Tom is a well respected resource of bicycle history, especially those of the bicycle boom era.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n Another key point, there were some brands that contracted other brands listed below to build their bikes for them.\u00a0 In this case, you find that two brands<\/a><\/span> may have the same serial number format.\u00a0 For example, this is the case with Univega who had Miyata build their bicycles for them.\u00a0 These brands are cross-referenced.\u00a0 Important to point out, all pre 1990 bicycles have the nationality in parentheses F<\/strong>\u00a0indicates an alpha character designating the fortnight (i.e. A= weeks 1-2, B=weeks 3-4,….Z = weeks 51-52)<\/span><\/p>\n M<\/strong>\u00a0indicates an alpha character<\/a><\/span> designating the month (i.e. A = January, B= February,… L = December)<\/span><\/p>\n Y<\/strong> indicates an alpha character designating the year .\u00a0 However, the year that corresponds to a particular alpha character can vary significantly.\u00a0 Please note, the specific convention will be listed under the manufacturer<\/a><\/span> entry.<\/span><\/p>\n mm<\/strong> indicates two numeric characters designating the month (i.e. 01 = January, 02=February,….. 12= December)<\/span><\/p>\n y<\/strong>\u00a0indicates 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<\/a><\/span>, etc.<\/span><\/p>\n yy<\/strong>\u00a0indicates two numeric characters designating the last two digits of the year (i.e. 81 = 1981, 82= 1082, etc.)<\/span><\/p>\n xxxx indicates a numeric characters designating the sequential frame<\/a><\/span> number within a the fortnight, month or year.\u00a0 In fact, this number string is typically four to six characters in length but can vary.<\/span><\/p>\n AMERICAN EAGLE<\/strong>\u00a0(USA): see Kawamura.<\/span><\/p>\n AMERICAN FLYER<\/strong>\u00a0(USA): see Kuwahara<\/a><\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n APEX<\/strong>\u00a0(USA): See Kuwahara<\/span><\/p>\n APOLLO<\/strong>\u00a0(Canada): See Kuwahara.<\/span><\/p>\n A-PRO<\/strong>\u00a0(Taiwan): Insuffcient data.<\/span><\/p>\n ARAYA<\/strong>\u00a0(Japan): ARYMy<\/strong>xxxxx<\/span><\/p>\n AZUKI<\/strong>\u00a0(USA): See Kawamura<\/a><\/span>, Kuwahara, Giant.<\/span><\/p>\n BIANCHI<\/strong>\u00a0(Italy): See Hodaka, KHS, S(1)<\/span><\/p>\n BONTEKOE\u00a0<\/strong>(Netherlands): see Miki<\/span><\/p>\n BRIDGESTONE<\/strong>\u00a0(Japan):\u00a0My<\/strong>xxxxx &\u00a0Fy<\/strong>xxxxx.<\/span> CAMPANIA<\/strong>\u00a0(?): See K(1), S(1), Y(1).<\/span><\/p>\n CENTURION<\/strong>\u00a0(USA): See Fairly, Katakura, Matsu****a, Mikki, N(1), Tano, U(1).<\/span><\/p>\n CENTURION<\/strong>\u00a0(Germany): see Merida, Java Perdana<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n CHIMO<\/strong>\u00a0(Canada): Insufficient data.<\/span><\/p>\n C. ITOH<\/strong>\u00a0(Japan): See Bridgestone.<\/span><\/p>\n CONCORD<\/strong>\u00a0(USA): See Dodsun, Kuwahara<\/a><\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n CORSARO<\/strong>\u00a0(USA): See Nissan<\/span><\/p>\n CYCLONE<\/strong>\u00a0(Japan): Insufficient data.<\/span><\/p>\n CYCLE PRO<\/strong>\u00a0(USA): See Dodsun, Kawamura.<\/span><\/p>\n D(1)\u00a0<\/strong>(Japan): DyF<\/strong>xxxxx or DyM<\/strong>xxxxx.\u00a0 Insufficient data to determine if 3rd character is a fortnight or month indicator.\u00a0 Unfortunately, the identity is unknown but since format turns up primarily on Zebfrakenko and Zebra<\/a><\/span>, it may be Kenko.<\/span><\/p>\n DIAMOND BACK<\/strong>\u00a0(USA): See Fairly, N(1), U(1).