Thanks to Tom Marshall (T-Mar) from Bikeforums for this information.
According to Tom Martin, this guide is “not necessarily comprehensive”. Subsequently, it was put together after many years of gathering information about serial numbers. Interestingly to note, this Asian serial number guide Information was verified by owners and people involved in the industry.
Tom is a well respected resource of bicycle history, especially those of the bicycle boom era. Further more, he is pretty confident in the deciphering of these serial numbers and interpretations below and indicates the ones he is not sure of.
SOME BRANDS BUILT OTHER BRANDS
Another key point, there were some brands that contracted other brands listed below to build their bikes for them. In this case, you find that two brands may have the same serial number format. For example, this is the case with Univega who had Miyata build their bicycles for them. These brands are cross-referenced. Important to point out, all pre 1990 bicycles have the nationality in parentheses
.
F indicates an alpha character designating the fortnight (i.e. A= weeks 1-2, B=weeks 3-4,….Z = weeks 51-52)
M indicates an alpha character designating the month (i.e. A = January, B= February,… L = December)
THE LETTER Y
Y indicates an alpha character designating the year . However, the year that corresponds to a particular alpha character can vary significantly. Please note, the specific convention will be listed under the manufacturer entry.
mm indicates two numeric characters designating the month (i.e. 01 = January, 02=February,….. 12= December)
y indicates a numeric character designating the last digit of the year (i.e. 1 = 1971 or 1981, 2 = 1972 or 1982, etc.). With such codes, you have to determine the decade based on frame characteristics, components, etc.
yy indicates two numeric characters designating the last two digits of the year (i.e. 81 = 1981, 82= 1082, etc.)
xxxx indicates a numeric characters designating the sequential frame number within a the fortnight, month or year. In fact, this number string is typically four to six characters in length but can vary.
A BRANDS ASIAN SERIAL NUMBER GUIDE
AMERICAN EAGLE (USA): see Kawamura.
AMERICAN FLYER (USA): see Kuwahara.
APEX (USA): See Kuwahara
APOLLO (Canada): See Kuwahara.
A-PRO (Taiwan): Insuffcient data.
ARAYA (Japan): ARYMyxxxxx
AZUKI (USA): See Kawamura, Kuwahara, Giant.
B BRANDS ASIAN SERIAL NUMBER GUIDE
BIANCHI (Italy): See Hodaka, KHS, S(1)
BONTEKOE (Netherlands): see Miki
BRIDGESTONE BICYCLES
BRIDGESTONE (Japan): Myxxxxx & Fyxxxxx.
Grant Peterson, who was designer for Bridgestone starting in the mid-1980s, has stated that the alpha character is a month indicator. However, apparent fortnight indicators a high as “T” have been seen as early as 1973. This results in, the formats being easily confused with Miyata.
C BRANDS ASIAN SERIAL NUMBER GUIDE
CAMPANIA (?): See K(1), S(1), Y(1).
CENTURION (USA): See Fairly, Katakura, Matsu****a, Mikki, N(1), Tano, U(1).
CENTURION (Germany): see Merida, Java Perdana
CHIMO (Canada): Insufficient data.
C. ITOH (Japan): See Bridgestone.
CONCORD (USA): See Dodsun, Kuwahara.
CORSARO (USA): See Nissan
CYCLONE (Japan): Insufficient data.
CYCLE PRO (USA): See Dodsun, Kawamura.
D(1) (Japan): DyFxxxxx or DyMxxxxx. Insufficient data to determine if 3rd character is a fortnight or month indicator. Unfortunately, the identity is unknown but since format turns up primarily on Zebfrakenko and Zebra, it may be Kenko.
D BRANDS ASIAN SERIAL NUMBER GUIDE
DIAMOND BACK (USA): See Fairly, N(1), U(1).
DODSUN (Taiwan): Unfortunately, there is insufficient data, but format appears to be DSBMymmxxxx(x) & DSym mxxxx(x) based on limited small size.
