Engraving your own serial numbers.

[seric]

After the recent theft of my wifes Hunter, I'm currently in the process of registering my bikes with the local Police Department. They do not accept registrations without serial numbers. Neither my Ibis Tandem or Soma Mini Velo appear to have serial numbers, so I intend to engrave my own on the bottom bracket.

I figured I'd post here for a brainstorming session on what format would provide the best chances for recovery.

My first thought is to go with the following, does anyone have any improvements to offer:
DL-B######-CA ###

DL (designating the following as a drivers license number)
B###### (a drivers license number)
CA (issuing state)
### (a random number, I might derive this from the model name)

[cat6]

Engrave your Paceline handle on the BB and the year you were born on one of the rear dropouts.

[likebikes]

it used to be fashionable to engrave your social security number on things as an anti-theft measure.

[zmudshark]

Don't forget your mother's maiden name.

[vqdriver]

engraving thru the paint? on a steel frame, at the bottom bracket?

[oliver1850]

Originally Posted by likebikes

it used to be fashionable to engrave your social security number on things as an anti-theft measure.

I probably still have 8 track tapes that I wrote my SSN on.

[seric]

In my state, the DL number do not contain any embedded algorithmic meaning. So luckily the risk without additional information is little. And in my case, my DL# isn't related to much addresses or otherwise. Probably would not be wise to do the same in states that do algorithm based licenses such as Illinois or Wisconsin.

[cat6]

I don't understand the elaborate SN's. Is the hope that if recovered the police will look you up by your DL? If that's the case why not just put your phone number or email address? You're already at 14 confusing digits. Why over-complicate things.

If it's just for your local PD than I'd just put your name under there and call it a day. A tandem and a mini velo with seric engraved...not gonna be too many of those out there.

[Tandem Rider]

Originally Posted by oliver1850

I probably still have 8 track tapes that I wrote my SSN on.

Haha, what a great album! My wife's ready to invite you over for dinner. One of her favorites!

[seric]

Originally Posted by cat6

I don't understand the elaborate SN's. Is the hope that if recovered the police will look you up by your DL? If that's the case why not just put your phone number or email address? You're already at 14 confusing digits. Why over-complicate things.

If it's just for your local PD than I'd just put your name under there and call it a day. A tandem and a mini velo with seric engraved...not gonna be too many of those out there.

I think your logic wins out, I was almost certainly overthinking. I did suspect that DL followed by the states licensing format would be rather instantly recognizable as such by law enforcement. I don't however have any data on what percentage of stolen bikes remain in the state. And it wouldn't be a recognizable license format anywhere except for California, Arizona and New York.

[pdmtong]

I would not put personal identifying information on a bike. you may keep it. you may sell it. I would not want someone riding around with my SSN

that said, I dont what i would put instead. but no to DL or SSN or phone or address.

Agree - just put Seric

[Cat3roadracer]

Someone could steal your tandem?

Difficult to ride when you own one.

[choke]

I would use the last 4 of my SSN....it just appears like a 4 digit number to others.

If you pull the fork on any bike I own you'll find that written on the steerer tube.

[cadence90]

Originally Posted by seric

After the recent theft of my wifes Hunter, I'm currently in the process of registering my bikes with the local Police Department. They do not accept registrations without serial numbers. Neither my Ibis Tandem or Soma Mini Velo appear to have serial numbers, so I intend to engrave my own on the bottom bracket.

Whatever format you use, is it really necessary to hassle with engraving all that on the frame? Can't you just drop a laminated card into the ST and HT, and still register it with the PD? In that case, no visible engraving, and if the thieves strip the bike and burn the cards, well...the cops won't be of much help in that case anyway.

Not even this one:

[seric]

Originally Posted by cadence90

Whatever format you use, is it really necessary to hassle with engraving all that on the frame? Can't you just drop a laminated card into the ST and HT, and still register it with the PD?

Unfortunately, no. They explicitly refuse to register bikes without serial numbers.