What is the deal with no serials numbers on frames?
 

Drove over to check out this frame and fork on a italian made bicycle. I am doing my inspection, and notice nothing like a serial number on the bottom brack shell.

I look over the entire frame, and no serial number. Frame look like a Casati from the 90's but wonder if serial number are an american thing.

Frame was not the size I was told, so it is not a big deal. But I have gone to check out a few used bikes, and would a paper trail on ownership, serial number sometimes make it to police data bases on police report of stolen bikes.

The only bike I have without a serial number is American (Vanilla)...all of my Italians have one. I think they use no S/N as a marketing thing - their bikes are so unique they don't need a s/n.

Serial Number like VIN numbers on car help steed recovery of your stuff from dishonest folks.

My old Grandis (Italy) was stamped "60" for the size and nothing else. I have a Yeti (USA) road frame with no numbers at all. Both frames were off the rack not customs.

I wasn't arguing against s/n's. I also have a feeling a grandis pretty easily identified without one - it's not exactly a common brand. On a database the brand alone should ID it.

FYI - in my area (and most areas I'm aware of) a s/n is of pretty limited value...the police have, at best, only the bikes registered in one precinct. It's hardly like a national database. In most cases some photos and/or a receipt are of more value. I like small cards in the bars listing me as owner.

I have 9 bikes, 3 of which have serial numbers. 2 of those 3 are Italian.

To help in case of theft, I use paint and put the last 4 of my SSN on the steer-tube.

Well as everything I have ever owner since I was a kid back in the 1950's had serial numbers. No serial number was a new thing to me.

Recall many year ago a friend had their custom VW Bug Stolen, the owner work for weber carbarator, and put the word out in the bug community about a reward. He got a tip and saw his car park were the tiptster said. It had been pained but he was 110% sure. Local cops investigated, and said VIN did not mate his stolen.

So I get a call from the guy girl friend cring about the problem, made a suggestion to call CHiPs auto thieft guys as thery were the experts. CHiPs went out and look over the bug real well, there are several VIN number on bug. The experts knew that, car was returned to owner, thieves who saiid it was theirs went to the slam that to serial numbers.

Problem I see with no serial numbers is there could be say 200 Black San Cristobol Ciocc in say 55 CM. Steal one and ho do you tell it from the other 199?

What's the deal? The deal is some bikes have serials, and a few don't. That's about it. Add your own serial if you're worried about it.

I think every bike I've ever owned...except my American made Ritchey have had serial numbers.

I was astonished that the Raleigh Grand Sports that I picked up earlier this year has no serial number. I know it has long been said that with Raleighs, all things are possible, but this is my first experience with no serial number.

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...the idea that a serial number on a bike will aid in getting it returned after theft is wishful thinking on a grand scale. :(