Typically follows a K + Year + Month + Production Number sequence. Decoding Example: K4C0560 K: Kuwahara factory. 4: Manufactured in 1984. C: Manufactured in March (A=Jan, B=Feb, C=Mar, etc.). 0560: The 560th frame produced that month.
On these frames, "K" stands for Kinesis , identifying the specific frame variant or manufacturer batch, often found alongside other codes like FS (Freestyle) or M1 (Mach One).
Between 1981 and 1983, a rare three-letter prefix KGA , KGB , or KGC was used for Kuwahara frames welded by G.J.S. Bicycles in the USA. Vintage Kuwahara Frame Serial Number Guide Bmx Serial Number Starting With K
In the broader bicycle market, a serial number starting with "K" frequently indicates a frame manufactured by , one of the world's largest frame producers. Kinesis has built frames for dozens of brands including Diamondback , Raleigh , Nishiki , and GT .
High-end models like the Laserlite and Survivor often featured a standalone "K" stamped on the rear dropouts as a brand identifier, separate from the full serial number under the bottom bracket. 2. Kinesis Industry Frames Typically follows a K + Year + Month
On certain "Mid-School" GT frames (primarily from the 1990s), the letter "K" served as a rather than just a factory code.
A BMX serial number starting with "K" is a hallmark of several major manufacturers and brands, most notably the legendary brand from the 1980s and the industrial frame giant Kinesis . Because different companies used this prefix for varying purposes—ranging from factory identification to model designations—interpreting a "K" serial number requires looking at the era and the specific layout of the digits that follow. 1. Kuwahara (Early to Mid-1980s) C: Manufactured in March (A=Jan, B=Feb, C=Mar, etc
The "K" identifies the factory rather than the final brand.