Your bike is one-of-a-kind, and not just because you've spent countless rides getting everything perfectly dialed in. Before they even leave the factory, each bike is given a unique birthmark on the bottom bracket. Like a fingerprint, that number's the key to identifying your bike and getting it back if it ever goes missing. In today's post we'll check out where to find your ride's serial number and what to do with that info to keep your bike secure!
Bridgestones have a backwards numbering system, and, generally, the lower the number, the higher the quality. Road Models RB-1, RB-2, RB-3, RB-T Bridgestone 'road' bikes, particularly the legendary RB-1, combine frame design taken from classic Italian road bikes of the '70's with excellent Japanese workmanship and functional, reliable parts.
Where is it?
First things first, where do you find your bike's magic number? The serial number will be engraved underneath the bottom bracket shell on the frame. Just flip that bike over and take a peek! Sometime's there's a sticker over it, sometimes it's covered in road dirt, but it'll be there!
Congrats, you found it! Now what?
Take a Picture
Fancy camera rig not required.
Get out your phone, snap a photo, and email it to yourself. Easy! And now you've got your serial number in your phone and the cloud so you can't lose it. Do this now. Seriously. Everybody says they'e going to record their serial number eventually, but if your bike gets stolen before you do and the cops recover it, you'll be really disappointed when you can't get it back because you can't prove it's yours. Maybe write it down on a business card and put it in your wallet too - just in case.
Register Your Bike
And now that you've got that hot new serial number burning a hole in your pocket, why not take a second to register your bike? You can drop your info into our official and we'll keep it all on file for you in case you ever need it.
You might also want to register your bike in one of the national bike registries. That'll help ensure that thieves have a harder time selling your bike if it's stolen, and give the cops some ammo if they have to go looking for your missing ride. Hopefully it never comes down to that, but if it does you'll be happy you've got all the important bits written down.
And that's it! Now that you've got your serial number recorded (in several redundant systems), you can focus on the important things - like riding.
Tire age is the most important factor to consider when buying new or used tires. Just because a tire is brand new does not ensure that it is safe to use on a vehicle. As tires age the rubber breaks down and begins to crack, which can result in devastating car wrecks. For optimum safety, do not buy tires manufactured more than six years ago, learn to decode tire identification numbers, and always determine tire age before you buy new tires.
Step 1
Look for the Tire Identification Number branded on the sidewall of the tire to determine the tires age. The Tire Identification Number is preceded by DOT, which stands for Department of Transportation, and is 10 to 12 digits in length. You may have to check both sides of the tire to find the complete Tire Identification Number.
Step 2
Locate the last three or four digits of the Tire Identification Number. Previous to 2000, three digits determined the tire age. Tires made since 2000 use four numbers to determine a tires age.
Step 3
Since 2000 Determine the year the tire was manufactured by decoding the last two digits. For example, if the last two digits are '07', then the tire was manufactured in 2007.
Step 4
Determine the week the tire was manufactured by decoding the first two numbers that makeup the last four digits in the Tire Identification Number. For example, if the last four digits of the Tire Identification Number are 2807, then the tire was manufactured during the 28th week of 2007.
Step 5
Before 2000 Determine the year the tire was manufactured by decoding the last digit of the Tire Identification Number. For example, if the last digit is '3', then the tire was manufactured during the 3rd year of the decade. The problem with this system was that you could not determine during which decade the tire was made.
Step 6
Determine the week the tire was manufactured by decoding the first two numbers that makeup the last three digits in the Tire Identification Number. For example, if the last three digits of the Tire Identification Number are 403, then the tire was manufactured during the 40th week of 1993 (or 1983).
Shop for newly manufactured tires by decoding the Tire Identification Numbers. A good rule of thumb is to purchase tires that are less than six years old for optimum safety.