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Nice work. Let me know if you need a different stem. I bought a number of new ones from a bike shop in St. Louis. Had a friend there pick them up for me so they're still down in STL but I can have him check what's available.

It's always easier to pin the model down when the bike has most of its original parts, as yours did.

I was able to download both of them just now.

Wonder why. I downloaded the French (1990 I think) catalog a couple of weeks ago with no problem. I can email it to you if you want.

You didn't happen to save the serial number by chance?

The sticking point for me with it being a 1988 is the August build date. I think we've come across one bike built in June that was a next year's model. I'm sure that the change to next year's model production varied depending on how sales were going and other factors. There were two U-brake...

Thanks. The gold stuff really doesn't show up very well in the washed out pic. For example, he also gold plated the spoke protector, quick releases, and most of the brake and shifter hardware.

Bike looks to be in fantastic shape. Good to know there's a more modern shock that can be made to work on the SV frames. Have you ridden it yet? Just wondering about setting it up.

Wish we had more European catalog scans, as we seem to get a lot of questions on models that don't appear in the US catalogs.

OK, very strange way to mount a rack as the frame has tapped holes just above for that specific purpose. You might be able to drill the heads off the clamp bolts if they're too tight to move. Guessing there's a tool that will loosen them though. If you're in Providence I can probably find...

Serial number works out to: 20 = 20" frame, built on August 4th, 1988, the 21st frame made that day. The August build date indicates a 1989 model. According to the catalog, only the SM400 and SM900 were offered in red that year. Of the components I can identify, none match the spec sheet...

I would check with Craig here: http://mendoncyclesmith.com/

My guess is that it's a 1995 model, even though not shown in the catalog. European only model perhaps? Check the 2 letter code on the BB shell for production date.

Nice bike. Looks to be a 2000 Super V 700SX, at least that's the corresponding US model. Made in June, 1999. First year for Lefty were the 2000 models, all the 1999 Super Vs had Headshoks or Moto downhill forks. I've seen nice Headshok Super Vs sell for as little as $250 but don't have a...

Got a reply to my inquiry at L.L. Bean. The bikes were only sold at their retail store in Freeport Maine and were never listed in the catalogs. They couldn't give me any more information. Serial number will tell year and size.

Guessing it's an ST built especially for Bean to sell. Fork doesn't look original to me, they usually had Tange forks with cast crowns. Check the serial number, either on bottom bracket shell or underside of chain stay. Plastic cable guides and caliper brakes put it in the 1987-1989 range.

Why French? Pretty sure it's been repainted with non-original decals. Build looks pretty consistent with a 1987 SR400. Not sure about the brake levers, Modolo perhaps? Serial number will establish year.

It's hard to find an original fork to fit a 27" frame. I had a 25" frame around here for a couple of years without finding a matching fork. Ended up using a Kinesis aluminum cyclocross fork on it. On a similar Nishiki frame I used a Surly fork. Although the geometry was somewhat compromised...

27" frame, which makes it a touring frame, likely an ST400 (mystic blue). The road frames used metric sizing but only went up to 63 cm, roughly 25". Your frame was the 38th made on April 27, 1989.

Pretty sure that's a 1987 SM400. It retailed for $475. Looks to be original except for the saddle.