The frame components were manufactured in different stages and or departments and some of the parts were exhausted quicker than others, it this process that lead to some of the frames “crossing over” to different years, especially during the end of the year.

RECO (Racer Engineering Company) manufactured frames for BMX Products, Inc. for the first 3 years of production, after that the frames were made “in house” by BMX Products, Inc. RECO was a frame welding company that BMX Products, Inc. used to make their early frames. BMX Products Inc. in the early years moved into the unit next door to RECO and eventually bought them out.

So serial numbers that ran from May 1976 through to March 1981 will have three digits in sequence overtop the serial number of that frame. Let’s look at some serial number examples below to get a better understand how the process worked.

This guideline also applies to Team Mongoose, Supergoose, Jag, Blue Max, Roger DeCoster, Super-X, and Moto-Trac frames.

Each frame had a combination of three key numbers or letters. For example:

CH8 123456
Again, the C stands for Cromo where the frames were manufactured. The next letter in the sequence is the month code.
A = January
B = February
C = March
The next number is the last number of the year the frame was produced.
6 = 1976
7 = 1977
8 = 1978
9 = 1979
0 = 1980
1 = 1981
The rest of the serial numbers are sequential and are the number of frames produced in that series.

NB: Super X has an “X” instead of a “C” in the serial number.

The Team Mongoose and Supergoose frames are a little different. The same coding applies to the first part of the serial numbers as we discussed above, however, if a capital T is in front of or above the CXX it indicates that it is a 100% Chromoly frame. The Team Mongoose, Team Minigoose and Supergoose, all should have a T in this area. (Moosegoose, Two/Four, Two/Six, and the Kos Krusier also have 100 % Chromoly tubing).

Another feature of a Team / Supergoose frame is the flattened seat stay where the chain passes it. This was done to give better clearance for the chain. Very early team frames had a 'T' but without the flattened seat stay, but these are very few and were in 1977 mainly. NB: a Supergoose is just a full cromo team frame that has nickel (79/80) or chrome plating (81 onwards) as its final finish. As opposed to a candy coated full cromo frame = team frame. NBB: In 1982 and onwards, a Team frame was also offered in 'Show Chrome' as well as red or blue candy coat. (there are a couple of known Supergoose frames without the flat seat stay.

Serial numbers from 1981

In April 1981 and onwards the frames were coded differently. The 'C' was dropped and they started out with a single letter followed by a sequence of numbers. (nb: The frames were still made in Chatsworth up until 1984 when they moved to Moorpark. This applies to all frames made, EXCEPT those starting with the letter 'M' as these frames were made in the Merida factory in Taiwan.) As before, the letter indicates the month and the first number or the second digit in the sequence indicates the last number for that year. Also of note is the 'T' (for team), was also dropped. When they dropped the 'C', it was realised that there was no need for it, as there were other ways to ID a Team/Supergoose (full cromo) frame. There was a few 'crazy' months around April, May and June in 1981, when there was mix of old and new dropouts being used. So there is actually a month or more where there was a 'Team/Supergoose' frame that had no 'T' in serial but still had 'old style' dropouts..

The easiest way is to check the brake bridge for the extra two slotted holes that were added. These extra holes were only on the full cromo frames that had the 'step down' type dropouts. (If your frame has holes in the dropouts, BUT does not have 3 holes in the brake bridge, its NOT a supergoose, even if its chrome) See dropouts page here.

Mongoose Bmx Serial Numbers Lookup

Mongoose Bmx Serial Numbers Lookup

J2009981: according to this serial number the frame was manufactured in October of 1982.

Sometime in 1982 the bottom bracket brace was replaced with an open design (see picture below). USA made frames from post gusset era, still had the month first, then the year but they were stamped not on the bottom bracket but on the brace behind the bottom bracket. All USA made frames after they dropped the “C” were month, then year, then serial number.

As a general rule anything with a Gusset behind the head tube was manufactured in the USA.

There are a few key components to look for on a BMX Products, Inc. frame.

  1. Gusset at the front behind the headtube.
  2. A round hole below the upper seat mast.
  3. Unique Heliarc weld pattern ('heli arc' is another name for TIG. It's proper name is GTAW, or Gas Tungsten Arc Welding. The 'heli' in heli arc comes from the shielding gas helium that was used. )

NON GUSSETT FRAMES (POST 1982 FRAMES)

To start with, any frame with a serial number starting with 'M' was made in Tiawan in the Merida factory. In 1982, BMX Products started to manufacture a new range of non-gussett frame starting with the Pro Class 20' frames. Then next came the first Californian and Expert frames and were USA made, while they were getting setup for Tiawan production. The top of the range frames were USA made, (ie: Pro class, Rupe, Supergoose). USA made frames continued the standard USA numbering. After the company was sold to Service Cycle, it seems all frame production was moved to Tiawan. Mi pc suite for mac. We have been told that when the company was sold the new owners only wanted complete boxed bikes and the rest of the stock of frames were destroyed.

So to start the decoding of these serial numbers.

Here is a typical example.
Mongoose Bmx Serial Numbers Lookup

Mongoose Bmx Serial Numbers Lookup Chart

NB: There are a few anomailes to this, that do show up from time to time. if you are unsure, then email us your pics and serial number.
Info On Mongoose:
http://www.vintagemongoose.com/
MONGOOSE MOTOMAG: 1975 - 1983
1st gen. gusset by the bottom bracket, a coaster tab but no brake bridge. (Sept'75-Jan'77)
Serial Numbers
(located on the underside of hanger cup/bottom bracket shell):
1975 serial numbers were a hand-stamped five number, individual frame ID. They begin at 10001 and continue until early 1976 when a revised stamp begins to include place of manufacture indicated with the letter 'C' ( for Chatsworth, California) followed by the five number individual frame ID. It then changes again later into 1976 to include place of manufacture/month/year code followed by a five number individual frame ID. Example: CB6 ##### (C=Chatsworth B=February 6=1976). After February 1977, (CB7) the second generation frames appear without the extra gusset between down tube and seat post tube.
2nd gen. removed BB gusset and added brake bridge. (Feb'77-June'79)
3rd gen. removed coaster tab. (July'79-June'81)
4th gen. step down, 2-hole dropouts were added. July '81
SER # Breakdown
For the first year or so it was a hand stamped 4 or 5-digit #. '75 -'76
13054C
17407
The most common # was from '76 - Feb.'81
CA7CL9
31909255406
From '81-'83 they started using this code (it moved around alot)
H159989A3002876
TEAM MONGOOSE 1978 - 1980
There are some Team frames from late '77
full production started in 1978.
they came in Candy Red or Blue over Nickel. 100% Chromoly.
T
CG9
191147
Submitted by Mongoose (View all 77 posts)

Serial Monitor

  • Posted 2013-12-03 9:56am
  • Updated 2015-03-09 1:34am by Hobbes12
  • 3199 views