<\/span><\/p>\n DODSUN<\/strong> (Taiwan):\u00a0 Unfortunately, there is insufficient data, but format appears to be DSBMymm<\/strong>xxxx(x) & DSym m<\/strong>xxxx(x) based on limited small size.<\/span><\/p>\n EDDY MERCKX<\/strong>\u00a0(Belgium): See Miyata<\/a><\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n EMPEROR<\/strong>\u00a0(Japan): Insufficient data.<\/span><\/p>\n FAGLUM\u00a0<\/strong>(Sweden): See Miki<\/span><\/p>\n FAIRLY<\/strong>\u00a0(Taiwan): Fymm<\/strong>xxx(xx)<\/span><\/p>\n FEDERAL<\/strong>\u00a0(Indonesia); Insufficient data but starts with FC.<\/a><\/span> First numeral may be year indicator. Also see Kuwahara.<\/span><\/p>\n FERRARE<\/strong>\u00a0(Japan): Insufficient data.<\/span><\/p>\n FOCUS<\/strong>\u00a0(Japan); See Araya<\/span><\/p>\n FUJI<\/strong>\u00a0(Japan):\u00a0P<\/strong>\u00a0designates assumed production facility codes<\/a><\/span> with known characters including F.G. I,J, K and M.<\/span><\/p>\n 1971-1974:\u00a0PyM<\/strong>xxxx, where years are based on the Imperial Japanese\u00a0Calendar\u00a0(i.e. 6 = Showa 46 = 1971, 7 = Showa 47 = 1972, 8 = Showa 48 = 1973, 9 = Showa 49 = 1974<\/span><\/a><\/span>).<\/span><\/p>\n 1975-1979:\u00a0yyM<\/strong>xxxxx<\/span><\/p>\n 1980-1989:\u00a0PMy<\/strong>xxxxx<\/span><\/p>\n 1984-1986 Special Series:\u00a0My<\/strong>xx(x)<\/span><\/p>\n GENERAL<\/strong>\u00a0(USA): See Merida<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n GIANT<\/strong>\u00a0(Taiwan):<\/span><\/p>\n 1978-1986: Gmmyy<\/strong>\u00a0on rear dropout.<\/span><\/p>\n 1987-1989: GFy<\/strong>xxxxx<\/span><\/p>\n GITANE<\/strong>\u00a0(France): See Nissan<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n GT<\/strong>\u00a0(USA): See Hodaka, Fairly.<\/span><\/p>\n HIRAME<\/strong>\u00a0(Japan): See Kuwahara<\/span><\/p>\n HODAKA<\/strong>\u00a0(Taiwan): HyM<\/strong>xxxxx<\/span><\/p>\n HUNTER<\/strong>\u00a0(?): See Yamaguchi<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n INTERNATIONAL<\/strong>\u00a0(Canada ): See Bridgestone<\/span><\/p>\n ITOH<\/strong>\u00a0(USA): See Bridgestone.<\/span><\/p>\n JAMIS<\/strong>\u00a0(USA): See Fairly, Hodaka.<\/span><\/p>\n JAVA PERDANA<\/strong>\u00a0(Indonesia): JPyF<\/strong>xxxx Due to insufficient data, fortnight indicator<\/a><\/span> may be a month indicator.<\/span><\/p>\n JET<\/strong>\u00a0(?); See Bridgestone.<\/span><\/p>\n JUPITER KING<\/strong>\u00a0(Japan): See Sank.<\/span> KABUKI<\/strong>\u00a0(Japan, USA): See Bridgestone, Nissan<\/a><\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n KAMRA<\/strong>\u00a0(japan): See Kawamura<\/span><\/p>\n KATAKURA<\/strong>\u00a0(Japan): KMy<\/strong>xxxxx Format easily confused with Kawamura.<\/span><\/p>\n KAWAMURA<\/strong>\u00a0(Japan):<\/span><\/p>\nSOME BRANDS BUILT OTHER BRANDS<\/span><\/h3>\n
![\"Japanese](\"http:\/\/classicjapanesebicycles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Japanese-Steel-book-197x300.png\")
.<\/span><\/p>\nTHE LETTER Y<\/span><\/h3>\n
A BRANDS ASIAN SERIAL NUMBER GUIDE<\/h4>\n
B BRANDS ASIAN SERIAL NUMBER GUIDE<\/h4>\n
BRIDGESTONE BICYCLES<\/span><\/h3>\n
\nGrant Peterson, who was designer for Bridgestone<\/a><\/span> starting in the mid-1980s, has stated that the alpha character is a month indicator.\u00a0 However, apparent fortnight indicators a high as “T” have been seen as early as 1973.\u00a0 This results in, the formats being easily confused with Miyata.<\/span><\/p>\nC BRANDS ASIAN SERIAL NUMBER GUIDE<\/h4>\n
D BRANDS ASIAN SERIAL NUMBER GUIDE<\/span><\/h3>\n
\ni<\/span>
\nK(1)<\/strong>\u00a0(Japan): KyM<\/strong>xxxxx Same as 1980s Fuji format. Possible Fuji division or contractor.<\/span><\/p>\n