how do you tell versions of sofriders

[3bs]

since i am going to be sending my t 50 under the knife, and i still have a lot of riding yet to do this year, i decided to build the sofrider to replace the T50. quite interesting. i built it up last weekend very close to stock with 26" wheels and bontrager hybird tires. i would have used schwalbes but i could not find any of the 26" wider ones that i like at a reasonable price. i could not get 700c to fit the front without grinding and i figured i would just use the stock v brakes. The H2's are pretty fast and work good on gravel, rail trail and medium effort off road, but still zip along on pavement. the only thing i did that was a little interesting was i put in a shimano ultegra 52/42/30 crankset on and on my second try, i put an 8 speed 11/32 sram cassette. yes, first gear is actually 30-32 SICK!

i have included a picture of the bike before i got the seat fully reclined and before i put the bigger cassette on.

i had to cant the front mech over just a tad to cover the spread, but because the sram front thumbshifter has a lot of clicks, i can actually run all 8 on all three rings. and it shifts clean. i was able to get the seat to go back to 40 degrees. i rode it on van buren trail as my first test ride, and it was super comfortable, and the gear range was a joke. makes me want to build a q45 to see how current CB tech compares. i also want to take it to some crappy hills and see how ugly of a climb i can do.

but, here is the question. i have no idea what year it is or what version it is. how do you tell?

 

[super slim]

Softrider V1.0 , Grey, 135 mm front, 135 mm rear, 165 mm rear shock, 20 mm spring front.
Softrider V2.0 , first release Mar 08, Blue, 135 mm front, 100 mm rear, 165 mm rear shock, 20 mm spring front..
Softrider V3.0 , first release Apr 13, ?? , 135 mm front, 100 mm rear, 165 mm rear shock, 20 mm spring front...

 

[3bs]

@super slim
based on the picture are you telling me it is a v2 since its blue?
was there any substantive difference between v2 and v3?

 

[3bs]

rode it last night after dinner.
weighs 35 lbs. what a pig.

comfortable though.

https://ridewithgps.com/trips/55454429?privacy_code=7lDOM0cBy9mmrJZU

 

[super slim]

@super slim
based on the picture are you telling me it is a v2 since its blue?
was there any substantive difference between v2 and v3?

From what I can see only the paint colour!!!

 

[3bs]

oftrider V2.0 , first release Mar 08, Blue, 135 mm front, 100 mm rear, 165 mm rear shock, 20 mm spring front..
Softrider V3.0 , first release Apr 13, ?? , 135 mm front, 100 mm rear, 165 mm rear shock, 20 mm spring front...

the only difference you list between v2 and v3 is color (american spelling. which brings up an important question: do things taste better with flavour or flavor?)
so my guess was since it was blue and not "?" that it must be a v2.

 

[MrSteve]

The main tube of the pictured Sofrider frame, the down-tube that connects the head tube to the swingarm bearing, is straight.
Sofrider V1 has a straight tube. Sofrider V1 had a wide swingarm that used a solid rear axle with spacers to mount the rear wheel.
Sofrider V2 had a down-tube with a bend in it. Sofrider V2 had a narrower, slightly longer swingarm that used a QR axle.
The Sofrider in the photo could be an early V2, with an older V1 frame mounting the more modern V2 swingarm.

 

[3bs]

ohhh, so i may have.....wait for it .....wait for it........a Frankenrider.

 

[super slim]

ohhh, so i may have.....wait for it .....wait for it........a Frankenrider.

3bs we are both straight, without any kinks!
So you have a V1.75!!!