![]() ![]() The ninth digit acts as a validator, or check digit, for the VIN. Other characters will exist in this spot if the bike is sold internationally these characters are unique to the specifications of where the motorcycle was manufactured and intended for sale. The eighth character indicates how the motorcycle model was introduced, whether it was a standard rollout (1), a mid-year launch (2), a California-only vehicle (3), or a Special Edition (4). The possible letters you’ll see here, and the engine identified, are: The seventh character indicates the engine displacement for the motorcycle. The fourth character will either be a 1, 4, or 8 to identify either a heavyweight 901cc or larger motor (1), a lightweight to middleweight 351-900cc motor (4), or a sidecar (8). This is where the critical information on the mechanical details of the motorcycle can be determined from. The fourth through eighth characters will identify the engine type, engine size, and model of the motorcycle. If the VIN reads “MEG,” the motorcycle was manufactured in, and for sale only in, the country of India. If the VIN reads “932,” the motorcycle was manufactured in, and for sale only in, the country of Brazil. If the VIN reads “5HD,” this indicates the motorcycle was manufactured for sale outside of the United States. ![]() For VINs that show “1HD,” this indicates the motorcycle was manufactured for sale inside of the United States. There are four possible codes you’ll see in this spot. The first three characters are a World Manufacturer ID, and indicate where the motorcycle was manufactured and intended for sale. Note that the instructions below are specific to Harley Davidson motorcycles assembled and sold after 1981 only. Here’s how to decode the VIN on a Harley Davidson, and determine what each character means when using it to decode your own VIN. Since it is on the frame in a vertical format, you will read the number from top to bottom. You can view it by turning the handlebars to the left, and then look along the exposed area of the frame on the right side. If your Harley has been manufactured in 1981 or later, you can easily locate the VIN on the right side of the motorcycle, stamped onto the frame near the steering head. Starting in 1981, all VIN numbers stamped on newly manufactured vehicles were required to be 17 digits long, and the sequencing had to comply with National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) guidelines and standardization. ![]() Prior to 1980, manufacturers were left to their own judgment to create their VINs, but this flexibility meant that VIN numbers could be easily changed, which was a regulatory nightmare for both insurance companies and law enforcement agencies. Interestingly, VINs have been around in some capacity since the 1950’s, but it wasn’t until the 1980’s that VIN standardization was established. If you’ve ever had to contact a Harley dealer to ask about a part for your motorcycle, you were probably asked for your Harley’s VIN number to help the parts counter employee look up the information. ![]()
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