EDDY MERCKX (Belgium): See Miyata.
EMPEROR (Japan): Insufficient data.
FAGLUM (Sweden): See Miki
FAIRLY (Taiwan): Fymmxxx(xx)
FEDERAL (Indonesia); Insufficient data but starts with FC. First numeral may be year indicator. Also see Kuwahara.
FERRARE (Japan): Insufficient data.
FOCUS (Japan); See Araya
FUJI (Japan): P designates assumed production facility codes with known characters including F.G. I,J, K and M.
1971-1974: PyMxxxx, where years are based on the Imperial Japanese Calendar (i.e. 6 = Showa 46 = 1971, 7 = Showa 47 = 1972, 8 = Showa 48 = 1973, 9 = Showa 49 = 1974).
1975-1979: yyMxxxxx
1980-1989: PMyxxxxx
1984-1986 Special Series: Myxx(x)
GENERAL (USA): See Merida
GIANT (Taiwan):
1978-1986: Gmmyy on rear dropout.
1987-1989: GFyxxxxx
GITANE (France): See Nissan
GT (USA): See Hodaka, Fairly.
HIRAME (Japan): See Kuwahara
HODAKA (Taiwan): HyMxxxxx
HUNTER (?): See Yamaguchi
INTERNATIONAL (Canada ): See Bridgestone
ITOH (USA): See Bridgestone.
JAMIS (USA): See Fairly, Hodaka.
JAVA PERDANA (Indonesia): JPyFxxxx Due to insufficient data, fortnight indicator may be a month indicator.
JET (?); See Bridgestone.
JUPITER KING (Japan): See Sank.
i
K(1) (Japan): KyMxxxxx Same as 1980s Fuji format. Possible Fuji division or contractor.
KABUKI (Japan, USA): See Bridgestone, Nissan.
KAMRA (japan): See Kawamura
KATAKURA (Japan): KMyxxxxx Format easily confused with Kawamura.
KAWAMURA (Japan):
Pre-1975: KSxxxxxx
FROM THE YEARS 1975 TO 1987
1975-1987: PYxxxxx, where P indicates the market (A = Australia, C = Canada, E = Europe, K = USA 1975-1984 and late 1980s non-ferrous frames, W = USA 1985-1987). Y designates year where E = 1975, F= 1976,…. J=1980, then A = 1981, B=1982, … G= 1987. Easily confused with Katakura format.
KENSTAR (Taiwan?): Insufficient data.
KENT (Taiwan?): Insufficient data.
KHS (Taiwan): ymmxxxxx. See also U(1).
KING (USA?): Insufficient data.
KOBE (USA): Insufficient data but some may be Bridgestone manufacture.
KOGA-MIYATA (Netherlands); See Miyata
KUWAHARA (Japan): yy mmxxxx(x) Also see Federal.
LEEWORLD (USA): See M(1)
LOTUS (USA): See Pacific, Tsunoda, Yamaguchi.
M BRANDS ASIAN SERIAL NUMBER GUIDE
M(1): Unknown manufacturer, frame date code format appears to be MCAmmyy
MAIKO (USA?): See Kawamura, Kuwahara, Giant.
MARUISHI (Japan): Unknown, but format appears to be Y?xxxxx based on very limited sample size. Year indicators appear to be A =1971,1981,etc, , B = 1972, 1982, etc. Second alpha character appears to be either fortnight or month indicator. Notably, easily confused with Tsunoda.
MATSURI (?): See Nissan.
MATSU****A/NATIONAL (Japan): yMxxxxx
MERIDA OF TAIWAN
MERIDA (Taiwan): Insufficient data, but format appears to be MyMxxxx(x) based on limited sample size. Note that, month indicator could turn out to be fortnight indicator. Also reported to use My??xxxx, where ?? is two letters. To point out, some use a space or hyphen in front of xxxx number string. Easily confused with Miki , use country of origin decal, if present, to identify,
MIELE (Canada): See S(1).
