Motorcycle Serial Number

Posted By admin On 11.05.21

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Motorcycle VIN numbers give a world of information if you know the decoding secrets. While they may seem like random strings of characters, VIN codes reveal the motorcycle's manufacturer, its model, engine size and other characteristics, where the motorcycle was manufactured (both country and plant), as well as the year it rolled off the assembly line.

VIN, or Vehicle Identification Numbers, were standardized in 1981 by the National Highway Transportation and Safety Administration (NHTSA). By law they are 17 characters long, consisting of both numbers and letters. Each character or sequence of characters has specific meaning.

Most importantly, your VIN cannot be identical to any other VIN within a 30-year period, so unless the bike you’re interested in is more than 30 years old, the code is unique. VIN numbers are mandated to be permanently affixed, so manufacturers typically stamp the code onto the frame and engine so that it isn’t easily altered or removed. The code must use the digits zero to nine and capital, sans-serif A to Z characters—except the letters “I”, “O,” and “Q”. Duplicate VIN codes, letters that are not capitalized, sans-serif style, or digits other than zero to nine (in other words, digits not common to the English language) are fraud alerts. Be prepared to walk away if the VIN codes do not conform to these standards.

Even if the VIN looks legitimate, if you're buying from a private owner, do all your homework before money changes hands. Your state's motor vehicle department will likely provide a means to verify details of ownership and reveal lien holders, such as a bank.

The First Three Characters

How to Decode the VIN Number on a Honda Motorcycle by Chris Gilliland. Locate the 17-digit Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) printed on the frame of your motorcycle. These are the motorcycle's individual serial numbers. Refer to a VIN decoding website for a quick report of what your motorcycle's VIN means. Beginning in 1981, Harley started using a 17 digit VIN number on the frame and an abbreviated VIN on the engine case. As always, the legal title must match the VIN number on the frame. If the title and frame VIN reads 1HD1ELK12BZ123456, the engine case number should read something like ELKB123456. VIN number rules described under the 1970 – 1980 Harley models also apply here. The VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) is a serial number used to identify an individual vehicle. The VIN for each vehicle is unique.

This first section renders information in this order: the country of origin, the manufacturer, and a third character showing either a “1” or an “A” to indicate “motorcycle.”

The Next Five Characters

The second section is called the vehicle descriptor section. The fourth place in the VIN code indicates the vehicle category:

C = scooter
B = business model or commuter
N = single cylinder sport/street
G = multiple cylinder sport/street
F = family
S = off road
V = v-type engine, street, V2/V4/V6/V8, etc.

In the fifth place, you will see a letter indicating engine displacement:

A = 49cc and less
B = 50-69cc
C = 70-79cc
D = 80-89cc
E = 90-99cc
F = 100-124cc
G = 125-149cc
H = 150-199cc
J = 200-249cc
K = 250-399cc
M = 400-499cc
N = 500-599cc
P = 600-699cc
R = 700-749cc
S = 750-849cc
T = 850-999cc
U = 1000-1099cc
V = 1100-1199cc
W = 1200-1299cc
Y = 1400-1499cc
Z = 1500cc and up

Serial Number Lookup

The sixth place will have a digit for engine type:

1 = 2 stroke single
2 = 2 stroke twin
3 = 2 stroke triple or four
4 = 4 stroke single
5 = 4 stroke twin

Next in the sequence, the seventh spot, indicates design sequence while eighth is for model version. In the ninth space is a check digit mandated to verify the accuracy of the VIN code. This place does not render any specific information about the motorcycle itself.

Year Code and Manufacturing Plant

In the tenth and eleventh spaces will be the year code and an indication of the plant the motorcycle was manufactured respectively. The year codes are as follows:

1999....................X
2000....................Y
2001....................1
2002....................2
2003....................3
2004....................4
2005....................5
2006....................6
2007....................7
2008....................8
2009....................9
2010....................A
2011....................B
2012....................C
2013....................D

The Last Eight Digits

The motorcycle’s serial number takes up the last eight places in the VIN number. These are assigned sequentially as the motorcycles finish assembly.

A car's history affects its value

Detailed CARFAX Report

Avoid buying a car with costly hidden problems.

Why Order a Motorcycle VIN Check?

Before you buy or sell a used motorcycle, dirt bike, scooter, or ATV, it's always a good idea to obtain a VIN check. Also known as a motorcycle vehicle history report (VHR) or VIN lookup, this report discloses information associated with said bike's vehicle identification number, such as:

Accidents.
Damage.
Title history.
Recalls.

The information found on the VIN number lookup could be the deciding factor on completing the purchase or the sale.

Buying a Used Motorcycle

Once you narrow down the choices for your bike, run a VIN check on each of the candidates to ensure the details you've received coincide with the motorcycle's title history. This will help you determine if the seller's asking price falls in line with the bike's fair market value.

For example, if you've been quoted a price and then discover that the bike sustained damages in an accident, you can negotiate a lower price or continue shopping for a better deal.

If the seller isn't being honest about one detail, they probably have something else to hide. Be wary of sellers who don't disclose an accurate motorcycle VIN number check.

VIN Number Lookup for Sellers

When it comes to disclosing title history, be transparent. Disclose any damage, motorcycle accidents, repairs and more so that the buyer knows what he is getting himself into. To offer proof that the purchase price you are asking for is fair, our suggestion is to provide potential buyers with a motorcycle vehicle history report. Once the buyer sees that you have been honest and have made an accurate assessment of the bike, they will have more confidence in making their decision.

What You'll Find on a Motorcycle VIN Check

A motorcycle history report may include, but is not limited to, the following:

Disclosed damage.
VIN decoding.
Odometer reading.
Crushed vehicle history.
Multi-state searches.
Damaged or salvaged titles.
Stolen titles.
Rebuilt titles.
Manufacturer specifications.
Manufacturer recall history.

Additionally, free VIN checks or free vehicle history reports may be available for your motorcycle; however, these VIN lookups tend to be limited in information.

How to Get a Motorcycle Vehicle History Report