If you plan on buying, selling, or registering a BMC bike, it is important to know how old it is, but how do you find out the year it was manufactured?
BMC bikes is a high-performance bike brand from Switzerland, and they have built a solid reputation over the years for their quality designs. However, their bikes have changed a lot since they first came on the scene, and if you want to know more about your specific model, you need to figure out the year it was made.
You can find out the year that your BMC bike was made by checking the serial number located on the bottom bracket, which will be date stamped. Alternatively, you can ask BMC bicycle forum members, check BMC archives, ask your local bike shop, or contact BMC directly.
A name that stands out within the world of cycling is BMC, which stands for ‘Bicycle Manufacturing Company’. This manufacturer has been designing top-notch bikes for decades, and they continue to pump out world-class machines that turn a lot of heads. If you want to buy or sell a used BMC bike or if you simply want to register it, finding out the year that it was built is very important. A lot of people who own a BMC bike find themselves feeling a bit lost when trying to figure this out, as the process for identifying the manufacturing date is not always clear. To help you understand this further, we are going to help you find out the year that your BMC bike was made.
After extensively researching BMC cycling forums, I have been able to gather enough information to determine how to identify the year that one of the bikes was built. My research has indicated that the process for figuring out the manufacturing date of a BMC bike may be different depending on the year that it was made.
How Old Are BMC Bikes?
BMC bikes have been around for over 35 years - with manufacturing beginning in 1986. The majority of BMC bikes that became popular internationally were built after 2001.
BMC Bikes History
Although the company has its headquarters in Grenchen, Solothurn, Switzerland, the company was actually founded by an American named Bob Bigelow.
Bob Bigelow was initially employed by Raleigh Bicycles until he lost his distributor's license. After leaving the company, Bigelow set out to start his own bike brand, BMC. Initially, BMC was a very niche bicycle manufacturing company and did not receive a lot of international attention through the 80s or 90s.
It was in 2001 when things really got in motion for BMC when they were contracted to supply bikes for the Phonak racing team. BMC bikes now specialize in building a high-performance road, gravel, and mountain bikes with massive praise from the international cycling community.
Their success has been attributed to sophisticated and advanced bike designs, which have ultimately resulted in riders winning competitions on BMC bikes such as the Tour de France.
Where Are BMC Bikes Made?
BMC bikes are made in Grenchen, Solothurn, Switzerland. The company has been headquartered there since it first started manufacturing bikes in 1986.
Is there a Date Code in the BMC Serial Number?
Your BMC bike should have a date code stamped within the serial number. The date code will be the first digits of your BMC serial number.
Where is the BMC Bike Serial Number Located?
BMC bikes have changed over the years, and the manufacturer has put the serial number in a couple of different spots located on the bike. Depending on the year that your bike was manufactured, the serial number will be located in one of the following places on your bike:
- Front of the bottom bracket
- Below the bottom bracket
It is also important to note that BMC made some changes to its serial numbers in 2014. Prior to this date, all serial numbers were physically embedded in the bikes. However, as of 2014, BMC started using a QR code system - with the serial number located on the QR code stamp.
Can You Register Your BMC Bike?
Yes, you can register your BMC bike. BMC has set up an intuitive and easy-to-use system for registering bikes so that they can be easily traced when necessary. To register your BMC bike, you need to go onto their website with the following information handy:
- Bike Model
- Bike Platform
- Date of Purchase
- Country of Origin
- Serial Number
In addition to this, you will also need to fill out some personal information, as well as some information about the retailer that sold you the bike. BMC highly encourages all riders to register their bikes, as this can be the most reliable way of retrieving your bike if it gets lost or stolen.
How to Find the Age of a BMC Bike
If you are on a mission to find the age of your BMC bike, there are a number of different ways that you can do this Depending on whether or not you have your serial number or not, the process of doing so is very straightforward.
1. Reference the Serial Number
The most reliable way of identifying the year that your BMC bike was manufactured is to check the serial number. When your bike was built, it was stamped with a serial number which is located on the front of the bottom bracket or the below the bottom bracket.
The serial number is stamped on your bike and the numbers will indicate the year that it was made. However, keep in mind that all BMC bikes that were made after the year 2014 will have a QR code - with the serial number stamped on the code. If your BMC bike has a QR code, then you know for sure that it was manufactured after 2014.
2. Consult BMC Bicycle Forum Members
The cycling community has a lot of members and they are usually willing to help when needed, which is why you should try a BMC bicycle forum if you are having trouble figuring out the year that your machine was made.
There are a ton of great online forums with active members that have in-depth knowledge of bikes. By listing some of the details of your BMC bike in a forum, you should be able to get some feedback and insight on your bike.
3. Check BMC Archives
If your BMC bike is relatively new, you can find out the year that it was manufactured by checking their official archives website. As of 2010, BMC has listed all of its bikes in an online archive to help riders identify their bike model and manufacturing date.
However, if you have an older BMC bike, it will not be listed within the archives and you will need to try another method.
4. Ask Your Local Bike Shop
Local bike shops are owned by experienced and knowledgeable cycling enthusiasts and they employ staff who share the same passion for bikes. If you were having trouble finding your serial number and getting an answer from a forum, head to your local bike shop and ask them for some help.
5. Contact the Manufacturer
BMC has excellent customer service and they will be more than willing to help you out with your inquiry. You should try to contact BMC directly and ask them about the year that your bike was made. If anyone can help you get to the bottom of your bike’s manufacturing date, it’s them.
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