VIN
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Tourer
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 304
Likes: 1
From: Virginia
VIN
I've got a 79 Sportster frame with a weld-on hardtail. The Vin is: BKU20098000XXXXX, where the X's are actually more digits. Can anyone tell me if H-D ever used #'s like this, or who did. We have no title and are trying to get one. Thanks
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 751
Likes: 6
From: 500 miles south from Artic Circle
RE: VIN
That's not HD frame, old or new 
maybe aftermarket frame
Mid 1930 - 1969 engine number is the VIN and is located on left case. no frame number
1970 - 1980:Numbers on both frame and engine. From the factory, the numbers on the frame and engine matched exactly.the number on the title absolutely must match the frame.
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
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
Newer HD VIN# starts always with 1HD
maybe aftermarket frame Mid 1930 - 1969 engine number is the VIN and is located on left case. no frame number
1970 - 1980:Numbers on both frame and engine. From the factory, the numbers on the frame and engine matched exactly.the number on the title absolutely must match the frame.
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
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
Newer HD VIN# starts always with 1HD
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 7,503
Likes: 3,729
From: Santa Klaus County, Cali
RE: VIN
togfish the frame number on a 79 sporty should match the motor number. (Moco started this in 1970). The frame number is located on the right side of the frame head or head stock on a raised boss. Both the frame number and engine number are preceeded by a star...EX *1A10000HO*
Your 79 frame should read something like *3A10000H9* or....*4A10000H9*
The 3A means it is and XLH; the 4A means it is an XLCH. Like sepixlh stated the next 5 numbers are sequential production numbers.
The "H" stands for the munufacturer (Harley)
The "9" stands for the year. (Started with the number "0" for 1970).
And I went digging some more. I think for 79 XLH the starting/ending sequential numbers are 10000 to 75770 and starting/ending numbers for the XLCH are 11456 to 25366. This is based on some old archive stuff, so I may or may not be entirely right on this.
Lastly, looking through my old material couldn't find any motorcyclethat startedwith the designation of BKU...(checked BSA, Bultaco, Honda, Norton, Triumph, Suzuki, and Yamaha
Your 79 frame should read something like *3A10000H9* or....*4A10000H9*
The 3A means it is and XLH; the 4A means it is an XLCH. Like sepixlh stated the next 5 numbers are sequential production numbers.
The "H" stands for the munufacturer (Harley)
The "9" stands for the year. (Started with the number "0" for 1970).
And I went digging some more. I think for 79 XLH the starting/ending sequential numbers are 10000 to 75770 and starting/ending numbers for the XLCH are 11456 to 25366. This is based on some old archive stuff, so I may or may not be entirely right on this.
Lastly, looking through my old material couldn't find any motorcyclethat startedwith the designation of BKU...(checked BSA, Bultaco, Honda, Norton, Triumph, Suzuki, and Yamaha
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 751
Likes: 6
From: 500 miles south from Artic Circle
RE: VIN
This is clipped from cyborgs web site:
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.
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.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 7,503
Likes: 3,729
From: Santa Klaus County, Cali
RE: VIN
sepixlh, I have had this info for about 30 years. Got it back in the 70s when the LEO world believed that all biker were something to be feared and reviled. Having been an enthusiast my whole life, thx to pop, it was an education to see the mentality at that time.
Do not have any info on dates tho, but do have the numbers for 900-1340 58 vins through 1980. Obviously the 1340 only applies to those yearsHD made them.
Do not have any info on dates tho, but do have the numbers for 900-1340 58 vins through 1980. Obviously the 1340 only applies to those yearsHD made them.
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