Another newbee question

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Sep 7, 2012 | 05:05 PM

A Rdnek

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Cruiser

Joined: Sep 2012

Posts: 102

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From: Iowa

Another newbee question

Can I identify what my bike is by "decoding" the serial number?
I see all this XLH, XLCH and so on, but do not know what all that means.
Thanks.
Ron

Sep 7, 2012 | 05:07 PM

Esuomm1

Tourer

Joined: Apr 2012

Posts: 345

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From: Manhattan

http://www.rbracing-rsr.com/harley_models.html

http://www.factoryfat.com/hdbikemodels.html

Sep 7, 2012 | 08:09 PM

VTwin-Goodies

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Joined: Nov 2007

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From: SoCal

Welcome to the HD Forum from the sunny shores of SoCal.

Sep 7, 2012 | 08:35 PM

PosterPerfectPhoto

Tourer

Joined: Jul 2012

Posts: 344

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From: Washington

Welcome. Check the link posted above. It will not take long before you can look at the model and know what most of them mean. I assume from your post you want to decode the model number rather than the VIN (or serial), allthough I think the link above deals with either one. In the two mentioned XL means it's a sportster. FL and FX are the other two initial designations that you will usually see. F is the engine designator which indicates a big twin. L indicates the larger touring forks while X indicates the smaller sportster ones. Notice that XL doesn't follow the same designation since the L would indicate touring forks if it did. This is what kind of frustrates noobies. I had to look up the H and CH (Mine isn't a sportster so I haven't paid them the model designations that much attention). The H is electric start while the CH is kick start. The link above though should get you headed in the right direction to decode all of them.