How to Check eBike Model Year (9 Different Ways)
When I was checking out different eBikes, the first thing I wanted to figure out was each e-bike’s model year. Unfortunately, an e-bike’s model year is sometimes quite hard to find. So, I did some research and compiled a list of several steps one should take to locate an eBike’s model year.
1. Check Your Owner’s Manual for the eBike Model Year
As a general rule, your owner’s manual should state the model year of your electric bike. Many manufacturers make new e-bikes each year, so the manual included with your eBike should identify the model year(s) it covers.
As e-bikes gain increasing popularity, many manufacturers create new models each year. Because the demand is so high, many manufacturers have the funds to upgrade their e-bike technologies each year instead of every two or three years.
If you purchase your e-bike new, it should come with an owner’s manual or a QR code to an online user manual. This manual should state the year or years for which the information is applicable, depending on the brand. If the manual gives you a range of years, you will still have to investigate to find out the exact model year, but at least you would have narrowed down the model year into a set range.
Checking your e-bike’s manual is the most direct way to find its model year. The other ways to find your e-bike’s model year will require you to locate the serial number and decode the model number from the manufacturer’s serial number pattern.
2. Check the Manufacturer’s Website for the Pattern
As a general rule, to figure out your e-bike’s model year from its serial number, you need to decode the pattern your e-bike’s manufacturer uses to categorize its e-bike makes and models. You should be able to interpret the serial number by visiting the manufacturer’s website.
Many serial numbers will appear as a random combination of six to ten numbers and letters. Each manufacturer uses different combinations of numbers and letters to denote an e-bike’s make, model, and model year.
Head to the manufacturer’s website to figure out your e-bike’s model year from its serial number. You can start by typing the serial number in the search bar on the manufacturer’s website. If that doesn’t give you any results, you can try typing the search term “serial number” in the search bar.
If you cannot find any information about your e-bike’s model year by searching its serial number on the manufacturer’s website, you can try using Bikeindex. This site is an index of thousands of bicycle serial numbers so you may find your e-bike’s serial number listed on this site. From there, you should be able to discover your e-bike’s model year. For more information about how to use Bikeindex, check out this video:
If you do not get results from any of these methods, you can try searching the serial number on Google. A quick Google search may direct you to a result with a bicycle serial number index or another online user who had the same question as you.
If the internet proves to be unhelpful, do not worry; there are still several steps you can take to find out the model year of your electric bike.
3. Check the Crank (above, below, beside) for the Serial Number
As a whole, an e-bike’s serial number is located near the crank most of the time. Every manufacturer places the serial number in a different spot, but the serial number is generally located above, below, on, or beside the crank on your e-bike.
If you need to track down your e-bike’s serial number to figure out its model year, the first place you should check is the crank. Many eBike manufacturers place the serial number for their e-bikes on/near the crank.
If you are looking at the crank and you do not immediately see the serial number, try checking above the crank. If the serial number is not above the crank, look below. To look below the crank for the serial number, you may have to flip your e-bike upside down.
If you do not see the serial number above or below the crank, try checking beside the crank. The serial number may even be on the frame beside the crank.
4. Check Near the Handlebars for the Serial Number
On average, your e-bike’s serial number may be located on the frame or near the handlebars if it is not found on the crank. This part is sometimes called the head-tube of the e-bike. If your e-bike’s serial number is near the handlebars, it will likely be stamped on the frame.
Some e-bike manufacturers place the serial number on the e-bike’s frame, just below the handlebars. For example, you can find any Rad Power eBike serial number on the frame under the handlebars, just beneath the Rad Power emblem.
If your e-bike’s serial number is on the frame below the handlebars, it will likely be stamped on the frame and painted the same color as your e-bike’s frame. The serial number below the handlebars is more at risk of being subjected to water and weather conditions than those located by the crank. In this case, the manufacturer chooses to stamp the serial number, so it becomes less likely to be damaged or worn due to the weather conditions.
5. Check the Bottom Bracket for the Serial Number
As a general rule, your e-bike’s serial number will be located on the bottom bracket if not found on the crank or near the handlebars. If your e-bike’s serial number is on the bottom bracket, it will likely appear on a sticker.
Some e-bike manufacturers place the serial number on the e-bike’s bottom bracket. For example, you can find any Giant e-bike’s serial number just below the bottom bracket.
Generally, the crank is on or near your e-bike’s bottom bracket. Check the bottom bracket if you have checked both the crank and the frame near the handlebars and still cannot find your e-bike’s serial number.
To investigate the bottom bracket on your e-bike to find its serial number, you may have to flip your e-bike upside down. If the serial number is on the bottom bracket, it will likely appear on a sticker. If your e-bike is a newer model (2020-present), it may have a QR code that, when scanned, will tell you your e-bike’s serial number.
6. Ask the Seller for the Model Year
As a general rule, if you buy a used eBike, the seller may know the information needed to decipher your eBike’s model year. If you cannot locate the serial number on your eBike, it is a good idea to ask the seller before asking anyone else.
If you purchase a used eBike, ask for the serial number before buying your eBike. That way, you can check the model year before purchasing your eBike. The model year can often affect how much an electric bike costs.
However, if you purchase a used e-bike without asking for the serial number first, then realize you cannot locate the serial number on your eBike, you may want to contact the person from whom you bought your used eBike.
The seller should know the model year, or at least they should be able to help you locate the serial number.
If you cannot reach the seller or if they do not have information regarding the serial number or the model year, you will have to use another method to figure out the model year of your eBike.
7. Ask Someone at a Bike Shop for the Model Year
On average, bike shop associates are very knowledgeable about eBike models. Even if a bike shop associate is not sure what model year your eBike is, they may be able to help you locate the serial number.
