BikeRegister - The National Cycle Database (2024)

FAQs

Can you look up a bike serial number? ›

Each manufacturer has their own identification system. But the first numbers usually indicate the year, and then month of manufacture. And the remaining numbers indicate the specific ID of that bike. The best way to read a bicycle serial number is to search the web for “[brand name] bike serial number decoder”.

To search by serial number, head over to Stolen.BikeIndex.org and search there. If you need to report a stolen bike, head over to our Bike Submission Page.

You can increase the chances that your bike will be found and returned to you if you register your bike though. Registration markings act as a deterrent to thieves in the first place, because they know a registered bike will be harder to resell with potential purchasers able to check if it has been stolen.

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.

Bike Index is a free, universal, open-source, nonprofit bicycle registry. With over 600 partner organizations, almost a quarter of a million registrations, and over $7 million in stolen bicycle recoveries, we take the guesswork out of registration.

To tell if a motorcycle is stolen, you can have your local DMV run a VIN inspection, use online VIN inspection databases, contact your insurance and have them search their database, contact shops where the owner supposedly had the motorcycle serviced, notice any hesitancy from the seller, and see if the situation is ...

Get your bike security marked. It's a highly effective, visible deterrent to bike thieves. They know that if they are caught with a registered bike, the owner can be traced and they will be arrested. Security marking products can be found at Secured by Design .

Bikeregister uses a stencil system to mark the bike somewhere on the frame that contains a unique ID number that can be tracked back to the owner. Immobibike uses a small device that is put inside the seat down tube and can be detected with a scanner, giving a unique ID that tracks back to the owner.

Registering on BikeRegister means you could be reunited with your bike in the event of it being stolen. It does not, however, help make it a hard target to thieves. To reduce the chances of becoming a victim of cycle theft, you can purchase one of our Security Marking Kits.

Where do stolen bikes get sold? ›

Check ebay, Gumtree, craigslist. Check out the listings on ebay, Gumtree and craigslist. Thieves will often try to sell stolen bikes through these sites.

ONLY 2.4% of stolen bikes can be recovered. That's why you need to learn some effective bike theft prevention tips to protect your bicycles from thieves. There are 9 bike theft prevention tips you can try to secure your bike from thieves.

Question: Why is Honda the most stolen motorcycle brand? Because of the sheer amount of Honda motorcycles available on the market. Being one of the most popular motorbike brands in the world means more Honda's are stolen more than the average.

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.

The VIN is broken down in to three parts. The first three characters are the world manufacturer identifier (WMI), the next six are the vehicle descriptor section, and the last eight are the vehicle identifier section.

The second digit represents the name of the manufacturer, and the third digit is used to indicate the type of vehicle. Most motorcycles VINs have either a 1 or an A in the third spot. The six digits in the second section indicate technical specifications such as engine size and type, model, and brand.

If there are no stickers on your bike, look for them on the bottom bracket. The start of the serial number almost always references the month and year of the bike's build. Some brands only include the year but this number or character tends to start the serial number to make it easy to understand.

Frame numbers are usually 6-12 characters long codes, combining numbers and letters. A modern standard number consists of 2 letters followed by 7 digits, but this often varies, especially with older pieces.

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

Google Maps assumes a standard moving speed of roughly 16kph (10mph) irrespective of the length of your journey. It also does not take into account time lost due to stopping for water, checking directions, and so on, while it uses the average stopping time for traffic lights, rail crossings and other stops.

Are Google bike times accurate? ›

Average Times

Google Maps cycling directions will also predict your ETA. Most fit cyclists will typically find that the travel times are conservatively on the slow side. For example, a hilly 30-mile route may be projected to take three hours at an average speed of about 10 miles per hour.

If you're wondering how to view cycle paths near you, Google Maps is one of the best tools you can use for free. Launch the mobile app, click the layers icon in the top right-hand corner and select the “Cycling” option under “Map details”. This reveals all of your local area's bike paths, lanes, and trails.

It's so easy to get away with it

One major contributing factor to the increase in bike theft is that it's just so easy for criminals to get away with it. A bicycle's very nature makes it an easy target for theft: they are lightweight and simple to disassemble, making them easy to transport.

To Determine Manufacture Date Based on Serial Number: The 1st three numbers of your serial number will always provide your manufacture date. The 1st number is the YEAR of manufacture; the 2nd & 3rd numbers indicate the MONTH of manufacture. Please see the detailed explanation and examples provided below.

The easiest way is to ask for the serial number via phone or email before you meet up. Most serial numbers are under the frame on the bottom bracket shell. If your seller can't find it there, suggest these other locations. It's very rare for a bike to be without one, so if the seller won't provide it, assume the worst.

Several websites will allow you to check your motorcycle's VIN free of charge. Once you have the VIN, you can go to VinFreeCheck or VINCheck, enter the VIN, and you'll get a free report that includes collision reports, detailed history records, odometer readings, real-time market pricing, and more.

