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| FAQ - Answers |
| Do the numbers match? |
| When you are buying a bike from someone, always, and I mean ALWAYS check the numbers on the bike against the title. They must match EXACTLY (duh!). You would be amazed at the number of bikes I have seen with a typographical error on the vin#. If you are registering in the same state as the title, it may not be too much trouble to fix, but, on an out of state title you will most certainly be in for a major battle. |
| Posted by andertal |
| VIN Number Location and General Information |
VIN Number Location and General Information
Mid 1930's - 1961
engine number is the VIN and is located on left case. no frame number
First two numbers are the year
Letters (up to four) are the model
last numbers are the production number
1962 - 1969
engine number is the VIN and is located on left case. no frame number
First two numbers are the year
Letters (up to four) are the model
last numbers are the production number
If production number has four digits, the first number will be even if the year is even, odd if the year is odd
If production number has five digits, the first two numbers will be even if the year is even, odd if the year is odd
1970 - 1980:
Numbers on both frame and engine. From the factory, the numbers on the frame and engine matched exactly*. (There is an exception to this. See "The 1979 Exception" below). The legal vin number is on the frame. This is a little confusing and is where many people get into trouble. Contrary to what many people think, on any Harley Davidson® made from 1970 up, the title does not go with the engine. You could feasibly have mismatched numbers on the engine, (you can swap engines in your bike just like your car), and as long as the engine numbers have not been altered (read note below) or reported stolen it would be perfectly legal (although it may devalue the bike), But, the number on the title absolutely must match the frame. Example: you have a 1975 Shovelhead engine w/matching title in a custom frame with no numbers. If an educated cop checks the numbers, you are walking home. It will be confiscated on the spot. I know, I know, your ole' buddy Billy Bob has been runnin' a bike like that for years and he ain't never had no problems.......... Well guess what? I've known drug dealers, bike thieves, and prostitutes who have never been busted........sure doesn't mean what they were doin' was legal............Oh yeah, another thing relating to this, I have heard of some states ( Fl., Ca., Mi., etc. ) referred to as "frame states". As if to mean there are "engine states". or maybe "anything goes states" (admittedly, Alabama does come to mind).... No such thing. If you live in the U.S., your 1970 or later title better match your frame. But hey, You don't have to believe me..... When you're standing in the middle of the street, watching your bike swing from side to side on the back of a wrecker on it's way to the Police impound yard, just remember....... I TOLD YOU SO!
First two digits are model code
Third through seventh numbers are the production numbers (always five numbers over 10000)
last two digits are the year code
*The 1979 Exception
Oddly enough, on some 1979 bikes the engine number did not match the frame number. For only about a month, starting on production date 1/9/79 frame VIN 43000H9 and ending with production date 2/7/79 frame VIN 48199H9, the engine was numbered with a "crankcase number" instead of the VIN. This number did not match the VIN in any way. The example "crankcase number" given to me was ten digits long, and was all numbers with no letters. It did not look like any H.D. number I had ever seen. After "input was received" that the new numbering system would raise suspicion from dealers, insurance agencies, owners, cops, etc., Harley went back to the old system. Obviously, the title numbers must still match the frame.
Many thanks to Bagman for telling me about this, and sending me copies of the dealer service bulletin to verify it.
