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03-17-08, 07:32 AM
#1
droopy
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Do Bikes Have VIN 's (Vehichle ID Numbers)
Here's the deal. I was in an accident and had to go to the hospital. When I got out and got the police report, it listed my bike as having a VIN. Was the cop on crack or do I in fact have a VIN? Do you think they engraved one someplace?
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03-17-08, 07:45 AM
#2
I_bRAD
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probably the serial number. Turn it over and look on the frame between the pedals.
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03-17-08, 08:05 AM
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Hobartlemagne
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Serial numbers could be the same if you compare different manufacturers.
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03-17-08, 08:24 AM
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maddmaxx
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The number stamped into the bottom bracker is the equivalent of a VIN # and is normally the number you use to register your frame in the national bicycle registry.
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03-17-08, 08:30 AM
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Hobartlemagne
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A Serial number is not a Vehicle ID Number. A manufacturer can easily duplicate a number used by a different manufacturer.
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03-17-08, 08:31 AM
#6
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Originally Posted by maddmaxx
The number stamped into the bottom bracker is the equivalent of a VIN # and is normally the number you use to register your frame in the national bicycle registry.
Not all bicycle frames have serial numbers. Early Trek and some Bridgestone frames do not have serial numbers. Custom frames may or may not have them. One custom frame builder from the 1970's would stamp your Social Security number on your frame if you requested it, doing that these days would be a disaster!
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03-17-08, 08:49 AM
#7
maddmaxx
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“Bicycle vehicle identification is similar to the automobile VIN number,” said the task group chair, Patrick Logan, P.E., engineer, Product Development, Burley Design Cooperative, Eugene, Ore. “It is a coded number in a fixed format for all bike manufacturers. The number would indicate such things as the manufacturer, date of manufacture, specific plant, and unit number.” Placement of the code and number of digits is being discussed; comments are welcomed.
since 2000 or thereabouts.
The first 2 letters are SN and the next 3 identify the manufacturer and the location of the facility in which the frame was manufactured........ie SNHFC is Huffy China. There are 13 digits/leters in all.
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03-17-08, 09:15 AM
#8
masiman
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The use of the term VIN by the police was probably to make things simpler for them. A bicycle is treated as a vehicle in the eyes of the law. When police do their investigations and reports they use the same paperwork as for a car, at least when I have seen it.
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03-18-08, 03:08 AM
#9
dwainedibbly
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It's a car-centric world. The police forms are just looking for an identifying number. "VIN" is what cars have, so that's how they think. Give them the S/N (assuming your bike has one.)
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03-18-08, 04:30 AM
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Road Fan
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If as cyclists we believe we have equal rights on the road as motorized vehicles, as the traffic laws of most (all?) US states say, bikes should have VINs. For one thing, it gives police the ability to use existing vehicle ID systems for our benefit, to recover and return stolen bikes. It might not motivate them, but it would enable them. It would also help tell police that we are valid road users, and that laws that we want to our advantage are worth their energy and enforcement.
There needs to be a way to assign VINs to non-ID'd frames.
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03-18-08, 05:25 AM
#11
operator
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Originally Posted by Road Fan
If as cyclists we believe we have equal rights on the road as motorized vehicles, as the traffic laws of most (all?) US states say, bikes should have VINs. For one thing, it gives police the ability to use existing vehicle ID systems for our benefit, to recover and return stolen bikes. It might not motivate them, but it would enable them. It would also help tell police that we are valid road users, and that laws that we want to our advantage are worth their energy and enforcement.
There needs to be a way to assign VINs to non-ID'd frames.
Road Fan
There is. Etch your own serial number into it. You sound like one of them A&S types although i'll reserve judgement for now. Not having a serial number put on your bike by the manufacturer is not a big deal.
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03-18-08, 05:41 AM
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Originally Posted by dwainedibbly
It's a car-centric world. The police forms are just looking for an identifying number. "VIN" is what cars have, so that's how they think. Give them the S/N (assuming your bike has one.)
Concur. It's what the box on the accident report form says.
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03-18-08, 08:18 AM
#13
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was the "VIN" the cop wrote down the same as the serial number on your bike frame?
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03-18-08, 09:06 AM
#14
droopy
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That explains it. And RoadFan, no bikes should not *have* to have VINs. One of the great things about bicycling is that you don't have to deal with the DMV. To me this is actually the biggest reason I choose to bicycle. I don't need permission or license to buy, sell or ride any bicycle and all of those choices are private and untaxed. They should remain so.
