In my role as the Bicycle Program Coordinator at the University of California in Davis, California, I am in charge of a campus bicycle registration program that registers over 6000 bikes annually.
In ten years managing the program, I have observed thousands of bikes of many different makes and models. Because the serial number is the key to identifying a bike's owner, finding and accurately recording it is the most important part of the registration process. If the wrong number is recorded, or an error made on the correct one because it is illegible, obscured, or impossible to find, the entire process is a waste of time and money.
Unlike the automobile industry, the bike industry has no standards for serial number applications. Many people think that all serial numbers are stamped on the bottom bracket, but, unfortunately, that is not the case. I have found serial numbers stamped on every frame tube including seat stays, chain stays, and rear dropouts. But location alone is not the biggest problem. What really makes the hunt for serial numbers on bikes challenging is the unfortunate situation common on many brands, both mass market and "serious" bikes, where more than one set of numbers is stamped on the frame with no indication as to which set is the true, unique serial number. The second (and sometimes third) number set is usually a model number or some kind of inventory or production code and is not unique and therefore of no value as an I.D. number.
Some examples may serve to illustrate the extent of the problem. Several mass market brands have two number sets, serial and model, stamped on different frame members. One company puts the model number on the bottom bracket and the serial number on the head tube. Where do you think most police check first? Having each number on both sides of the head tube or one above the other on the bottom bracket is also common --again, with no way for the untrained eye to know which is unique. Several of the best known high-end manufacturers stamp a dizzying array of numbers on their bottom brackets. One of the worst offenders for many years had its serial numbers clearly stamped on the chain stay --not the first place someone would look, but at least it was quite legible when found. About three years ago this same manufacturer began stamping its serial numbers (plus other production codes) on the bottom bracket while leaving a model number of some type on the chain stay!
Other problems include hiding bottom bracket numbers under bolt-on cable guides, covering numbers with thick or multi-colored paint rendering them illegible, trying to get away with numbers on stickers --not stamped, and simply not stamping the numbers deeply enough.
Other than making my life difficult, why is this a problem? The fact is that each year thousands of reported stolen bikes are not being recovered-even when found by police-because of the high likelihood that an incorrect number is on file as the serial number or, if the right number is on file, the officer fails to find the correct one on the bike. Not only are found bikes not returned to their owners, but bike thieves caught in possession of questionable bikes get off scot-free for lack of evidence.
Product safety recalls provide another practical and urgent reason for clarifying serial number placement and appearance. Because serial numbers are often used to specify the range of products being recalled, a clearly identifiable serial number will expedite the return of unsafe bikes for repair or replacement, reducing the chance of the wrong bikes being returned which wastes the bike retailer's time, inconveniences the bike owner, and, worst of all, could result in many, if not most of the defective products never being corrected or replaced.
What's the solution? A simple one would be to have all manufacturers preface the actual serial number with an obvious designation such as "ser." Ideally, the serial number would always be on the bottom bracket (and not covered in any manner) if only because that's the first place most people look. But if it's not possible to get everyone to agree on a standard location, at least the "ser." notation will prevent confusion with other numbers that some manufacturers will probably insist on using.
The cynic in me says that the only reason why the industry would resist this modest proposal would be that it sees the replacement of stolen bikes as a small but steady (and probably increasing) source of revenue. However, the fact is that many theft victims give up cycling out of frustration or switch to cheaper or used equipment out of necessity.
The enhanced recovery of missing bikes should actually fuel many bike shops' repair business and accessories sales (e.g. new or better locks, replacement of stripped or damaged parts).
Let's follow the lead of the automobile industry by standardizing serial number applications as a giant step towards a significant improvement in bike crime statistics.
*Originally published in Bicycle Retailer and Industry News, Nov. 1997.Return to Selected Articles Return to Reference Library Learn more about Bicycle
Forum
Return to the Home Page