How do I Date My Cannondale Bike?

Originally a producer of cycling accessories, Cannondale introduced its first bicycle in 1983. If you own a Cannondale bicycle, especially an older model, you may be interested in learning when it was manufactured. Depending on the year it was made, indications of its age may be found on different areas of the bicycle in coded serial numbers.

Locate the serial number for the bicycle. Depending on the year of manufacture, this can be found on the bottom of the bicycle frame, on the upper rear frame fork or on the seat adjustment bracket.

Serial numbers on bicycles produced from 1983 to 1985 are two letters and four digits located at the bottom of the frame. Bicycles produced from 1986 to 1992 have a serial number composed of 11 or more digits, located either at the bottom of the frame or on the upper rear frame fork. Bicycles produced from 1993 to 2001 have a serial number plate located at the bottom of the frame. Bicycles with Raven frames produced from 1998 to 2001, as well as all bicycles produced from 2002 onward, have a barcode and serial number on the seat adjustment bracket.

Identify the two letters at the beginning of the 1983 to 1985 serial number. "AA" indicates 1983, "BB" 1984 and "CC" 1985.

Identify the date code in the 1986 to 1992 serial number. Cannondale used two different formats in these years.

The first format uses a number containing frame size, production date and sequence number. Digits 3 to 8 represent the production date, in a MMDDYY format. For example, the serial number 56020588132 indicates a frame built on February 5, 1988.

The second format uses a number containing rear dropout spacing, frame size, production date and sequence number. Digits 4 to 7 represent the production date, in a MMYY format. For example, the serial number 51803920847 indicates a frame built in March 1992.

Identify the date code on the 1993 to 2001 serial number plate. The date code is positioned on the upper left of the serial number plate for years 1993 to 1999, and on the bottom right for years 2000 to 2001. It is composed of two letters indicating the year and month of manufacture. The years are indicated by letters E through K and the months are indicated by letters A through L. For example, the code KD indicates a bicycle manufactured in April 1999.

Locate the bar code and serial number for Raven frames manufactured in the years 1998 through 2001. The two letters at the beginning of the serial number below the bar code indicate the year and month of manufacture. The years are indicated by letters J through M and the months are indicated by letters A through L. For example, the code LE indicates a bicycle manufactured in May 2000.

Locate the bar code and serial number for bicycles manufactured from 2002 onward. The first letter in the serial number below the bar code indicates the year of manufacture, starting with the letter N for 2002 and continuing in alphabetical order.