Commuting - So which one is the serial number?

The used bike arrived and I'd like to verify that it's not stolen. I guess that'll come up when I register it on NBR tonight. The frame has 2 numbers. Which one of these is a TREK serial number?

1922360
68334

Thanks everyone for answers to my questions on various threads.

It's the one at the bottom of the frame where the BB is.

It's the one at the bottom of the frame where the BB is. Erm, I reckon she already knows that. Lotta bikes have several numbers other than the serial number on the BB shell (turn over a late '90s Cannondale some time).

VR, it's a 5200, right? My guess is that it's the smaller of the two numbers, just given that it's not high-volume model. I have a 720 (read: hi-vol cheapo hybrid) with a pretty long serial # (including letters), and a coupla old 900 series roadies from the mid '80s, with only six-digit serial #s.

Thing is, if it is hot, and the previous owner registered it via NBR, s/he might've done so using either number, or possibly the two concatenated together. Is there a way to do an inquiry with NBR, and try several different combinations, just to be damn sure?

I wonder if the Seattle PD (or Tacoma, or King/Snohomish/Pierce County sherriff) would be willing to do a search for you. It would be more comprehensive than NBR (well, actually, the "intersection" of the two would be more comprehensive than either alone) I'm kinda-friends with the bike recovery guy at our local PD. I can see if he has any ideas on what other search(es) could be done.

I'd recommend asking someone at TREK then.

Just because it's a low volume production batch might not mean the serial number has to be small. Serial numbers could start with a series of numbers that specify where it was made or when before the actual unit # from the batch.

Or you can just register both.

I'd recommend asking someone at TREK then. Their owner's manual doesn't specify (it just says it's on the BB shell), so yeah, I'd suggest same.


Just because it's a low volume production batch might not mean the serial number has to be small. Serial numbers could start with a series of numbers that specify where it was made or when before the actual unit # from the batch. True; that was just speculation on my part.


Or you can just register both. As well as the concatenation of the two. You never know how someone's gonna report it if stolen and recovered.

Thing is, if it is hot, and the previous owner registered it via NBR, s/he might've done so using either number, or possibly the two concatenated together. Is there a way to do an inquiry with NBR, and try several different combinations, just to be damn sure?



I did not see a way to query on the NBR site. :o And our police are "very busy". So I registered the smaller number (because my Trek 2200 was also a 6 digit number)...and then added the secondary number in the comment section.

WHAT SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED: Because it's a used bike, the NBR site should have run a check on the spot to see if that number was already entered or reported stolen. I didn't get that impression.

The NBR sticker that goes on the bike was not very convincing either. It didn't appear as "tamper-proof" as advertised.

I did not see a way to query on the NBR site. :o And our police are "very busy". So I registered the smaller number (because my Trek 2200 was also a 6 digit number)...and then added the secondary number in the comment section. Yeah, I was surprised, when I visited their site, not to see an "Is my bike stolen?" link, or some such.



WHAT SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED: Because it's a used bike, the NBR site should have run a check on the spot to see if that number was already entered or reported stolen. I didn't get that impression. Yeah, there isn't even a "New/Used" check box or radio button on the reg. page. Maybe if you just Email 'em with both numbers, they could look it up the old-fashioned way.



The NBR sticker that goes on the bike was not very convincing either. It didn't appear as "tamper-proof" as advertised. That's dismaying to hear; municipalities have had tamper-evident decals for decades. Our local reg's are considerably more pricey than NBR's ($5 per bike for 4 years, if you have 3 or more bikes), but for the real decal (a theft deterrent in itself) it's probably worth it.

To me the decal seems pretty decent...that material is brittle enough that if you try to remove it , is should tear. I was annoyed at having to write my own NBR number in it though...that should have been printed on for me...standard pen ink is easy to wash off....proper printing on the other hand is not.

Oh that sounds really cheap-o. Granted, the fee is d@mn low, esp. the family plan. But how much could it cost 'em to get serialized decals? Something that could be modified that easily (and has no means to determine a "legit" number) just isn't secure enuf to be worth it. I'll stick with my local reg, even when the rates go up next month.

>
>Yeah, I was surprised, when I visited their site, not to see an "Is my bike stolen?" >link, or some such.

First impressions of NBR: Just another "feel-good" cheapo bike accessory. I hope I"m wrong.
What I was expecting:

Enter the Serial or NBR number of the bike You'd like to buy (or are considering buying). Opps that one as reported stolen. contact 555-555-5555