1981 and later:
17 digit vin# number on frame. abbreviated vin# on engine. Title must match the Frame number. Example: title and frame number is 1HD1BDK11BY123456. Engine # would be BDKB123456. All the things I said about 1970 - 1980 frame and engine legality apply here also. |
| Posted by andertal |
| Model year Designation All Models |
1969 And Earlier
First two digits as read are the year built
1970 - 1980
Last two digits as described below are the year code
example: 9D12345H8 was made in 1978
H0 = 1970 H4 = 1974 H8 = 1978
H1 = 1971 H5 = 1975 H9 = 1979
H2 = 1972 H6 = 1976 J0 = 1980
H3 = 1973 H7 = 1977
1981 And Later
10th digit as described below is the year code
example:1HD1BDK10DY123456 is a 1983 B = 1981 J = 1988 S = 1995
C = 1982 K = 1989 T = 1996
D = 1983 L = 1990 V = 1997
E = 1984 M = 1991 W = 1998
F = 1985 N = 1992 X = 1999
G = 1986 P = 1993 Y = 2000
H = 1987 R = 1994 |
| Posted by andertal |
| Model Designation for Sportster® |
1970 - 1980 Sportster®
First two digits are the model code
example: 4A12345H1 is a XLCH 3A = XL or XLH 4A = XLCH 4E =- XLS
2G = XLT 4D = XLA 7F = XLCR
1981 - 1985 Sportster®
5th and 6th digits are the model code
example: 1HD1CDHY15B123456 is a XR1000 CA = XLH CB = XLS CC = XLX CD = XR1000
1986 - 1987 Sportster®
5th, 6th and 7th digits are the model code
example:1HD1CAN15GY123456 is a XLH1100 CAM = XLH883 or XLH883 Deluxe CAN = XLH1100 CEM = XLH883 Hugger
1988 - 1996 Sportster®
5th, 6th, and 7th digit is the model code
example: 1HD1CAP15LY123456 is a XLH1200 CAM = XLH883 CFM = XLH883 Deluxe
CAP = XLH1200 CGP = 1200 Custom
CEM = XLH883 Hugger CHP = 1200 Sport |
| Posted by andertal |
| Four Speed Big Twin Model Designation |
1970 - 1980 4 speed big twin
First two digits are the model code
example: 5E12345H9 is a FXEF 1200 1A = FL or FLP 1200 2F = FXS 1200 5H = FLHS - 80 7H = FLH 1200 Police
1H = FXB - 80 2H = CLE - 80 6E = FXEF - 80 8H = FLH 1200 Shrine
1K = FLH - 80 shrine 3G = FLH - 80 6G = FXE - 80 9D = FXE 1200
2A = FLH 1200 3H = FLH - 80 Classic 6H = FL - 80 9G = FXWG - 80
2C = FX 1200 5E = FXEF 1200 7G = FXS - 80 9H = FLH - 80 Police
1981 - 1985 Four Speed BigTwin
5th and 6th digits are the model code
example: 1HD1BFK11BY123456 is a FXSB - 80 AA = FLH - 80 AL = FLH - 80 BE = FXWG - 80
AB = 80 police chain BA = FXE - 80 BF = FXSB - 80
AC = FLH - 80 Shrine chain BB = FXEF - 80 BH = FXST
AH = FLHP - 80 Police Belt BC = FXS - 80 BG = FXDG - 80
AK = FLHS - 80 BD = FXB - 80 BK = FXSTC |
| Posted by andertal |
| Five Speed Big Twin Model Designation |
1980 Five Speed Big Twin
First two digits are the model code
example: 5G12345J0 is a FLT 5G = FLT
1981 5 Speed Big Twin
5th and 6th digits are the model code
example: 1HD1AEK11CY123456 is a FLT AE = FLT AF = FLTC
1982 - 2000 Five Speed Big Twin
5th and 6th digits are the model code
example: 1HD1BHK11GY123456 is a FXST BH = FXST DH = FLTC W/sidecar FC = FLHTCU-I GE = FXDWG
BJ = FLSTC DJ = FLHTC FD = FLHR GG = FXDS Conv
BK = FXSTC DK = FLTC Shrine FE = FLTCU-I GH = FXD
BL = FXSTS DM = FLTCU FF = FLHTC-I SG = TLE Police
BM = FLSTF DP = FLHTCU FG = FLHTCU-I W/SC SH = RLE Police
BN = FLSTN EA = FXR FH = FLHP-I Police
BP = FXSTSB EB = FXRS FJ = FLHP Police
BR = FLSTS EC = FXRT FL = FLHTCU-I Shrine
BS = FXSTD ED = FXRP Police windshield FM = FLHTP-I Police
BT = FXSTB EF = FXRP Police Fairing FN = FLHPE (Japan)
DA = FLT 82 - 83 EG = FXRS-SP FP = FLTR
DA = FLHTP Police Windshield EH = FXRD FR = FLHRC-I
DB = FLTC EJ = FXRC FS = FLTR-I
DC = FLHT EK = FXRP Police C.H.P. FT = FLHPE-I (California)
DD = FLHT EL = FXLR GA = FXDB-D
DE = FLHTC W/sidecar EM = FXLR Conv GB = FXDB-S
DF = FLHTP Police Fairing FA = FLHS GC = FXDC
DG = FLHTC Shrine FB = FLHR-I GD = FXDL |
| Posted by andertal |
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