The best chance at recovering a stolen bicycle is having a registered serial number. These numbers are used by police across the nation.
The serial number is on outside of non drive side dropout. Seems to be a sequential number that might have started at 1000000 for all Motobecane models. The serial number might not always get stamped when the frame model number/year is stamped. Classic & Vintage - Motobecane Serial Number Database - OK people, I've only got another 500 posts remaining, so I've decided to make an attempt at decrypting one last serial number format. It seems Motobecane's format has been giving people fits, so I'm willing to give it. Motobecane is known for designing very light weight mountain bicycles. Motobecane was the first French maker to start using Japanese parts, in the late 1970s. This was a very good move on their part, because at that time Japanese derailleurs and crank sets were much better than the older French designs common on mid-priced 10-speeds.
Where to Find It
The majority of serial numbers are located under the bottom bracket where the two pedal cranks meet. Turn your bike upside down and record the number.
If there is no serial number near the cranks, you should check other common places including the front headset or rear stays. The diagram (below) indicates five of the most common serial number locations.
How to Register without a Serial Number
Serial Number Search
If you can’t find a serial number, you can still register your bicycle with DPS. To do so, bring the bicycle to the station, located in Parking Structure A (PSA). We can provide you with tools to engrave your driver’s license number on your frame. We’ll use this as alternate identification to the manufacturer’s serial number.