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Technical & Reference Section => Tech and Restoration => Topic started by: Zippy on August 08, 2009, 12:29 AM

Title: Skyway TA History
Post by: Zippy on August 08, 2009, 12:29 AM: I acquired a TA the other day that has a frame number that suggests it was made in '81 and has a curved brake bridge.

It was white but has seen better days so will be winging it's way to the paint master pretty soon. ;)

Just fancied knowing a bit about the TA history really. I've been on that skyway site but it's a bit bare with details of the TA history.
Title: Re: Skyway TA History
Post by: Bob_Acid on August 08, 2009, 12:38 AM: What's the serial number and how is it written around the bottom bracket? Is it dated as well as numbered? Does it have weep holes in the rear dropouts?
Title: Re: Skyway TA History
Post by: Zippy on August 08, 2009, 12:45 AM: It has the cutouts on the rear dropouts and little holes in the ends of the chainstays and seatstays near the dropouts.

The BB Shell has Skyway written on it and the frame numbers is K 02681
Title: Re: Skyway TA History
Post by: Bob_Acid on August 08, 2009, 12:48 AM: Jap one then, Si :daumenhoch:
Title: Re: Skyway TA History
Post by: Zippy on August 08, 2009, 12:49 AM: Is that good or bad?
Title: Re: Skyway TA History
Post by: Bob_Acid on August 08, 2009, 12:51 AM: Good, pre US made frames. :daumenhoch:
Title: Re: Skyway TA History
Post by: kuwahero on August 08, 2009, 12:54 AM: FYI
http://freenet-homepage.de/SKYWAY/SKYWAYindex.html (http://freenet-homepage.de/SKYWAY/SKYWAYindex.html)
Title: Re: Skyway TA History
Post by: Zippy on August 08, 2009, 12:55 AM: When did they start to make them in the US then?

I've been on that site but didn't find it very useful for the TA history.
Title: Re: Skyway TA History
Post by: Bob_Acid on August 08, 2009, 12:56 AM: I contacted Marco years ago about the K serial bikes and didn't get a reply. I don't think that sites been upadated for a long time.
Title: Re: Skyway TA History
Post by: kuwahero on August 08, 2009, 12:58 AM: no worries. I just can across it randomly and saved in my bookmarks. I aint looked at it myself.
Title: Re: Skyway TA History
Post by: Bob_Acid on August 08, 2009, 01:00 AM: there's a SN registry here

http://www.radbmx.co.uk/forum/index.php'topic=16494.0

and another old thread on the subject here

http://www.radbmx.co.uk/forum/index.php'topic=12419.msg138329#msg138329
Title: Re: Skyway TA History
Post by: Bob_Acid on August 08, 2009, 01:07 AM: I've seen another variant on the TA since though.

Four variants so far, the K's, the USA's and the 86's which were all made after 2002 or i'm a totem pole and another one that has a couple of differences which i can't remember off the top of my head but Funmonster had two of them at MK07.

That's not counting the TA's that came later and were nothing like the early 80's frame or the DBI frame which was just a stock TA.
Title: Re: Skyway TA History
Post by: Zippy on August 08, 2009, 09:57 AM: I had a DBI bike which I bought to turn into a decent Skyway. But sold it to Dan so he could keep it as it was.

Am I right in thinking that all DBI framers were actually TA XL's.
Title: Re: Skyway TA History
Post by: magna13 on August 08, 2009, 10:04 AM: Dont think it can be an '81 either Si, i swear the T/A became made to the public in late '82 ???
Title: Re: Skyway TA History
Post by: Zippy on August 08, 2009, 12:02 PM: Looks like it is an '82. I thought the 81 at the end of the frame number meant it was an '81 frame.
Title: Re: Skyway TA History
Post by: magna13 on August 08, 2009, 12:04 PM: i think K is 82/83 and the 2681 is the number of the frame made :daumenhoch: think US versions started in 84?