Bike theft is a common occurrence in American society with an average of 1.5 million bicycles stolen per year, amounting to over $350 million in lost property. Many thefts are not reported, while those that are have less than a 5% recovery rate.
Schwinn Serial Numbers and Date Codes. If you have a Schwinn from this era, please, PLEASE send us pictures of your bike and serial number (Cutter@Re-Cycle.com). We are in the process of collecting pre-1948 serial numbers in the hopes of rebuilding the date code system for this period. 1970 - 1979 Chicago built Schwinn serial numbers.
What can you do? Lock your bike properly and keep it inside, of course. But before the unthinkable happens, make sure you have a way to reference your bicycle's serial number. The bicycle's serial number is commonly referenced by law enforcement and by pawn shops and is often to only way to prove ownership of a bike.
Outlined here is a method to find your bicycle's serial number and register it (for free) using an available online database.
1Identify your Serial Number
Every factory-built bike will have a serial number, usually to identify the model and date of production. The serial number can be in different places depending on the manufacturer.
Most typically, the serial number is printed or engraved on the underside of the bottom bracket shell, where the cranks and frame meet. Other common places include the outer/inner face of the non-drive side chainstay (the frame tube closest to the chain), or under the head badge.
If you're still having trouble locating your bike's serial number, reference the manufacturer's website for helpful tips.
2Take pictures
Take a lot of pictures.
Not just for the 'gram. Pictures of you with the bike will prove ownership.
Pictures of the bicycle's drive-side (the side where the chain is) will allow experts to identify unique components.
Plan on taking these pictures:
- Serial number (see pic 1),
- You and the Bike together,
- Drive-side picture of the bike (to display components),
- Overhead handlebar shot,
- Any unique or non-stock additions: how does your bike stand out?
Input the info into Project529.com
Formerly NationalBikeRegistry.com, Project529.com is a free online database which will store the serial numbers for all of your bikes. They offer lifetime registration with only a name and email address.
After creating an account, input all the previous data into these web forms.
Congratulations! Your serial number and important information are saved!
Now if your bike is stolen, you have a far better chance of recovering it.
4Optional: Register with the local authorities
Seek out your local law enforcement's website and do a quick search for bicycle registration. Many larger police departments (and even some smaller ones) will have a form to register the serial number and other important information about the bike.
We are happy to answer technical questions by email but please:
Do not write or phone us to ask the age or value of your bike.
All of the information we have on that is on this Web page or on SheldonBrown.com/raleigh.html
Also see information at Kurt Kaminer's Headbadge site.
Denmark's Bicycle VIN/dating system
Note that the serial number information below is fragmentary and incomplete, and many bikes have proven to be much newer than the serial numbers would suggest. It appears that Raleigh recycled many of the older serial numbers in later years, so there are lots of bikes from the 60s and 70s that have serial numbers that would suggest much greater age.
Note that the serial number information below is fragmentary and incomplete, and many bikes have proven to be much newer than the serial numbers would suggest. It appears that Raleigh recycled many of the older serial numbers in later years, so there are lots of bikes from the 60s and 70s that have serial numbers that would suggest much greater age.
| Sturmey-Archer Hubs | 1988 - 1925 | 1925 - WWII | WWII - 1955 | 1955 - 1966 | 1967 - 1973 | 1972 - 1980's | 1980's - Present |
Sturmey-Archer Hubs
Almost all English 3-speeds have Sturmey-Archer rear hubs. Sturmey-Archer was a division of Raleigh, made many different models since 1902, and were still in business until October, 2000. The company was sold to a group of money manipulators who shut it down in hope of making a quick profit by selling off the assets. The Taiwanese company Sunrace bought the equipment, stock and rights to the name and is back in business.Most older Sturmey-Archer hubs have two or three-letter model codes, which are usually stamped onto the hub shell. Conveniently, they also usually have the month and the last two digits of the year of manufacture stamped onto the shell. This is the easiest way to date a 3-speed bicycle, if it has its original rear wheel.