Try to look up your VIN on every site you can, but your most reliable option is always checking the VIN and engine number with your local police or DMV. US goverment supported site provides vehicle reports for a fee. The Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) explained.

Please check that your motorcycle does not already have a system fitted before buying a new one. To check if your bike is fitted with a Datatag system, please call our contact center on 0345 070 0440.

Marking bikes with the Datatag system has proved highly effective at deterring thieves as the police can quickly and easily trace the parts to the original bike. Luscombe explains how a recent industry-wide push for more marking has seen a massive reduction in thefts.

This registration helps police and retailers identify and verify the legitimate owners of bikes, and increases the chance of reuniting stolen bikes with their rightful owners. Your local Community Safety Partnership may also run bike marking events.

What is a randonneur bike? ›

A Randonneur bike can really be anything that is human powered for such events with not much restrictions. However, the general description of a rando bike is a bike that fits somewhere between a dedicated road racing bike and a touring bike.

How They're Different. The most notable difference is the design, or geometry of the frame of each bike. Triathlon bikes have a steeper angle of the seat. Seats on a road bike are positioned at, on average, 78 degrees while the angle on a triathlon bike is closer to 72 degrees.

Obstacle course racing (OCR) is a sport in which a competitor, traveling on foot, must overcome various physical challenges in the form of obstacles.

I'd use a Stanley knife blade to start it off then hope it peels off, expect it will break up and have to pick at it with the blade more. Then remove glue residue with thinners. Damaging the paint with the blade being a lesser concern if you're having it painted.

Indeed, research by 529 Garage suggests that the number of bike stolen (rather than just reported stolen), in the US in 2019 could be closer to 2 million. Which is equivalent to one bike every 30 seconds! The cities with the highest bike crime in the US include (somewhat predictably), New York and San Francisco!

Wheels, saddles, and accessories are the most commonly snagged items, but ultimately no part of your bicycle is safe, not even your co*ckpit.

Make a claim for bike theft on your insurance

Once you have filed a police report for your stolen bike, you should be able to make a claim on your bike insurance if you have any.

If the bike is locked to an insecure structure such as a small sign or tree, the thief is able to lift the bike along with its lock off of the structure. A thief may use a bolt cutter, hacksaw, or angle grinder to cut through the bicycle lock. A thief may pick a lock that has a keyhole.

A bicycle is stolen every 30 seconds in the United States. That's roughly two million bikes a year, totaling about $350 million . To give you some perspective, less than one million motor vehicles are stolen each year in America. Bicycle thefts might be even higher than what's reported.

What motorcycle is the hardest to steal? ›

Triumph Tiger Explorer: Why it won't be stolen: The biggest adventure bike that weighs 271kg has provisions to fit panniers at the sides making it inches wider than the Gold Wing. Hence, forget stealing it, even owners find it difficult to take it off the stand and ride it.

As mentioned previously, head injuries are the most common cause of fatal injuries in a motorcycle wreck. However, there are several other common causes of fatal accidents. The most common fatal injuries include: Head injuries.

The Most Dangerous Motorcycles

Cruisers: As much as 50% of the motorcycles on the road today are classified as motorcycle cruisers. This also means that they account for a large percentage of the accidents. Additionally, cruisers may encourage riders to wear less protective gear in order to maintain their 'cool image.

The first five digits with the serial number above are the date the bike was made. The first and the fifth digits together represent the year the bicycle was manufactured. So we will find that the manufacturing year was 1986. The next three digits from the 2nd to 4th place show the day and month the product was made.

Most typically the bike frame number can be found stamped on the bottom bracket. However, it's not always and might not be stamped at all. It can sometimes be found on a sticker, especially with carbon frames.

Vehicle Identifier Section (VIS)

When buying a used motorcycle, you can always check the 10th character, which reveals the model year: "1", "2", and other upcoming numbers represent years "2001", "2002", etc. The letter "A" stands for "2010" while "B" is "2011", etc.

Several websites will allow you to check your motorcycle's VIN free of charge. Once you have the VIN, you can go to VinFreeCheck or VINCheck, enter the VIN, and you'll get a free report that includes collision reports, detailed history records, odometer readings, real-time market pricing, and more.

The model number and date code can be found on a small silver sticker by the non-chain side crank arm, above the pedals on the frame of the bike.

Whether it's associated with a motorcycle, dirt bike, ATV, or car, each VIN is 17 characters long, and alpha-numeric, which means that they use the numbers 0 through 9 and the letters A through Z.

What does each digit in a VIN mean? ›

The first digit defines the country of origin or the final point of assembly of your vehicle. The second digit indicates the manufacturer and the region where your vehicle was produced. The third digit, when coupled with the first two digits, indicates your vehicle's type or manufacturing division.