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Questions and answers about sports

What kind of bike do I have, “manufacturer/model”

5 min read

Asked by: Alessandra Mott

How can I tell what model my bike is?

The majority of serial numbers are located under the bottom bracket where the two pedal cranks meet. Turn your bike upside down and record the number. If there is no serial number near the cranks, you should check other common places including the front headset or rear stays.

How do I find out what year my bicycle is?

Quote from video: And here's how you find it you just need to flip your bike over. And it should be right there on your bottom bracket.

What is my bike made of?

Carbon (High-Tensile) Steel



Steel is the most commonly used material in bike frames. Carbon or high-tensile steel is a good, strong, long-lasting steel, but it isn’t as light as its more high-tech brother, the steel known as chromoly.

How do you read specialized serial numbers?

Specialized serial numbers typically start with the prefix “WSBC,” “WUD,” “STT,” or “STE.” If you don’t know where the bottom bracket shell of the bike is, simply turn the bike upside-down and the bottom bracket is the part of the frame that the cranks run through.

What does a bicycle serial number look like?

A bicycle serial number often referred to as a bike frame number, is a unique sequence of numbers typically between 6 and 10 digits long. Almost every bike manufacturer stamps a unique frame number onto the bikes they produce[1]. Occasionally before the serial number, there may be a couple of letters.

How long is a bicycle serial number?

six to ten digits

They’re usually referred to as a bicycle serial number, but also at times called a “frame number.” They are stamped onto the frame of a bike and range from six to ten digits long.

Is bike frame number same as serial number?

Yes, “serial number” and “frame number” are the same thing. The number on the sticker should match the number on your bike. Depending on the age of your bike, it will be in one of two places. Bikes built before mid-1999 will have the frame number stamped on the driveside dropout.

How long is a serial number?

Most serial numbers have at least six or seven characters, and some serial numbers have twenty or more. Some manufactures (e.g., Acer) may have both a serial number and an SNID on their devices. However, usually either number would work when calling technical support.

What is the serial number?

A serial number (SN) is a number assigned to each individual product in order to distinguish that product from all others. The serial number is sometimes used only for warranty control and sometimes used for both warranty control and for version control.

Which is better alloy or carbon frame?

Technically, carbon comes out on top. With aluminum frames, manufacturers use different tube shapes and varying thicknesses to control the ride characteristics. But fundamentally, Carbon fiber simply has more potential for engineers to tune ride quality.

Do aluminium bike frames crack?

Aluminum, unlike steel, does not bend well. So if the tube bends one way, it will likely crack if bent back, and it will already be cracked to some degree anyway, even if you cannot see it. So, if the frame tube is bent, unfortunately you will need to replace the frame or bike.

Is steel or aluminum bike frame better?

Aluminum frames are generally stiffer than steel, resulting in a harsher ride. When fractions of a second count, track racers prefer that rigidity. But for getting to the store over city streets steel offers a more forgiving ride. No frame material is more durable than steel.

How do I decode Schwinn serial numbers?

The first letter still represents the month the bike was produced, and the second letter now represents the year. For example, a serial number starting with AA means it was made in January 1965, BA corresponds to February 1965, CC corresponds to March 1967, and so on.

Are old Schwinn bikes worth anything?

In excellent condition, vintage Schwinn bikes can be worth thousands of dollars. In rough shape, they may still be worth several hundred.

How many different types of bikes are there?

11 Different Types of Bicycles Explained (With Photos)

  • Road Bike.
  • Mountain Bike.
  • Touring Bike.
  • Folding Bike.
  • Fixed Gear/ Track Bike.
  • BMX.
  • Recumbent Bike.
  • Cruiser.

How do I identify my BMX bike?

A serial number located on a rear dropout. Some BMX bikes and a few Schwinn bicycles place the serial on the rear dropout. On older Schwinns there are numbers stamped on both the drive side and non-drive side rear dropouts; the one on the non-drive side dropout is the serial number.

How do I identify my Schwinn?

Schwinn bicycles are easy to identify by the Schwinn logo displayed on the bike. But you can also look for the serial number to identify an authentic Schwinn bike. The serial number will also indicate when it was made, which can help you estimate the value of the particular Schwinn bike.

How do I know what kind of BMX bike I have?

@Jordan – if you check the bottom bracket, there might be a serial number or other info there etched into the metal. Post a picture and look for any identifying numbers / letters on the frame, and if any of the parts came originally with the bike list what they are if you can.

How do I know what model my KTM is?

To identify the year of a KTM motorcycle look for the 10/11th digit on the frame/vin number. Engine numbers = the first digit will identify the year of manufacture within a decade. for exanple 5 590 12345 could be 1995, , it can be narrowed down using the next three digits which are the model code.

What is VIN in KTM?

What is a KTM VIN? Every KTM manufacturer assigns a unique ID called Vehicle Identification number (VIN) to each vehicle. This VIN length is 17 digits and is composed of letters and digits holding basic vehicle specification.

How do you tell the year of a bike by the VIN?

The 10th character in the 17-character VIN represents the vehicle model-year. This standard applies to vehicles built in or after 1981.