Whether you have an old Giant bike laying around the house or if you just picked up a used one, you may want to know what year your bike is.
Giant has been manufacturing bikes since the early 70s and many of their older models are still being used to this day. However, if you are planning on selling your Giant bike, buying one used, or are simply curious about how old your bike is, you probably want to figure out the year it was made.
The best way to find out what year your Giant bike was made is to first see if there is a date stamp on the frame. This can be found in the form of a serial number or VIN (vehicle identification number). If all else fails, do some online research, ask a forum, or reach out to a bike shop for help.
When it comes to bike manufacturers, few companies can match up to the reputation that Giant has built since it first started making bicycles. This Taiwan-based company has been releasing world-class mountain bikes and road bikes for decades and they only continue to excel as the years go on. These days, many Giant bikes from the past have become collector's items and you may even have one laying around your home, which may make you wonder just how old your bike is. On the other hand, many people like to buy, trade, and sell used bikes. When people go through a second-hand exchange process, many buyers generally want to know the year that their bike was made. Regardless of what your intentions are, you are probably curious as to what year your Giant bike was manufactured. To help you understand this further, we are going to take a closer look at how to identify the year that your Giant bike was made in more detail.
After extensively researching Giant bikes, I have been able to gather enough information to help you determine the manufacturing date of your bike. My research has taught me that there are a few different methods that you can utilize for this - depending on the age and condition of your Giant bike.
Identifying the Year of Your Giant Bike
There are a handful of different ways that you can approach identifying the year that your Giant bike was made. You are going to find that some may not apply to you based on when your bike was manufactured and what kind of condition it’s in.
If you have got an older Giant bike that has been used and abused over the years - with a considerable amount of damage being done to it, you may have a harder time figuring out what year your bike is. There are certain key numbers and stamps that can be found on Giant bikes that will help you pinpoint exactly when it was made.
However, riders that have old bikes that have been used a lot, often find that these stamps have deteriorated. If that is the case for you, then you are going to need to get creative to figure out the year of your Giant bike.
With that being said, if your Giant bike is fairly new or if it has simply been kept in good condition over the years, then you are going to have a pretty easy time figuring out its manufacturing date. Keep reading to learn more about what year your Giant bike is.
Serial Number & VIN
The best way to figure out what year your Giant bike was made is to first try to find its serial number. A serial number on a Giant bike is essentially an identification number that was engraved into the bicycle during its manufacturing process.
The serial number was designed to keep bike identification organized, as well as to help avoid bike theft. This is also something that you can register in case your bike gets stolen and needs to be identified. You should note, that Giant did not start applying serial numbers to its bikes until 1981, which means that if your bike is anything older than that - you are going to have a pretty tricky time figuring out the exact date.
However, this is the first place that you want to start to figure out the year that your Giant was manufactured. The serial number of your bike may be located in a few different locations depending on the year of your bike, as well as its make and model.
It is very common for a Giant serial number to be on the frame of the bike near the bottom bracket shell. If you are not seeing anything there, then you should take a look at the rear hub of the bike. These are the two most logical places where your serial number will be located.
If you cannot find it there, take a close look at various parts of the frame and keep an eye out for a 17-digit number. Once you have identified the number, you will find that the date will be stamped there. The serial number should indicate exactly which month and which year your Giant was manufactured.
Sometimes it can be tricky to figure out what your date is based on the serial number. If you are having trouble with this, you can always try to reach out to Giant to ask if they can do a search for you - or you can contact the retailer that it was bought from, as they also tend to keep this on record. If you happen to not see a serial number or if it has faded away over the years, then you may want to try another method.
Online Research & Assistance
Thanks to the internet, you have got a lot of online resources to utilize to help you with your search. The most basic thing that you can do is start with the make and model Giant bike that you have. If you know what type of Giant bike it is, do a browser search to see what kind of info comes up.
As you look through your search options, see if any bike matches the style and design of Giant that you own. If you have got a newer Giant model, then you should be able to figure out what year your bike is fairly easily using this method. Giant has some models on their website but there are also tons of resellers online that have a huge catalog of bikes listed. All of these sellers will have detailed information about their Giant bikes, which should include the year.
This can be harder to do (or even impossible) if you happen to have an old Giant bike - especially if it is vintage era and is multiple decades old. If that is the case, you may want to do more thorough research online and look for websites that have cataloged classic Giant bikes.
If your search was unsuccessful and you were not able to find a website that had your specific Giant bike, your next best bet is going to be to seek help online. There are plenty of bike forums with strong communities that help one another with these things. You should register to a forum and then make a post that gives as much detail about your Giant bike as possible, which should also include a photo.
Also try to be as descriptive as possible with any features that the bike has such as parts, style, and frame type. Many people out there will be more than happy to help you figure out the year of your bike or at the very least, point you in the right direction.
Alternatively, you can try your luck at contacting Giant directly. Giant has a customer support service and by reaching out to them, you may be able to get assistance from the manufacturer with your query. At the end of the day, if anyone is going to know what year your Giant bike was made, it is going to be Giant.
Bike Shop & Mechanic
If you have tried every possible method for identifying your Giant bike’s year and you keep running into dead ends, try taking it to a bike shop before you completely give up.
A lot of the people that work at bike shops are well-versed in these kinds of things and they may be your last chance to get some help with the matter. It would preferable for you to seek the help of a bike shop that specializes in Giant bikes, as they are probably better equipped to assist you.
While you are at the bike shop, you may find that they are able to locate a serial number or some kind of date stamp which you may have overlooked during your initial inspection.
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