1888-1925
Prior to 1925, genuine Raleighs (not necessarily brand names made by Raleigh) had a straightforward numerical frame number. Early years have been estimated by the Company. (Info from the Nottinghamshire Archives)
Note that the serial number information below is fragmentary and incomplete, and many bikes have proven to be much newer than the serial numbers would suggest. It appears that Raleigh recycled many of the older serial numbers in later years, so there are lots of bikes from the 60s and 70s that have serial numbers that would suggest much greater age.
| 1888: 1500 1889: 3200 1890: 5200 1891: 7600 1892: 10500 1893: 13900 1894: 19100 1895: 25300 1896: 32100 1897: 39913 | 1898: 45981 1899: 54032 1900: 65152 1900: 69868 1901: 77342 1902: 89622 1903: 102954 1904: 112673 1905: 129228 1906: 154917 | 1907: 183073 1908: 215650 1909: 249081 1910: 285669 1911: 328748 1912: 375693 1913: 427829 1914: 482851 1915: 517198 1916: 545198 | 1917: 569737 1918: 592473 1919: 621678 1920: 654502 1921: 688291 1922: 738447 1923: 809184 1924: 899465 1925: 998077 |
1925-Second World War
Between 1925 and the cessation of cycle production during the Second World War, letters prefixed or suffixed the running frame number although no indication is given of the starting point of the numbers. They seem to reflect only the number of machines produced whilst each letter was in use. All dating would therefore be approximate. (Info from the Nottinghamshire Archives)
| 1925: A1 1925: B34181 1926/27: B56536 1929: E15693 1930: G94785 1933: L84682 | 1934: T93945 1934: U14540 1935: W71147 1936: W93161 1937: Y184552 |
Post Second World War - 1955
After the war, Raleigh began adding letters after the running number series which restarted when a new letter was used. (Info from the Nottinghamshire Archives)
| 1947: 437689 P 1948: 556894 P 1949: 695051 P 1951: 151179 T 1952: 236530 T | 1953: 367369 T 1954: 566722 T 1955: 747951 T 1956: 852312 T 1957: 872584 T |
1955 - 1966
A new numbering system was introduced in 1955, though this ran concurrently with the old one for two years. The new system involved a second running letter, added to the first, which began at the start of the alphabet.
| 1956: 23839 A 1957: 27227 AB 1958: 17910 AD 1960: 27273 AE | 1961: 13126 AF 1965/6: 40814 FD 1966: 64521 FE |
Note: Some of the mid-60's straight gauge 531 frames had serial numbers starting with a single letter which was towards the end of the alphabet.
1967 - 1973
Yet another number system was introduced in 1966. This new system applied to the high-end (i.e. Reynolds 531) frames, and involved the placing of a character at the beginning of the serial number. The character began at the start of the alphabet, and indicated year of manufacture. Detail about the numerals that follow the alphabet are sketchy, and are presumably sequential serial numbers of some kind.
Where Is My Bikes Serial Number Search
1966: A, followed by four numerals | 1970: E, followed by four numerals |
Note: While this numbering scheme is generally true, there may have been some crossover use of letters at the beginning/end of each year (e.g. a 'G' serial number may have been built into a bike in 1973, but the frame may have been built in 1972).
1974 - 1980's
In 1974, an entirely different numbering system was introduced for the higher end (531 and subsequently 753) 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.e. A = 1st fortnight, B = 2nd, etc.). The third character is always a numeral. It indicates the year of manufacture, the decade being assumed (i.e. '4' could be '74 or '84; it is up to the interpreter to know enough to tell if the frame is from the 70's or 80's). What then follows is a series of numbers. At this point, these appear to be some sort of sequence, but this has not been substantiated.
American made Raleighs manufactured in Kent, Washington, By Derby Cycle
Sample number: R 003310123A
- R (all)
- Digits 1 & 5 are year. Sample is from 2001
- Digits 2,3,4 are day (001-365). Sample is from February 2
- Digits 6-9 are sequential. Sample is the 123rd bike built that shift.
- A = morning shift B= evening shift. Sample is morning shift.
Letter code may or may not be present, depending on production schedule.
Where Is My Bikes Serial Number Located
Where Is My Bikes Serial Number Lookup
- The 531DB Gran Sports built in the early 70's did not have letters in the serial number.
- Frames built at the Ilkeston facility have serial numbers that begin with 'SB'.
- The 1973 track frames begin with an 'A'.
- There are several documented cases of '73 and '74 Professionals, Internationals, Competitions and RRAs with 'A' serial numbers. Let the color scheme, decals and components be your guide.
Where Is My Bikes Serial Number Lookup
We are happy to answer technical questions by email but please:
