General Cycling Discussion - Can you positively ID your bike?

If you where faced with having to pick your bike out of a police line-up what would set it apart from the other bikes of the same make, model, color, etc...

Short of the serial #, how would you know for sure which bike was your bike?

Originally posted by threadend
If you where faced with having to pick your bike out of a police line-up what would set it apart from the other bikes of the same make, model, color, etc...

Short of the serial #, how would you know for sure which bike was your bike?

My Novara is a unique mix of aftermarket parts. I'd be very surprised if there's another one on the planet exactly like it.

My Airborne was custom-configured when it was built.

And while my Fuji is close to stock (give me time!) I doubt very many Roubaix Pro's are running Pasela TG tires.

RichC

Bar tape - computer - lights - saddle - and a dozen other little bits and pieces.

Besides most of my bikes having unique parts, each one has a photocopy of my drivers license (with ss# whited out) taped to the bottom bracket inside the shell ;)

I had one stolen and recovered. Learned from that little lesson I did!

I have the serial number written in the manual at home to i.d. it with, unless the thief ground it off the bottom bracket shell. It also has a mixture of components that no other bike could possibly be the same!

Originally posted by threadend
If you where faced with having to pick your bike out of a police line-up what would set it apart from the other bikes of the same make, model, color, etc...

Short of the serial #, how would you know for sure which bike was your bike?


Scratches.

But I keep note of the frame numbers etc in my handheld, in aprogram called codwallet.

Since none of our bikes are production models* it would be somewhat easier. They are all one-of-a-kind bikes with unique features, paint, geometry and/or components*.

However, that's probably not what you're looking for. But, what may be of interest is that you'll find a small laminated card inserted in each of our bike's seat tubes and another inside the handlebars that has my name and contact information.

Beyond that, there are all kinds of small paint marks on seat posts, seat rails and small nicks and such that I'm aware of that could be used to differentiate our bikes from any others.

*The three production frames... Ventana MTB, Dean Road & Schwinn Peloton ...were built up from bare frames with unique parts kits.

Both of mine are custom built, and I know the components intimately :)

I custom built all of my bikes. I can recite ever part down to the color and size of the cable end nipple thingys. Oh and i also wrote my name on the bb in magic marker.

Mine is an unusual model (VanDessel Straight Up X 7) with moustache bars. I also know the location of some the (not obvious) chips in the paint.

Dan

road: the paint-job is fairly unique, there is a bit of black oxidation on the brake levers and the hoods are worn in a very specific pattern... that, and the component mix [bontrager bar, 3ttt stem, campy wheels...]

cyclo-cross: it may well be the only campy centaur-equipped kona major jake in the universe.

Well sure that is what thiefs do is file everything off so nothing is conclusive...You can take photos of your bike..you can write on a piece of paper and stick it in your seat tube or your handle bar ends..you dr. lic. no.
All a thief has to do is mess up one number then nothing is conclusive even if you did know it was your bike how would you prove?You could make little engravings here and there on the rims something to tell you that it is your bike
but I wonder if this would work has proof:confused:

For me it would be pretty easy. Just look for the bike with the front brake cable running to the right STI shifter instead of the left. If that didn't do it then I'd look for other things such as particular brand of pedals, bar/stem combo, etc.

Zack

well I built up all my bikes, so I know the parts by heart :)
I also know where most (if not all) of the scratches are on the frame :p

There is not a local dealer for my brand of bike. And there are not a lot of long travel, "big hit" bikes down here in New Orleans. I am pretty sure that I am the only one with my bike in a 100 miles radius.
Plus a number of the parts diferent than Spec.

Yes I would recognize it, they blood of the guy who tired to steal my bike would be on it :) hahaha j/k. All my bikes are custom built by me, so I know every component so I doubt there is another one exactly like it anywhere.

yup, i can :D

Mine's the only Trek w/ a bunch of Specialized parts on it. :p

Well, if anyone else in the area actually had a 15" women's-frame Specialized Expedition with the cranks replaced by shorter ones, and they removed all my bags and fenders and bike license (my bike's serial # is registered with the police already) there's still that little round chip in the paint, all the scrapes where my foot dragged over the top bar, and the gouge where the new, larger chainrings proved to be a little too large for the frame, and the chain scraped into the metal a little bit.....

