Hey everyone. I've been reading and researching for months on this site. I can't seem to figure out for sure what year my bike is. Hopefully someone can help me.
The bike is an GT performer original magenta color (it is not red or hot pink). It's never been painted. The mags on the bike are also the original mags that came with it. The serial number is on the dropouts is GH8820751. There is nothing on the BB. but it does have a 4130 on the back of the top tube under the stamped GT logo. It was my brothers bike and he swears it was an 88. He was throwing it out the day I stopped over and pulled it out of his trash. Can anyone tell me for a fact if this is an 88? The mags are the OG 6 prong, off center mags that were on the Performers first in 87. I am confused because I didn't think the 88's came with those type of mags. Any help on this would be appreciated. I have read every thread on serial numbers and still can't figure it out completely.
Thanks for your help.

Pictures would help, but it does sound like an 88. 88 was the first year of the tomahawk style mags, but it could be an early model fitted with overstock 87 mags. What style decals does it have?


87 decals would be this style:
http://bmxmuseum.com/bikes/gt_bicycles/22802

88 decals:
http://bmxmuseum.com/bikes/gt_bicycles/803

Both of those appear to be magenta.

thanks for the feedback. i appreciate it. i have learned that the bike is in fact an 88. after digging up old photos, i can tell you that it was exactly like that magenta 88 link you provided EXCEPT for the mags. it has the mags from the 87 that you linked. Also, on the gt manuals on ajk's site, it shows the 87's with the same mags. that's why i was confused. the decals were exactly like the ones in the 88 pic. it is looking like that will be the hardest thing for me to find. i've been searching for months. it is really too bad that gt wont allow anyone to make them.

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