MIKI (Japan): MyFxxxx
BF member Hummer believes 3rd caracter is a month indcator using A to M, with I omitted.
MIYATA (Japan):
1972-1984: Yxxxxxx, where A = 1972, B= 1973,….M= 1984.
1985-1989: YFxxxxx, where N=1985, O = 1986,…S=1990.
Format change occurred in late 1984, during model year change. Easily confused with Bridgestone.
See also U(1) for some late 1980s contract manufactured models.
MITZUTANI (Japan): Insufficient data.
MONGOOSE (USA): Insufficient data.
MOTIONCRAFT (?): See Miki.
N BRANDS ASIAN SERIAL NUMBER GUIDE
NIKO (USA); Niko was the private label brand of retail and mail order store Bikecology. Owner, Alan Goldsmith, also worked for Western States Imports (Centurion) . Interestingly, while I have no Niko serial numbers, 1980s Niko models do strongly resemble Centurion. Therefore, owners are suggested to check the serial number formats of Centurion contractors.
NISHIKI (USA): See Araya, Dodsun, Fairly, Giant, Katakura, Kawamura, S(4)
NISSAN (Japan): YFxxxxxN based on limited size. All end with ‘N’, which is believed to represent Nissan Cycles, which appears on a sticker on some bicycles. However, the first alpha character appears to be the year with C = 1980.
NASHBAR (USA): see Maruishi
NORCO (Canada): See Dodsun, Kawamura, Miki, Yamaguchi.
NOVARA (USA): See Fairly, N(1).
THE N DESIGNATION
N(1) (Japan): NyFxxxx Manufacturer unknown. Some members believe that the ‘N’ prefix designates National. However, given that Panasonic and the Japanese manufactured Schwinns that came from Matsu****a/National do not use this format, it seems unlikely. Moreover, there is evidence suggesting Tano, the major supplier to WSI/Centurion, though the format is different from that use in the 1970s.
BF member Hummer believes that the 3rd character is a month indicator with the 12 months being represented by A, B, D, E, G, H, K, L, M, N, P & S.
P BRANDS ASIAN SERIAL NUMBER GUIDE
PACIFIC (Taiwan): Pyxxxxxx
PANASONIC (Japan): See Matsu****a.
PARKPRE (USA): Insufficient data.
PEUGEOT (France): See Araya, Merida
PISCEAN (Taiwan?): Insufficient data.
R BRANDS ASIAN SERIAL NUMBER GUIDE
RALEIGH (UK): See Merida, Miki, N(1).
RENEGADE (?): See KHS
RENSHO (Japan): Insufficient data.
REX AND REX II HAVE INSUFFICIENT DATA
REX/REX II (Japan): Insufficient data. AKA Criterium Rex, the head badges on these bicycles denote Araya manufacture. Surprisingly, they appear to be 1970s forerunners of the Araya branded bicycles of the early 1980s, but with a different serial number format. For one thing, the format is similar to Bridgestone & Miyata, though frame characteristics, notably the distinctive seat stay caps, are different.
ROYCE UNION (Netherlands): Insufficient data.
S(1) (Japan): MSyxxxxx
S(2) (Japan): SyFxxxx
S(3) (Japan): sMyxxxxx
S BRANDS ASIAN SERIAL NUMBER GUIDE
SAINT TROPEZ (?): Insufficient data.
SAKAI (Canada): See Miki, Yamaguchi
SANKI (Japan): Symmxxxx based on very few samples, low confidence
SAVOY (?): Insufficient data but based on head badge, appears to be a sister brand to Royce Union.
SCHWINN (USA): See Bridgestone, Giant, Matsu****a, S(3).
SEKAI (USA 1974-1983, Canada 1984-1990): See Dodsun, Fairly, Fuji, K(1), Matsu****a, Miki, Yamamguchi, Y(1).