Yup...all the police have to do is check my dna against blood found on my bike...they would have an ample supply.

Oh dear! It's amazing the things you don't think about. Well, the rear rack attached to the frame, the front suspension is a little worn, my (blackburn) pump is attached to the frame, but it could have been removed, also the mounts for my light battery (which wasn't there to be stolen) and the two water bottle cages. I wonder if that's sufficient to distinguish it from one of the same brand.

My Colnago, I'd have a hard time. Just the water bottle holder, bottle and bar tape.

The Concorde however, Is 100% completely customized. I could tell you what EVERY part is, where every bar tape scratch and where where every frame scratch is.

My bike would be the only nonwalmart bike in a police lineup, that is if the sargeants kid wasn't riding it.

my massive gouge on the the bottom of my fork...hey its a bmx bike...what can i say i can do anything

Uh Huh! It's the one hanging in my garage.......



Greg :beer:

Yep cards hidden inside the frame and handlebars. He HE. Go ahead take the Serial # off. :D

Not many Aegis Swifts around here size 44cm with a Specialties TA 51-38 crankset and 165mm crankarms. There are scrapes on it from when my partner put it in the Jeep and laid it on top of the metal bike pump then drove over a set of RR tracks. Also, the paint job is a blue and purple inside out fade, very unusual.
Kathi

That's far too easy!

1) How many people on BF have even seen a Capo? I know of two others in San Diego County, plus fewer than a half-dozen others in the rest of the state. In addition, by now my 1973 Brooks Pro saddle fits me precisely, for an amusing twist on the Cinderella story. :)
2) How about a Peugeot UO-8 set up for cyclecross, with 27x1-3/8 knobbies, half-step gearing, short Sugino cranks, and SunTour Cyclone rear / Shimano Titlist front derailleurs and SunTour ratchet barcons?
3) How about a Peugeot PKN-10 with a mountain triple, close-ratio half-step-plus-grannie gearing, and SunTour Cyclone rear / Shimano 600 front derailleurs?
4) How many have seen a Bianchi with a factory-original "Ralph Lauren brown" paint job?
5) In 1988 and 1989, Schwinn produced only about 1000 of the distinctive red-white-and-blue Project KOM-10 mountain bikes per year.

John E, I have.

Cards in the BB shell, downtube (ductaped to upper portion)
and one in the bars.
but why would ya'll have to recognise the bike,
doesn't yours come when you call? mine does


Marty

Originally posted by lotek
John E, I have.

Cards in the BB shell, downtube (ductaped to upper portion)
and one in the bars.
but why would ya'll have to recognise the bike,
doesn't yours come when you call? mine does


Marty

Arrrrrggghhh lotek, you stole mine... hey, didn't we have a thread on all the snappy answers that one would think of, only to be beaten to the punch?

Yes, a semi hidden unique dent in the tt is very easy to signify as mine :)

I could definitly pic my bikes out because I am pretty sure there are no others like them in the world. There may be some close but nothing exactly like mine.:D

:beer: :beer:

Yes I can.. I tend to customize everything.....

I would just tell the office, pick the ugliest gray scratched old bike, and I am sure, it will be mine. :):D

In every joke, there is a part of the joke.

not a problem

That's a pretty long chain... :D

My road bike is a frame-up build with custom-picked components. My MTB has had enough things replaced or substituted on it that it'd be fairly easy to ID as well.

For those worried about your bikes security, I suggest you do what I did with my Klein.. If your bike is valuable, check on line with the 'National Bike Registry.' I should do the same with my touring bike.
The NBR registers the physical characteristics of your bike along with the serial number. They send you a sticker to post on your bike,suggested you place it on the top tube near the saddle tube.
The benefits, police all throughout the country can check with the one central registry and locate its owner thousands of miles away.
I aslo recall customers in my LBS complaining that without proper registration the police were skeptical of those claiming a bike.. They suggested the local bike auction discounted their claims. more cynically claimed the police were anxious to sell it since the procedes go to some sort of police fund?
Anyway this registration gives me some peace of mind, I hope?

It seems like everyday I learn something from the BF community. Looks like I'll have to put something in the tubes to ID bike.

I think I'm going to get my new mount engraved "Mr Spanky" somewhere prominent. That should be a dead giveaway - not to mention a pretty effective anti-theft device. :D