 P-23   308 1990 20 P-23   328 1990? 19 ?   390 1989-90 18 P-23   409 1989 17 P-23   424 1989 19 P-23 Team   444 1990 19 P-23   473 1990-91 17 P-23   628 1990 18 P-23   678 1989 20 P-23 Team   680 1990 20 P-23   731 1990 19 P-23   813 ? 20 P-23   1873 1989-90 18 P-23   unknown 1989-90 18 P-23   none 91 21 P-23 LiteBeam   8231 1994 17 Comp-23   P484 1995 17 Crazy Pete   P727 1995 19 Crazy Pete   0152 ? ? Comp   9011 92-93 19 Comp   P673   19 Comp   P0151 2002 18 Comp   P0208 1998? 18 Comp             P430 91-92 17 P-22   459 ? 18 P-22   1234 1992-3 21 P-22 new 1/30 1329 1993 16 P-22   1490     P-22   1583 1992-4 19 P-22   1677 1991 20 P-22   1905 1992 18 P-22   8179 1991-2 19 P-22   9009 1992 15 P-22   9065 1993 ? P-22   unknown 1992 18 P-22 new 1/27 P487 1995 19 P-22   8P22 1992 18 P-22 Team   8P31 ? 18 P-22 Team new 6/7 9P38 ? 19 P-22 Team   0P45 ? 20 P-22 Team   99780 1993 ? 21 P-22 Team ?   P002 199? 18 P-21   7P39 1993 17 P-21   9P73 1993 19 P-21   9P82 199? 19 P-21   8P85 1993 18 P-21   P012 1996 17 P-21   P540 ? ? P-21   P545 1995 18 P-21   P555 1995 19 P-21   P564 1995 18 P-21   P590 1993 18 P-21   P593 1993 16 P-21   1P34 1994 21 P-21 Team   0P59 ? 20 P-21 Team   P21 157 ? 15 P-21   P21 226 ? 17 P-21   unknown 1994 17 P-21   1609 1993? 22 P-20   8207 ? 17 P-20 (?)   unknown 1996? 20 P-20   P0138 1997 17 P-20   P0260 1997 18 P-20   P20 362 1998 17 P-20   P20 0100 1994 17 P-20 new 1/27 P20 0323 1977 20 P-20   P20 0391 ? 17 P-20   PT16 0583 1997 16 P-20   PT21 1008 1999? 21 P-20 Ultras   Serial Number Year Size Bike Description   A6F00206 1987 19.5 Ultra   A7C00023 1987 19 Ultra   A7C0058 1987 16 Ultra   3U056 1987   Ultra   U057 1987 17 Ultra   6U233 1987 20 Ultra   0U379 1989 17 Ultra new 1/27 0U464 1990 20 Ultra   4661 ? 17 Ultra   7543 1989 18 Ultra   895 1990 16 Ultra   7U103 1990 18 Ultra Other   Serial Number Year Size Bike Description   00429 1988 21.5 Outback   30032 1988 17.5 Outback   30200 1988 20 Outback   E 3 1992 19 Everest   9E3 1992? 19 Everest   1E8 1990's 21 Everest   8E10 1992-3 18 Everest   9E8 1992 19 Everest   T500 1993 19 Lite Beam   S007 1994 21 Lite Beam   AS054 1994 17 Lite Beam   T1140 1995? 19 Soft Tail   SOFT 88 1997 17 Soft Tail   SOFT 0229 ? ? Soft Tail   0249 1998 20 Soft Tail   SOFT 0030 1996 20 Soft Tail   SOFT 0354 1997 17 Soft Tail   S0P 0379   17 Soft Tail   P0069   17 Plexus   PL21 0281 1998-9 21 Plexus   PL18 0379 2000 18 Plexus   PL20 0409 2000 20 Plexus   NT21 1004 2001 21 NiTi   NT18 1108 2003 18 NiTi Lugged / Canadian Frames *   Serial Number Year Size Bike Description   4HO3119 1985?   tig welded Ritchey   4HO81881 1984   lugged Ritchey   6D00168 1986 18.5 lugged Ritchey   6H1399 1986 19 lugged Ritchey   R8126 1988 20 Force Comp * More info on Ritchey lugged frames and Canada-only frames. Road and 'Cross Bikes   Serial Number Year Size Bike Description   none 1982 60 Road   90R9 ? 57 Road Logic   177R1 ? 57 Road Logic   0206 ? 56 Road Logic   532 1992 58 Road Logic   9422 1994 50 Road Logic   ROAD 0017 1997 54 Road Logic   RL58 D108 2001? 58 Road Logic   RL52 1010 ? 52 Road Logic   RL50 2004 2004 50 Road Logic   14R8 1988 56 Road Classic   49A8 1989 49 Road Classic   99R9 1990 58 Road Classic   T2802R 199? 60 Road Classic   RC54 1006 ? 54 Road Classic   030198 1998 57 Road Classic   4R9 (partial) 2004 61 Road Classic   SC 0144 1997? 58 Swiss Cross   SC 0235 1997 52 Swiss Cross   SC 0913 2000? 58 Swiss Cross Tandems   Serial Number Year Size Bike Description   none 1978 large Tandem   none 1983 22 x 21 Tandem   none 1983 20.5 x 20.5 Tandem   T115 1985 medium Skyliner   T136 1987 21/19 Skyliner   T170 1987 20/18 Skyliner