Harley Davidson VIN Identification Guide

1903-1908

• Only one Harley model per year, a battery-fired single cylinder, so any designation more than just year was superfluous. A Harley was just a Harley.

1909

• The factory offered four singles, with either 26- or 28-inch wheels (wheels were measured from the outer edge of the tire back then), and either battery or magneto ignition. These were referred to as the Model 5 (fifth year of production, which, for Harley-Davidson purposes, began in 1904).
  • 5 - Battery and 28-inch tires
    5-A - Magneto and 28-inch tires
    5-B - Battery and 26-inch tires
    5-C - Magneto and 26-inch tires
    5-D - Abortive twin

1910-1911

• Model 6 and 7 (See above)
  • E - single cylinder racer

1912

• Things got really complicated with both chain and belt drive being offered and a clutching mechanism designated by an "X"; all wheels were the 28-inch variety.
  • 8 - Basic single model
    X-8-E - Magneto fired twin, "freewheel control", chain drive

1914

• The first use of the letter F, a 61-inch magneto twin with two-speed gearbox.

1915

• The J Model appeared. Twin with three-speed transmission and battery ignition. The K Model, a racing twin, also appeared.

1916

• The year designation was changed from year of production to calendar year, so it was not the 12-F but 16-F. Eight models were available that year: F, J, E, R, and T twins, and C, B, and S singles.

Mid 1930's - 1961

• Engine number is the VIN and is located on left case.
  NO frame number.
  Example: 42 WLDR 1112
  
  
  • 42 = Year
    
    WLDR = Model

    • 45 CID Solo

      W = Standard 45 CID Flathead WL = High Compression 45 CID Flathead WLA = Military Version 45 CID Flathead WLDR = Sport Version 45 CID Flathead WR = Factory Racer 45 CID Flathead

      45 CID Trike

      G = 45 CID Trike GA = 45 CID Trike without tow bar GD = 45 CID Trike Servicar, no tow bar GDT = 45 CID trike Servicar w/towbar GE = 45 CID trike w/ electric start GL = 45 CID Trike

      74 & 80 CID Solo Flathead

      U = 74 CID Flathead Solo (5.0:1) UL = 74 CID Flathead (5.5:1) UH = 80 CID Flathead Solo (5.2:1) ULH = 80 CID Flathead (5.7:1o)

      K Models

      K = 45 CID Flathead Sportster KH = 55 CID Flathead Sportster KHK = 55 CID Flathead Sportster KHR = 55 CID Flathead Sportster KK = 45 CID Flathead Sportster KR = 45 CID Flathead Sportster

      Sportster Models

      XL = 55 CID OHV (7.5:1, 1957 Model Only) XLCH = 55 CID OHV (9.0:1) XLH = 55 CID OHV (9.0:1)

      Experimental Model

      XA = 45 CID Horizontally Opposed Twin (First 1/2 1942)

      Overhead Valve Big Twin Models

      E = 61 CID Knucklehead (6.5:1) E = 61 CID Panhead (6.5:1) EL = 61 CID Knucklehead (7.0:1) EL = 61 CID Panhead (7.0:1) F = 74 CID Knucklehead (6.6:1) F = 74 CID Panhead (6.6:1) FL = 74 CID Knucklehead (7.0:1) FL = 74 CID Panhead (7.0:1) FL = 74 CID Panhead (1955-1965, 7.25:1) FLH = 74 CID Panhead (1955-1965, 8.0:1)

      74 and 80 CID Flatheads were produced 1937-1952
      Knuckleheads were produced 1936-1947
      Panheads were produced 1948-1965
      K Models were produced 1952-1956, with the exception of the KR (1969 Only)
      Ironhead Sportsters were produced 1957-1984
      

    1112 = Sequential production Number

1962-1969

• Engine number is the VIN and is located on the left case.
  NO frame number.
  Shovelhead engines were introduced. Basically the new engine was the Panhead bottom end with a Shovelhead top end with a new aluminum oil pump.
  • First two numbers are the year.
    Letters (up to four) are the model.
    Last numbers (four or five) are the production number.
    (Note: 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.
  Example: 1A 13478 H7

  1A = Model Designation

  • 1A = FL-1200 2A = FLH-1200 3A = XLH-1000 4A = XLCH-1000 5A = GE-750 6A = SS-350 Sprint 7A = SX-125 8A = M65-S 7B = ERS 8B = MSR-100 2C = FX-1200 3C = SX-350 Sprint 5C = MC-65 6C = SR-100 1D = LE Sidecar 2D = X-90 3D = Z-90 4D = XLA 5D = SX-175 6D = SX-250 7D = MX-250 9D = FXE-1200 4E = XLS-1000 5E = FXEF-1200 6E = FXEF-80 7E = FLHS-1200 9E = SS-250 2F = FXS-1200 3F = SXT-125 4F = SS-175 6F = SS-125 7F = XLCR-1000 2G = XLT-1000 3G = FLH-80 5G = FLT-80 6G = FXE-80 7G = FXS-80 9G = FXWG-80 1H = FXB-80 2H = CLE-80 Sidecar 3H = FLH-80 Classic 5H = FLHS-80 6H = FL-80 7H = FLH-1200 Police 8H = FLH-1200 Shrine 9H = FLH-80 Police 1K = FLH-80 Shrine

  13478 = Sequential Number

  H = Decade Code

  • H = 1970 thru 1979 I = 1980 only

  7 = Model Season

  • 0 = 1970 1 = 1971 2 = 1972 3 = 1973 4 = 1974 5 = 1975 6 = 1976 7 = 1977 8 = 1978 9 = 1979

*The 1979 Exception

• 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. After "input was received" the the new numbering system would raise suspicion from dealers, insurance angencies, owners, cops, etc., Harley went back to the old system.

