Who to date my PK Ripper, Just bought an '80's loop tail Options

[CWRacing83]

Is there a way to get the exact date off the serial number? This was a barn find. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[slowman]

From my understanding there is no date code in the serial number. If you post pictures though then there are other clues that people can use to help you identify it within a range of years.

[MarkMc]

PK serials are merely sequential, from PK2XXXX, probably starting in mid-late 79, through PK7XXXX in 1984.

There are some minor stickering differences in the earlier models, but, the serial is truly all you need to ID the approximate year. The lower the earlier.

[CWRacing83]

PK serials are merely sequential, from PK2XXXX, probably starting in mid-late 79, through PK7XXXX in 1984.

There are some minor stickering differences in the earlier models, but, the serial is truly all you need to ID the approximate year. The lower the earlier.

Thanks I's PK5xxxx

[Indy]

PK serials are merely sequential, from PK2XXXX, probably starting in mid-late 79, through PK7XXXX in 1984.

There are some minor stickering differences in the earlier models, but, the serial is truly all you need to ID the approximate year. The lower the earlier.

which still means nothing more than it was produced between 78 and 84. Dating a Ripper is next to impossible, and by serial alone, it is impossible as far as I am concerned as I've been trying it for many years. Decals did differ from earliest with 2 gen's on looptails but those aren't stamped into the frame by any means and while drop outs changed on early forks, those can also be changed.... The ability to date a PK Ripper frame requires a crystal ball to get it close.

indy

[MarkMc]

which still means nothing more than it was produced between 78 and 84. Dating a Ripper is next to impossible, and by serial alone, it is impossible as far as I am concerned as I've been trying it for many years. Decals did differ from earliest with 2 gen's on looptails but those aren't stamped into the frame by any means and while drop outs changed on early forks, those can also be changed.... The ability to date a PK Ripper frame requires a crystal ball to get it close.

indy

Not really.

PK's didn't debut until 79, not 78. So, knock 78 out of the game. A large segment of 79, there were no serials. So, you start mid/late 79 with 2xxxx. There is also additional documentation showing manufacturing of about 11K frames a year. So, it's actually pretty simple if you just project out at about 10K frames a year to get pretty close.

A 5xxxx PK was probably produced around 1982.

[pk ripped]

Its also important to note that they were making the frames at such a fast clip (constantly backlogged) that they grabbed whatever dropouts were available including Race Inc dropouts and the older diamond dropouts. As well as grabbing dropouts out of sequence. This coming straight from Mike Devitt.

This post has been edited by pk ripped: May 12 2012, 10:18 AM