Serial number

[Panzer]

How can I tell the year of a bike, the serial number don't state the year or is it code?

[Ohio HD]

You mean the VIN number? What bike, I'd ask you what year but,,,,   

[Ohio HD]

Click the engrish button, then put the VIN in here.


https://serviceinfo.harley-davidson.com/sip/vehicle/lookupForm

[Panzer]

I guess what I mean is...........can you tell a year of a bike by looking at a vin number.
Example: A gent wants to sell a bike and say's it's a 02', but it looks like an 99'.
How can I tell?

[kd]

Panz, I remember a couple of threads here that contained information on how to translate the vin code.  I have also found it one time in an online search.

Here's one

https://www.tabperformance.com/harley-davidson-vin-reference-guide-s/224.htm

[FSG]

I guess what I mean is...........can you tell a year of a bike by looking at a vin number.
Example: A gent wants to sell a bike and say's it's a 02', but it looks like an 99'.
How can I tell?

YES, easiest way it to enter the full VIN into either the site Ohio

or just tell us / post what bike the gent has for sale and what you think it is

we/the forum can then post the VIN for an '02 and a '99 indicating the bit that tells you the year


here is a '99 Sportster




a '00 Sportster will have a 0 for the Model Year

a '01 Sportster will have a 1 for the Model Year

a '02 Sportster will have a 2 for the Model Year

[Panzer]

KD, Ohio, and FSG, many thanks for that info, it's appreciated.

[tomcat64]

to me its always been the 10th digit in the VIN# this year it is "K" they don't used "I", or "O" the 2001-2009s use 1-9.. the year 2000 is a "Y"

[Panzer]

Thx tomcat64.