1981-2000

• 17 digit VIN on frame.
  Abbreviated VIN on enine. The legal VIN number is on the frame.
  Example: 1 HD 1 AA K 1 1 B Y 013478

  1 = Made in USA

  HD = Harley Davidson

  1 = Weight Class
  

  • 1 = Heavyweight 4 = Lightweight 8 = Sidecar

  AA = Model Designation

  FL/FX Models
  

  • AA = FLH-80 AB = FLHP-80 Chain AC = FLH-80 Shrine Chain AD = FLH Classic AE = 1981 FLT AF = 1981 FLTC AG = FLH Classic w/.Sidecar AH = FLHP-80 Belt Deluxe AJ = FLH-80 Heritage AK = FLH-80 AL = FLH-80 Shrine Belt BA = FXE-80 BB = FXEF-80 BC = FXS-80 BD = FXB-80 BE = FXWG-80 BF = FXSB-80 BG = FXDG BH = FXST BJ = FLST/FLSTC BK = FXSTC BL = FXSTS BM = FLSTF BN = FLSTN BP = FLSTSB BR = FLSTS BS = FXSTD BT = FXSTB DA = FLT 1982-1983 Only DA = FLHTP - Windshield 1984 and later DB = FLTC DC = FLHT DD = FLHTC DE = FLHTC w/ Sidecar DF = FLHTP - Fairing DG = FLHTC Shrine DH = FLTC w/ Sidecar DJ = FLHTC 1986-Present DK = FLTC Shrine DM = FLTCU - Ultra DN = FLTCU - Ultra w/ Sidecar DP = FLHTCU - Ultra DR = FLHTCU - Ultra w/ Sidecar DS = FLTCU - Ultra Shrine DT = FLHTCU - Ultra Shrine EA = FXR EB = FXRS EC = FXRT ED = FXRP - Windshield EE = FXRDG EF = FXRP - Fairing EG = FXRS-SP Sport Edition EH = FXRD EJ = FXRC EK = C.H.P. EL = FXLR EM = FXRS-CON FA = FLHS FB = FLHR-I Injected FC = FLHTCU-I Injected FD = FLHR FE = FLTCU-I Injected FF = FLHTC-I Injected FG = FLHTCU-I W/SC FH = FLHP-I Police FJ = FLHP Police FL = FLHTCU-I Shrine FM = FLHTP-I Police FN = FLHPE (Japan) FP = FLTR FR = FLHRC-I FS = FLTR-I FT = FLHPE-I (California) GA = FXDB-D Daytona GB = FXDB-S Sturgis GC = FXDC GD = FXDL GE = FXDWG GG = FXDS-CON GH = FXD SG = TLE Police SH = RLE Police
    

  XL Models

  1981-1985
  

  • CA = XLH CB = XLS CC = XLX CD = XR1000
    

  1986-1987 (Note: 5th, 6th and 7th digit is model code)
  

  • CAM = XLH-883/XLH-883 Deluxe CAN = XLH-1100 CEM = XLH-883 Hugger

  1988-1996 (Note: 5th, 6th and 7th digit is model code)
  

  • CAM = XLH-883 CAP = XLH-1200 CEM = XLH-883 Hugger CFM = XLH-883 Deluxe CGP = 1200 Custom CHP = 1200 Sport

  K = Engine Displacement
  

  • K = 1340 Shovelhead H = 1000 Ironhead XL L = 1340 Evolution M = 883 Evolutoin XL N = 1100 Evolution XL P = 1200 Evolution XL

  1 = Introduction Date
  

  • 1 = Regular Introduction 2 = Mid Year (January) 3 = California Special 4 = Daytona (March)

  1 = Factory Check Digit

  B = Model Year

  • B = 1981 C = 1982 D = 1983 E = 1984 F = 1985 G = 1986 H = 1987 J = 1988 K = 1989 L = 1990 M = 1991 N = 1992 P = 1993 R = 1994 S = 1995 T = 1996 V = 1997 W = 1998 X = 1999 Y = 2000

  Y = Plant of Manufacture

  • J = Milwaukee, WI T = Tomahawk, WI Y = York, PA

  013278 = Sequential Number

2001 and Later

• 17 digit VIN on frame.
  Abbreviated VIN on enine. The legal VIN number is on the frame.
  Example: 1 HD 1 DJ V 1 3 1 Y 500001

  1 = Made in USA

  HD = Harley Davidson

  1 = Weight Class
  

  • 1 = Heavyweight (901 cc and larger)

  DJ = Model Designation

  FL/FX Models
  

  • DD = FLHT DG = FLHTC Shrine DJ = FLHTC FB = FLHR-I FC = FLHTCU-I FD = FLHR FF = FLHTC-I FG = FLHTCU-I With Sidecar FH = FLHP-I FL = FLHTCU-I Shrine FM = FLHTP-I FP = FLTR FR = FLHRC-I FS = FLTR-I FT = FLHPE-I
    

  V = Engine Type
  

  • V = Carbureted W = Fuel Injected

  1 = Introduction Date
  

  • 1 = Regular Introduction 2 = Mid Year (January) 3 = California Model 4 = Anniversary Model

  3 = VIN Check Digit (Can be 0-9 or X)

  1 = Model Year

  • 1 = 2001

  Y = Assembly Plant

  • Y = York, PA

  500001 = Serial Number