If the person who sold you your eBike does not know the model year and cannot help you locate the serial number, your next best bet is to call or visit a bike shop. Many bike shop associates or mechanics are well versed in the various makes and models of eBikes.
If you take your eBike to a bike shop and the associate or mechanic does not know the model year, they may still be able to help you find the serial number from which you can decipher the model year. Bike shop associates see bikes and e-bikes from many different manufacturers, so, chances are, they know all the secret places a serial number could be hiding.
If you take your e-bike to a bike shop and an associate does not know the model year and cannot help you locate the serial number, you can still do a few things to find out the model year of your electric bike.
8. Call the Manufacturer’s Customer Service Number
As a general rule, if you call your e-bike’s manufacturer’s customer service number, they should be able to help you figure out your e-bike’s model year. If you are the original owner of your eBike, they may ask you for proof of purchase, like a receipt.
You can try to figure out your e-bike’s model year by contacting the manufacturer’s customer service line. If you have the serial number, be sure to have that ready for the customer service representative, as they will ask you for it. If you do not have the serial number, make that clear with the customer service representative.
If you are the original owner of your eBike, the customer service representative may ask you for proof of purchase. It could be a receipt, confirmation number, item number, or information from the owner’s manual provided in the box with your e-bike. One of these items will help the customer service representative provide you with your e-bike’s model year.
If you are not the original owner of your eBike, state that when you communicate with a customer service representative from your e-bike’s manufacturer. Providing this information will let the representative know what steps to take when troubleshooting with you, thus saving time while you communicate.
If you are not the original owner of your e-bike and you do not have the serial number, the customer service representative may ask you to describe the features of your e-bike. This description may help them figure out the model year, as most manufacturers change the parts on their e-bikes to help distinguish the model years.
In this case, you may want to be near your e-bike while you communicate with customer service or have several photos of your e-bike readily available to you.
9. Post in an eBike Owner’s Online Forum
As a whole, you can post your inquiry about your e-bike’s model year in several online forums frequented by e-bike users and aficionados if steps one through eight do not help you figure out your e-bike’s model year.
In recent years, the internet has become an incredible resource for answering specific, niche inquiries, like wanting to know your eBike’s model year even when you provide little relevant information.
There are corners of the internet on which you can find someone or a group of people who may be able to answer your question. When choosing what forum on which to post your inquiry about your e-bike’s model year, you should think about the specific details that may help someone answer your question.
Here are some critical pieces of information you should provide when posting your inquiry in an e-bike forum:
- Your e-bike’s manufacturer
- A few photos of your eBike
- State whether you bought it new or used
- State approximately how old you think your eBike is
By including these details in your post, you will help answer the first questions users may need to ask you before providing an answer.
You never know who may see your question in an online forum. For example, you may strike the jackpot, and a factory worker at a Giant e-bike plant who is very familiar with the distinctions between model years may see your question regarding your Giant e-bike.
Once you know what you want to post, you will have to figure out where to post it. We recommend posting on:
- An eBike owner’s Facebook group
- An eBike owner’s Reddit page
- Any eBike online forums (bonus points if the forum is specific to your eBike’s manufacturer)
Post in an eBike Owner’s Facebook Group
We highly recommend posting in an e-bike owner’s Facebook group when figuring out your e-bike’s model year. Users in Facebook groups are typically very active, so a user will likely answer your question very quickly.
When trying to figure out what Facebook group to join to post your inquiry, you may want to join a few. We recommend joining a general eBike users Facebook group, a group for your eBike’s manufacturer (like a Schwinn or Giant Facebook group), and a group for e-bike users of a specific manufacturer (like a Haibike eBike group).
We recommend joining a Facebook group dedicated to eBike serial numbers if you have your serial number. Several Facebook groups for bike and eBike serial numbers act as indexes.
Post on an eBike Owner’s Reddit Page
We also recommend posting on an e-bike owner’s Reddit page when trying to figure out your e-bike’s model year. Users on Reddit are often very knowledgeable in their specific niches.
When seeking out Reddit pages on which you can post your inquiry, you may want to search and follow the Reddit page for eBike users. Then, search and follow the subreddits specific to your eBike’s manufacturer (like a Schwinn subreddit) and users of a particular eBike manufacturer (like users of Cube eBikes).
Many subreddits act as indexes for eBike serial numbers. We recommend joining a subreddit dedicated to eBike serial numbers if you have your serial number. Using a subreddit dedicated to eBike serial numbers will be a quick and easy way to find your eBike’s model year from its serial number.
Post in an eBike Owner’s Forum
You may be able to track down a website that acts as a forum for eBike users of the same manufacturer of your eBike. The only downside of these online forums is they are a bit dated, and users may not respond as quickly as they might on Facebook or Reddit.
However, there is a well-known forum for eBike users that is very active, called eBikes forum. You may find users on this site are very knowledgeable about your specific inquiry.
There are also some eBike indexes on which you can register or look up your eBike by its serial number. If you know your eBike’s serial number, using a site like Bike Index may help you figure out your e-bike’s model year.
What year is it? It is the year of the electric bikes!
-Electric Ride Owner
Where is the Serial Number on eBike?
As a general rule, an eBike’s serial number is on or near the bottom bracket. If the serial number on your eBike is not on the bottom bracket, check on and around the crank or the handlebars. The location of an eBike’s serial number often varies based on its manufacturer.
The serial number can be located anywhere on an e-bike’s frame. It will typically be on/near the bottom bracket or on the neck of the bike frame, otherwise called the head tube.
The serial number will often be stamped into the frame of your e-bike. However, some brands print the serial number on a sticker, or they print a QR code on a sticker that, when scanned, will tell you the e-bike’s serial number.
If you are looking to get your next electric bike, take some time to check out our article, “Best Electric Bike Brands (Ranked by Budget Level & Style)”
