# Where is the frame number on an Apollo bike?

Canonical: https://www.cyclesite.co.uk/trust/frame-numbers/apollo
Last reviewed: 2026-08-14

**Quick answer:** The frame number on an Apollo bike is usually stamped underneath the bottom bracket, between the pedals. On kids and budget models the stamping can be shallow and easily hidden by dirt or paint, so wipe the shell clean before deciding it is missing.

On an Apollo, check underneath the bottom bracket first, the part of the frame between the pedals. Apollo is a Halfords own-brand fitted to a lot of first bikes, kids bikes and budget hybrids, so the frame is usually steel or basic aluminium and the number is normally stamped straight into the metal. Turn the bike upside down, clean the area, and look in good light.

## Start under the bottom bracket.

This is the most common place to find an Apollo frame number. It is the part of the frame between the pedals, on the underside.

1. Put the bike somewhere safe and well lit.
2. Turn it upside down carefully, or place it in a workstand.
3. Look underneath the frame where the cranks meet the bike.
4. Wipe away mud, grease or road dirt.
5. Use a phone torch if the number is hard to read.
6. Take a clear photo before typing the number into a checker.

### If it is not under the bottom bracket

- Near the rear dropouts, where the back wheel fits into the frame.
- Around the seat tube.
- On the underside of the down tube.
- Near the head tube at the front of the bike.
- On the original sales receipt.
- In your Apollo registration email or paperwork.
- With the Apollo dealer that sold the bike.

## What a Apollo frame number looks like

A unique alphanumeric code stamped into the underside of the bottom bracket shell. Halfords does not publish an Apollo serial format, so read the whole code rather than looking for a particular prefix or length.

### Not the frame number

- Apollo XC26
- Apollo Excelle
- Apollo Phaze
- Apollo Vector
- Apollo Slant
- Apollo Jewel
- Frame size
- Wheel size markings
- Halfords stock or till labels
- Safety standard numbers

## Apollo stampings wear smooth

Apollo frames sit at the affordable end of the range and the serial is often stamped shallow into painted steel. On a bike that has lived outdoors the code can be filled with road grime or worn faint. Clean the bottom bracket shell with a cloth and check it in raking light before concluding the number is gone. A genuinely absent or ground-off number is a reason to walk away from a used purchase.

## Buying a used Apollo

A clean-looking bike is not always a safe buy. Before you pay, ask the seller for a clear photo of the frame number and check it against stolen-bike records. You should also ask for:

- The original receipt or proof of purchase.
- The seller’s name matching the receipt where possible.
- Clear photos of the bike from both sides.
- A photo of the frame number.
- Any service history.
- Details of upgrades or replacement parts.

## Bottom line

The quickest place to find an Apollo frame number is underneath the bike, near the pedals. Look for a stamped code or barcode sticker, copy the full number, then check it before you buy, sell or register the bike. A used Apollo can be a brilliant buy, but the frame number is the detail that protects you.

## Frequently asked questions

### Is an Apollo frame number the same as a serial number?

Yes. Most people use frame number and serial number to mean the same thing. It is the unique identifying code attached to the bike frame.

### Do all Apollo bikes have a frame number?

Most Apollo bikes have a frame number or serial number. Check the locations described above first; on older frames the marking can be shallow or worn, so clean the area and check in good light before concluding it is missing.

### Where is the frame number on an Apollo XC26?

On most Apollo XC26 mountain bikes, check underneath the bottom bracket first, the area between the pedals on the underside of the frame.

### Where is the frame number on an Apollo kids bike?

On most Apollo kids bikes the number is stamped under the bottom bracket. Small frames leave little room, so also check the underside of the down tube and the rear dropouts.

### What if the Apollo frame number has been removed?

Do not buy the bike. A removed or damaged frame number is a major red flag. It may make the bike harder to register, insure, resell or prove as yours.

### Can I check if an Apollo bike is stolen by the frame number?

Yes. Use the frame number to run a stolen-bike check before buying. You should also ask the seller for proof of ownership and check that the details match the bike.

### How do I register an Apollo bike in the UK?

Find the frame number using the locations described above, then record it against your Apollo. It is free, and you need an account so we know where to send the alert. If that exact number is ever reported stolen to us, we email you. If anyone then lists a bike carrying it, the listing is hidden until the seller proves it is theirs.

## Related pages

- Free stolen-bike check: https://www.cyclesite.co.uk/stolen-bikes
- What a used Apollo is worth: https://www.cyclesite.co.uk/value/apollo
- Stolen Apollo bikes: how to check one before you buy: https://www.cyclesite.co.uk/stolen-bikes/guide/stolen-bikes-by-brand-apollo
- Used Apollo prices by model: https://www.cyclesite.co.uk/value/apollo
- Used Apollo bikes for sale: https://www.cyclesite.co.uk/bike-brands/apollo
- Frame numbers for other brands: https://www.cyclesite.co.uk/trust/frame-numbers

Source: Cyclesite editorial, reviewed 2026-08-14. HTML version: https://www.cyclesite.co.uk/trust/frame-numbers/apollo