Last year I bought my first Harley, a 2001 Fatboy. Not knowing anything about Harley's, I paid no attention to the VIN. I was recently told that all bikes that were originally sold in Canada started with 5HD, Mine starts with 1HD1. I called the previous owner who was the second owner and he assures me that it was and has always been a Canadian bike. Can anyone tell me if in 2001 that it is possible to have a bike originally sold in Canada with a VIN beginning with 1HD1?

Thanks

 

It was manufactured for the USA. Just like you said, it would be 5 HD 1 BX if manufactured for International Countries. Sorry, you need to bring it back.

 

Would you know the best way to research the history of the bike?

 

If you know someone at a dealer, they should be able to give you the history from the VIN...

 

Actually, the (1) in front of HD stands for = Domestic. A (5) = International.

Check out this link:
http://www.*****************/forums/...in-number.html

 

Apparently this forum is set up to NOT allow links to OTHER forums.
If you try and paste in a link, it removes the dot-com address.
But I can still do this...:

Harley Davidson VIN Decoding:

First Digit:
Market Designation
1 = Domestic
5 = International

Second & Third Digit:
HD = Manufacturer and Make
Harley Davidson

Fourth Digit:
Motorcycle Type
1 = Heavyweight
2 = Middleweight
(901 cc and larger engine displacement)

Fifth & Sixth Digit:
Model Designation
BH = FXST – Softail Standard
BJ = FLSTC – Heritage Softail Classic
BK = FXSTC – Softail Custom
BL = FXSTS – Softail Springer
BM = FLSTF – Softail Fatboy
BN = FLSTN – Softail Deluxe
BP = FXSTSB
BR = FLSTS – Heritage Softail Springer
BS = FXSTD – Softail Deuce
BT = FXSTB – Softail Nighttrain
BV = FXSTI – Softail Standard (fuel injected)
BW = FLSTCI – Heritage Softail Classic (fuel injected)
BX = FLSTFI – Softail Fatboy (fuel injected)
BY = FLSTSCI
BZ = FXSTSI – Softail Springer (fuel injected)
CA = XL883
CJ = XL883 Custom
CG = XL1200 Custom
CL = XL1200 Roadster
CM = XL883L
DA = FLT 82-83
DA = FLHTP Police Windshield
DB = FLTC
DD = FLHT – Electra Glide
DH = FLTC w/ Sidecar
DJ = FLHTC
DK = FLTC Shrine
DM = FLTCU
DP = FLHTCU
EA = FXR
EB = FXRS
EC = FXRT
ED = FXRP Police Windshield
EF = FXRP Police Fairing
EG = FXRS-SP
EH = FXRD
EJ = FXRC
FB = FLHR-I – Road King (fuel injected)
FC = FLHTCU-I – Ultra Classic Electra Glide (fuel injected)
FD = FLHR – Road King
FE = FLTCU-I
FF = FLHTC-I – Electra Glide (fuel injected)
FG = FLHTCU-I – Ultra Classic Electra Glide w/ Sidecar (fuel injected)
FH = FLHP-I Police
FJ = FLHP Police
FK = FLHTC-I Shrine
FL = FLHTCU-I Shrine
FM = FLHTP-I Police
FN = FLHPE (Japan)
FP = FLTR – Road Glide
FR = FLHRC-I – Road King Classic (fuel injected)
FS = FLTR-I – Road Glide (fuel injected)
FT = FLHPE-I
FV = FLHT-I
FW = FLHR-I Shrine
FX = FLHRS – Road King Custom
FY = FLHRS-I – Road King Custom (fuel injected)
GD = FXDL – Dyna Lowrider
GE = FXDWG – Dyna Wide Glide
GG = FXDS Convertible
GH = FXD - Dyna
GJ = FXDX – Super Glide
HA = VRSCA – V-Rod
JA = FXSTB-I – Softail Nighttrain (fuel injected)
JB = FXSTD-I – Softail Deuce (fuel injected)
JD = FLSTN-I – Softail Deluxe (fuel injected)
SG = TLE Police
SH = RLE Police

Seventh Digit:
Engine Type
A = VRSCA 98 HP HDI only V = Carbureted
W = Fuel Injected

Z = VRSCA Eighth Digit:
Introduction Date & Special Models
1 = Regular Intro Date
2 = Mid-year Intro Date
3 = California Model
4 = Anniversary Model

Ninth Digit:
VIN Check Digit
Varies; can be 0 through 9, or X.

Tenth Digit:
Model Year
L = 1990
M = 1991
N = 1992
P = 1993
R = 1994
S = 1995
T = 1996
V = 1997
X = 1998
Y = 1999
Z = 2000
1 = 2001
2 = 2002
3 = 2003
4 = 2004
5 = 2005
6 = 2006
7 = 2007

Eleventh Digit:
Assembly Plant
Y = York, PA
K = Kansas City, MO

Twelfth Digit - Seventeenth Digit:
Serial Number

 

Thanks for the replies. I called the Harley dealer in Barrie, Ont. as they were listed on the vehicle sellers package that is required in Ontario. The bike is a Canadian bike, apparently 1HD1 was used on bikes for sale in Canada until 2002 at least. 5HD was used from that time forward. Feel a little better now.