They are a useful tool in helping recover bikes after theft and also to establish the model. The good news is most bikes have them. The bad news is there is no standardization method, which can leave you wondering what your number actually means. The number and sometimes letters can include digits that represent the month, year or model code — as sequential production number or variants of any of these.
Schwinn, for example, has quite a simple system with only a few variants that include the date of manufacture. Trek is more typical of what you can expect to find. They have changed their system a few different times, so it can be a little more complicated. Mostly you can find the date after some research. Thankfully, there are resources online such as Vintage Trek to help you crack the code. There are however many brands who have no real guidelines or records of what the code represents.
Most serial numbers are found under the bottom bracket, although some can be found on the headset or one of the frame tubes. You can still easily get to it as the this video shows:. At some time, every old bike was the latest model, and with that usually comes marketing, catalogs and bike manuals. There are still a lot of these resources online and in print and to help identify vintage bikes.
However, these are sometimes painted over, but all is not lost if the name has been removed along the way. My Ten Speed has a page that helps distinguish different bikes over the decades. While American Vintage Bicycles has enough information and images to be a great starting point.
Keep in mind that the serials used for Raleigh Choppers - while apparently a nearly identical 7-digit system - do not corrispond well with those of the larger bicycles. For now, it should be assumed that the Choppers' serial system is separate until proven otherwise.
Men's models will have the stamping on the top of the lug, ladies' frames will have the serial stamped to the front of the lug. Addendums and warnings: Both of these systems are often covered deep in paint - do not be surprised if you only find 5 or 6 digits!
Given the obvious duplication of serials with bikes produced prior to , we suggest that you use the frame's decals as a supplimentary era guide - please visit our Raleigh Sports Visual ID page for this purpose.
Please understand that this particular chart is a rough draft. Use in conjunction with Sturmey-Archer rear hubs and frameset decals as additional guides.
All of the serial cutoffs are approximated. Please allow for overlap. System "": Early ? These serials are instantly recognizable, as the first digit is always zero, and low-number serials i.
Keep in mind that this serial system - though used on these three models in - are not unique to them during this year. Serial location: Outside of left dropout. Grand Prix dropout photo courtesy "ianbrettcooper" - Bikeforums. Some examples may be stamped on the bottom bracket as on the right. Discontinued in All following digits: Unit in production run Example: A cycle manufactured in Nottingham, in the month of March of the year , would feature the serial "ND The example to the left is "WR," which would indicate Worksop manufacture in November of and most likely a model due to the late month.
Serial location: Serial stamped on bottom bracket both men's and ladies' models ; sample shown above. The Raleigh bicycle serial number location is on the side of the seat lug, front of seat lug, or at the bottom bracket.
The serial convention during this period has six digits, usually followed by the letter P or T. The letter P was introduced and used until , while T was used in the mid s. Another convention used specifically in had digit serials, followed by two random letters like AB. After , Raleigh introduced another serial system. The serial during this period commonly has the prefix RA or RB and is followed by 4 to 5 numerical digits. You can see the dating on the seat lug as well.
In this timeframe, the company also introduced the letter N in their dating technique. The N stands for Nottingham where the bike models were being manufactured. The serial system changed again in this period. This time, it consists of a seven-digit serial, unlike the proceedings with only digits.
Most of the 7-digit serials are at the bottom bracket of the bicycle. It is also called the bottom bracket serial system. In , Raleigh again reintroduced the digit serial system. During this time, the serial never exceeded six digits and can be seen in Grand Prix and Super Course models. The serial location can be found on the seat lug, left dropout, such as in the Grand Prix models.
The serial usually starts with zero and comes in 7 digits. You can see the serial outside the left dropout of your bicycles. Note: Some of the mid's straight gauge frames had serial numbers starting with a single letter which was towards the end of the alphabet.
In , an entirely different numbering system was introduced for the higher end and subsequently Raleighs. Serial numbers should begin with a "W", which stands for Worksop, the facility that produced these frames. This is followed by another alphabet. This alphabet indicates the fortnight in which the frame was built i. The third character is always a numeral.
It indicates the year of manufacture, the decade being assumed i.
0コメント