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Danish bicycle VIN-system

Bicycle identification system in Denmark

The Danish bicycle VIN-system is a system introduced in 1942 by the Danish government, providing all bicycles in Denmark with a unique code. The VIN code is a combination of letters and digits embedded into the bicycle frame and consists of a manufacturer code, a serial number, and construction year code.

Since 1948, it has been illegal to sell bicycle frames in Denmark without an embedded VIN. Because of this, insurance companies in Denmark will not pay indemnities for stolen bicycles without a VIN.

Location of the VIN

By default, the VIN is to be engraved into the seat tube or the down tube, but if these are made of such a material that hinders this, it may alternately be put on the bottom bracket shell. In very special instances, and only with the approval of the Danish National Police Commissioner’s Office, it may be applied by other means and on other locations.

Components of the VIN

The bicycle VIN is constructed of three elements: a letter-block, a digit-block and a letter-block:

Block	Description	Length
1	2	3
Manufacturers code	Frame serial number	Production year
1–4 (letters)	1–∞ (digits)	1 (letter)
WDA	1234	Z
S	57	A

The manufacturers-code, is a 1, 2, 3 or 4-letter block. If the code starts with a W, it is an imported bicycle frame. The second block is the frame serial number from that manufacturer. This shall have at least one digit, but can otherwise have any number of digits. The third block is a single letter code that identifies the production year. Certain limits regarding letters are instated for the VIN:

I is omitted as it can be confused with 1 (one)
O is omitted as it can be confused with 0 (zero)
Y is omitted as it can be confused with V
W is omitted, to avoid confusion with the manufacturer code (where W is reserved for imported frames)

In the examples above, the first bicycle is a bicycle imported by FDB, with serial number 1234 and made in either 1963, 1984 or 2005. The second bike is an SCO bicycle, with serial number 57, made in 1942, 1964, 1985 or 2006.

Common manufacturer codes

This table shows examples of manufacturer codes, but is in no way to be considered a complete listing.

	Code	Manufacturer name	Code	Manufacturer name	Code	Manufacturer name
	AK	Centurion (previously Åge Krøll)	HN	Hede Nielsens Fabrikker A/S	RD	Scandinavia Racing Discount
	AR	Raleigh (previously Vilhelm Nellemann A/S)	IA1	Ivan A Hansen	REC	Recykel ApS
	AV	Winther cykler (alias Anders Winther A/S)	IC2	Ebsen Danmark A/S	SI1	Søgreni cykler
	AZ	Jørgensø Import	JE	Jupiter	S	SCO (alias Smith & Co)
BA	Banani (previously Bent A Nielsen)	JKH	Jyde-Kompagniet A/S	SS	SCO (alias Smith & Co)
BL	SCO bicycles sold in the Bilka supermarket chain (see also S)	JWG3	Cykelbanditten	STE	Stangerup Efterfølgere
BK	Kildemoes (alias Børge Kildemoes)	KM	Motobecane	SX	Saxil cykler (also see BN)
BN	Saxil Bicycles (SX until approx. 2000)	LL	Sorte Jernhest	TU	Trek
BT	Taarnby a/s	MB	MBK	TV	Batavus
CC	Christiania Bicycles (also Pedersen-cyklen)	MR	Ritter Import	UR	Urania cykler
CGE	Cykelgear.dk	N	Nordisk Cykelfabrik A/S	VI	VIVA bikes
CK	Jensen cykler (alias C K Jensen)	NH	Nihola Cykler ApS	VEL	Velorbis
CM	Mosquito	PA	Pedal-atleten	VG	Grebart cykler
CPH	CPHBiKE ApS	PD	Steyr-Puch A/S	WTRI	Triobike
CS	Christiania Bicycles	PF	Peter From
DA	FDB	POL	VIN provided by the police - usually for private import
DB	Rocky	PL	CREATE
DI1	Dibbern Cykler	PR	Pro Movec
EE	Egedesø (alias Everton)	PS	Schrøder cykler
FAK	Falcon	PY	Python Pro
GD	Titania Cykler
GR	L. H. V. Grønning, Skibhusvej 146, Odense
GW3	G&W Cykler

1: Even though I in general is not used, it appears that some brands are using it.

2: Even though I in general is not used, Ebsen Danmark A/S bicycles are in fact using it in their manufacturer code (verified).

3: Even though W in general is not used, it appears that some brands are using it.

Raleigh WN Variant

Two examples of the WN prefix (which denotes "Nordisk Cyklfabrik A/S") have been found so far on Raleigh branded models. Because Raleigh had a long standing policy of shipping out frames to distribution centres in export territories where they would be then built into complete bicycles, it seems highly likely that any Raleigh made frame shipped from England to that particular company and built into a bicycle which was then destined for sale in Denmark, was stamped with the WN prefix.

Production year identification codes

Please note that since this table was compiled, a Q has been found on a Raleigh frame made in March 1978. This obviously calls into question the entries for letters R to Z but also confirms the years for A to P are accurate.

	A		B		C		D		E		F		G		H		J		K		L		M		N		P		Q		R		S		T		U		V		X		Z
	1942
	1964
	1985
	2006

References

(1948-03-23). "Lov nr. 135 af 23. marts 1948: Bekendtgørelse af lov om mærkning af cykelstel m.v.".
Lund, Preben. (2011-06-12). "Demand for marking of stolen goods". DR Nyheder.
Dansk Cyklist Forbund. "How to decode the bicycles age".

Info: Wikipedia Source

This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.

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