k9nny

Hello all,

I have a cruiser, the bike had already been resprayed when I bought it, and I have since decorated it with USA maps. Does anyone know who the manufacturer might be? The serial number is prefixed "ZG" and followed by 8 numbers. I have searched the net, but can't find any references to serial numbers using this convention.

I have an image, but can't post the URL as I'm a newbie.

Thanks very much, Kenny.

rhenning

Serial numbers generally do not mean anything unlike automobiles. Pictures might help. Most serial numbers were just for inventory or warranty purposes. Once you have 10 posts you can post pictures. Roger

k9nny

Thanks Roger, I'll add the URL as soon as I can.

bicyclridr4life

I'm not sure about that. I know back in the day, the letter prefix was a government(?) assigned manuacturer code.
The letter "U" for example, was (is?) assigned to KHS. At least it was in 1989 when mine was made.
Maybe the manufacture's code is the "Z", and the year code is the "G"?

rhenning

It was never an assigned number or required by the US government. Some maufactures had numbers that gave frame build dates. Schwinn did that but sometimes even Schwinn let the frames sit arould for years before they became bicycles. I have a Schwinn curved seat tube Sprint that had a 1975 frame number head badge number saying it was built in 1977. After 1976 Schwinn did do bike build dated that gave the date a bike became a bike. First number was the year but not the decade and the next 3 numbers were the day of the year. Most Giant bikes had a G starting number for Giant but that was Giants choice and it still told you nothing about the bike. You are flat wrong on this. 1989 was not back in the day by the way. Roger

bicyclridr4life

My serial number is U90300174.
According to the KHS website, the Serial number is broken down this way:
"U" Assigned Manufacturer Code. KHS was assigned the letter U. My 1984 Fuji Mt. Fuji had a different letter. I do not recall what it was. A thief stole it about 10 years ago,
First Number: Last digit of the year. Yes, they repeat every decade, I was able to date mine to 1989 based on the lugged steel frame, location of the serial number, and components, including BioPace, which was not made in 1979 or 1999.
Next two Numbers: Month of manufacture
Remaining 5 Numbers: Sequential Number


It is unclear if the sequential number resets monthly. Personally, I do not believe it did or does. I do not know if the different models were numbered together.
I do know that the 'Montana Summit' was one model down from the top of the line, and had an average retail price of over $850 new, so it may be likely there were not a lot of them built. (The low serial number indicates the various models were not numbered together, or it was reset monthly.) Lets face it; in 1989 $850 was a lot of money to spend on a bike. (still is, for that matter.) So I think the consecutive number was not reset every month.