What is the frame number of the bike and where can I find it?

Where can I find the frame number on the bike?

When you buy a bike, most shops will include the frame number of the bike on the receipt. If you have saved on the receipt, this is the first place you can check. Alternatively, you can check with the bike dealer if they have registered it in their system. Remember that the frame number of the bicycle may be listed as a manufacturing number or serial number on the receipt. Note that if it is listed as a serial number, the S/N or SN should not be included as part of the frame number, only the subsequent numbers.

If you don’t have the receipt, there are some standards worth noting for steel bikes and carbon bikes that can help you read the frame number on your bike yourself:

1: On the frame at the top of the handlebars

2: In the area of the frame around the crank

3: On the frame under the bike between the pedals

4: One place on this frame / e.g. on the chainstay

5: One place on this frame / e.g. on the seat tube

• Steel bikes: The frame number is usually engraved in the frame and can be anywhere on the bike. As a rule, the frame number will be between the pedals on the frame under the bike or on the frame above the handlebars. It will not be on the wheel itself, the pedals, the handlebars or the like.
• Carbon bikes: The frame number is usually written on a label placed somewhere on the frame. This is because it is not possible to engrave the frame number on carbon material. The patch is normally attached so that it cannot be removed without it showing in the paint on the bike.

Difference between numbers and letters in the frame number

When reading the frame number, it is important to note that it can be difficult to tell the difference between these numbers and letters:

• 0 = the number zero <-> O as in Oda
• 1 = the number one <-> I as in Ida
• 5 = the number five <-> S as in Stian
• 8 = the number eight <-> B as in Bjørn

Unique numbers that are not the frame number

When you are looking for the frame number, you may also find several numbers on the bike’s frame that are not unique, and should therefore not be registered as the bike’s frame number.

These include:

• The S/N and subsequent numbers are the bike’s serial number which is the same as the frame number, apart from the S/N or SN which is not part of the frame number. Here the frame number will be all the subsequent numbers except S/N or SN.
• ISO and subsequent numbers represent a quality standard
• EN and five following numbers are also a quality stamp which is the same number for all bikes of the same model
• SEC and subsequent numbers are old numbers from the Falck Bicycle Register and are not the same as the frame number

If you are still in doubt as to whether you have found the correct frame number, a tip is to search for the number on Google to check whether it is a known number or not. If the search shows a known number, for example the model number of a bicycle, it means that it is not your bicycle’s unique frame number. Alternatively, we suggest you contact a bike shop that sells the brand on your bike and talk to them.

What is the frame number of the bike?

The frame number of a bicycle (also called the manufacturing number or serial number) is a unique identification number that the bicycle manufacturers are required by law to mark the bicycles with in accordance with the Regulation on bicycle requirements. All bikes have different frame numbers. Common to all is that they must be marked and placed so that they are clearly visible and cannot be easily changed or removed. In Norway, it is also only permitted to use letters and numbers for the frame number. That is, it does not include any special characters or spaces. In contrast, the frame number structure can vary between different bicycle brands and models, because this is not standardized and the bicycle manufacturers often each have their own logic about how the frame number is structured.

Every time someone registers a new bike, we will therefore check that the registered frame number matches the various frame number structures that exist. If we find errors in frame numbers, we will contact you to ensure that they are listed correctly. This is because it should be possible to search the frame number of the bicycle if it is stolen and someone finds it.