MTB frame recognition

[battered]

I've just got hold of this frame from a mate, I fancy building it up. It's a decent one, ally and about 18". I thought initially it was a Kona but the seat clamp slot faces back, and my Konas have all had the slot forwards. In addition the top tube isn't very sloping. My pal says it may be a Spesh but a Spesh I've seen has an "S" near the rear dropouts and this one doesn't. It has a gusset near the steerer tube, the dropouts look very similar to Kona, as does the frame number stanping. The top tube is flattened vertically for the last few inches. At a guess it's about 10 yrs old. Does anyone have any idea what it is? Pics are attached.
http://i359.photobuc...t/dropout-1.jpg
http://i359.photobuc...t/seatclamp.jpg
http://i359.photobuc.../seatclamp2.jpg
http://i359.photobuc...numberstamp.jpg
http://i359.photobucket.com/albums/oo37/batteredoldsupersport/gusset.jpg
http://i359.photobucket.com/albums/oo37/batteredoldsupersport/frameoverview.jpg

 

[Zoiders]

It's nothing as exciting or expensive as a Spesh or Kona from ten years ago, it's got no disc mounts for a start.

Looks very much like a Saracen dirt trax - one of the cheapy range from Saracen at the time.

 

[battered]

Ah yes, no discs, missed that vital point. I don't think it's a cheapie, it feels too light and my pal got it from another pal who'd gone to the lengths of getting it blasted and restoved a few years ago. You wouldn't do that for a cheapie.

So it's older than 2000, probably.

Oh, the headset is a WTB, it may not be orginal but that's what's on it. The triple cable hangers look very much like the Kona ones.

 

[dan_bo]

First look at them crimped and welded chainstays/dropouts and I thought 'rocky mountain' but I ain't so sure. too much standover. And it would say rocky mountain on the dropout.

 

[battered]

Late news item - my Spesh Hardrock hack, about 10 yrs old and ally frame, has no rear disc mounts either.

 

[Zoiders]

Disc tabs started popping up on the mid range stuff in about 98/99 for the likes of Spesh, Kona, GT (pre huffy), not that this frame is any of those.

It might seem "light" but I would try actualy weighing it it, a really light ally frame is also very thin at the butted sections, thin enough that you can tell the difference when you flick the middle of the tube, they are also thin enough to take dent's very easily.

Looking at the hanger it still looks like a cheapy, that pattern of hanger being common on some generic frames, the other thing that concerns me with that frame is the down tube gusset - they are not meant to be welded shut at the bottom and yours is - making it a cosmetic feature copied from more pricey frames by a manufacturer that didn't know better. Welding them shut all the way around weakens the frame and forms a stress riser across the down tube so if you have a front ender it put's a crease in it.

Going by Goldtecs sales chart you seem to be using hanger No 27

http://www.mountainbikecomponents.co.uk/items.asp?CategoryID=180&Name=Carrera+Dropout/Hangers

Found on some later Muddy Foxes, Diamondback and Claude Butler.