SEKINE (Japan): Insufficient data, but format appears to be Ym(m) xxxx(x) based on limited sample size. Year indicators appear to be V= 1972 or 1973, W = 1973 or 1974, etc.
SENATOR (?): Insufficient data.
SHIMANO
SHIMANO (Japan): Shimano manufactured complete bicycles from September 1950 to May 1954. As it turns out, these are extremely rare. After that, Shimano would commission frames to build up and use for displays at bicycle shows but these were generally high end models. Unfortunately, Most Shimano bicycles that surface have been rebranded by their owners. Consequently, there is too much variation in serial number formats to list.
SHOGUN (Japan): See Merida, Mikki, S(1), S(2), N(1), Yamaguchi.
SILK (Japan): See Katakura.
SKYWAY (Japan): See Bridgestone
SPECIALIZED (USA): See Giant, Miyata, S(1)
SPEEDWAY (USA): See Kuwahara
SR (?): See Araya, Miki.
STEVE BAUER (Canada): See Yamaguchi
SUCHIA (?): Insufficient data.
SUPERCYLE (Canada): See Bridgestone
T BRANDS ASIAN SERIAL NUMBER GUIDE
TAKARA (USA): See Fuji, Kuwahara, S(1), S(4), Y(1).
TANO (Japan): not yet decoded
TEAM CHANCE (Canada): See Hodaka
TSUNODA
TSUNODA (Japan): Unknown, but format appears to be YFxxxxx though correlation for Y has not been determined. Interestingly, some members believe that Tsunoda was only a trading company and not a manufacturer. Although, Lotus bicycles often have labels stating “Made by Tsunoda Japan” and similar statements can be found in Lotus literature. As a result, it is easily confused with Maruishi format.
THE U DESIGNATION
U(1) (?): Uymmxxxxx Manufacturer unknown. These codes start appearing on Centurion and Diamond back models in the very late 1980s. As a mater of fact, it is known that China Bicycle Company started supplying entry level models to Western State Imports at this time. Important to point out, this was just before acquiring WSI in late 1989 and this would appear to be the logical manufacturer but bicycles with this S/N format have been reported with Made in Taiwan labels and CBC was located in China.
U BRANDS ASIAN SERIAL NUMBER GUIDE
UNIVEGA (USA): See Merida, Miyata, Dodsun, Giant.
UNIVERSITY (?): Insufficient data.
VENTURA (?): Insufficient data.
VOLKSCYCLE (USA): Insufficient data.
WORLD OF WHEELS (USA): See Kuwahara
Y BRANDS ASIAN SERIAL NUMBER GUIDE
Y(1) (Japan):Yyy mmxxxxx Manufacturer unknown but circumstantial evidence indicates it may be the pre-1980 Yamaguchi format.
Y(2) (Japan): YLyMxxxx Manufacturer unknown but may be for Yamaguchi aluminum frames as these typically surface on brands of aluminum frames. Given that, some companies used Yamaguchi as a source for their aluminum frames.
YAMAGUCHI (Japan): YyMxxxx. To date there have 11 letter codes reported for the 3rd character (A though N, shipping D, I & J), so it is believed to be a month code. Of the 3 missing codes, D is probably the legitimate code.
Interesting to note, there has been some speculation whether Yamaguchi is the manufacturer for this format. In fact, some samples have been reported with Yamaguchi labels.
YOKOTA (Japan): Insufficient data.
ZEBRA (Japan?): See D(1).
CLICK ON ITEM FOR MORE INFORMATION
 |
 |
 |
 |
We link items through our Amazon Affiliate Links. What are Amazon affiliate links? It’s a way for you to help your favorite creators! It doesn’t cost you anything to use our links and we will get a small % of the sale. You can actually go to another item you were going to buy anyway and tell us thanks by using our link. It’s a win win! We give info and our time, you buy what you need. Thank you for your support.