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03-18-08, 09:13 AM
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After paying about $1000 to get my full license, I agree 100%.
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03-18-08, 09:29 AM
#16
JeanCoutu
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Some ebikes have proper VIN's so that they can fairly trivially be registered as mopeds in areas where laws do not yet exist regarding ebikes.
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03-18-08, 09:42 AM
#17
masiman
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Originally Posted by Road Fan
.....It would also help tell police that we are valid road users, and that laws that we want to our advantage are worth their energy and enforcement.
...
Road Fan
They know we are valid road users and if anything, I have only seen the police lean in our favor. They have given me the benefit of doubt when I do something slightly against traffic laws (rolling stops, crossing multiple lanes, not signaling, breaking speed limits, etc.). I also have not run into a situation where in an accident, I as a cyclist have been treated unfairly. The problems I have had and have read about have been with drivers. Count me as satisfied with police and their enforcement of the laws. If you have a beef with the laws, bikelane availability or something else, you need to take that up with the appropriate bodies such as your legislators, planning commission, etc.
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03-18-08, 10:10 AM
#18
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Originally Posted by I_bRAD
probably the serial number. Turn it over and look on the frame between the pedals.
I am finding that most modern frames have nothing on the bb in the way of a serial number. Yes there is a mfg serial number but stamped in a carbon fiber frame?
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03-18-08, 10:13 AM
#19
Road Fan
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Originally Posted by operator
There is. Etch your own serial number into it. You sound like one of them A&S types although i'll reserve judgement for now. Not having a serial number put on your bike by the manufacturer is not a big deal.
Oh brother.
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03-18-08, 10:24 AM
#20
Road Fan
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Originally Posted by masiman
They know we are valid road users and if anything, I have only seen the police lean in our favor. They have given me the benefit of doubt when I do something slightly against traffic laws (rolling stops, crossing multiple lanes, not signaling, breaking speed limits, etc.). I also have not run into a situation where in an accident, I as a cyclist have been treated unfairly. The problems I have had and have read about have been with drivers. Count me as satisfied with police and their enforcement of the laws. If you have a beef with the laws, bikelane availability or something else, you need to take that up with the appropriate bodies such as your legislators, planning commission, etc.
Yes, if you have had good experience in your area, more power to you, but in the places I've lived, it can be a lot more spotty. I really have no beef with the laws, and didn't say I did. I also don't think bikelanes solve any problems for experienced road users. I do know you can't fix the roads or the cops for me. All I was trying to do was point out a benefit of having a standardized VIN for bikes. Did I say it was all good? No.
I follow traffic laws for the most part, and always when there are cars around. But as a driver I know that drivers don't always follow the laws (and I often don't when driving), so I know the only way to survive as a cyclist is to be vigilant no matter what the law. Just like we don't depend on the police to prevent every crime that might be done to you. We improve our safety by watching out for ourselves.
Wasn't this about stamping little numbers or something?
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03-18-08, 10:36 AM
#21
caloso
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When I get home tonight I'm getting out my Dremel and etching Avogadro's number onto my BB shell.
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03-18-08, 11:05 AM
#22
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Originally Posted by caloso
When I get home tonight I'm getting out my Dremel and etching Avogadro's number onto my BB shell.
LOL!!!
I need a bigger frame so I can finish pi.
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11-02-09, 05:36 PM
#23
danarnold
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There's no number VIN or otherwise I can find on my new Kestrel. I've written the manufacturer and the dealer. Nothing. I'll prob'ly figure out a way to put my own ID # somewhere, but it would be nice to have something from the manufacturer. All I can think of is using the receipt # and the date of purchase.
With a carbon fiber frame, I don't think you can safely engrave a number. I'll prob'ly print something and epoxy it to the frame and clear coat it.
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11-02-09, 05:42 PM
#24
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Originally Posted by danarnold
There's no number VIN or otherwise I can find on my new Kestrel. I've written the manufacturer and the dealer. Nothing. I'll prob'ly figure out a way to put my own ID # somewhere, but it would be nice to have something from the manufacturer. All I can think of is using the receipt # and the date of purchase.
With a carbon fiber frame, I don't think you can safely engrave a number. I'll prob'ly print something and epoxy it to the frame and clear coat it.
Learn to read post dates please.
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