Harley Davidson Serial Number Location
Harley Davidson has long used a letter designation system to identify different motorcycle families and models. From time to time, the famed motorcycle company changed the way they identified different models. Harley has also made several alterations in how they structure the vehicle identification numbers of their motorcycles and where on the bikes these VINs appear. A VIN is the legal identification tag for each individual motorcycle and is important for titling and registering the bike. It is key in recovering and identifying a stolen motorcycle.
What do the VIN and letters represent? In this video Bob takes a couple of minutes to read the VIN on a 2001 Harley Davidson Fatboy. The Harley VIN of this motorcycle is: 1HD1BMY161Y024825. Let’s break it down. 1HD1 – All Harley VINS start with this; for many years now. BM – two letters that represent model designation.
Harley-Davidson VINs from 1981 to Present
Locate the VIN. On Harley-Davidson models manufactured from 1981 to the present, the 17-character alpha-numeric VIN is stamped on the frame. An abbreviated number is also stamped on the engine. The official VIN needed to register the motorcycle is the one on the frame.
Read the first digit. A “1” signifies that this particular Harley-Davidson motorcycle was manufactured in the USA.
Read the two-letter identifier. The “HD” means this motorcycle is an authentic Harley-Davidson.
Read the next single digit. This identifies the weight class of the motorcycle. A “1” means a heavyweight, “2” is a lightweight, and “8” is a sidecar.
Read the next two-letter identifier. This identifies the particular Harley-Davidson model.
Read the next single letter. This is the engine identifier.
Read the next single digit. This indicates when in the model year this motorcycle was introduced. A “1” means the bike came out during the normal new model introduction, “2” means the motorcycle had a mid-year or January introduction. A “3” signifies this bike was manufactured for sale in California and was introduced at the normal time. A “4” indicates the bike was an anniversary model, “5” designates the bike as a special edition, regular introduction for California. A “6” is found on special edition bikes introduced mid-year for California.
Read the next single digit. This is a check digit.
Read the next single letter. This indicates the assembly plant where the motorcycle was manufactured. Bikes with a “Y” were assembled in York, Pennsylvania. Those with a “T” came out of Tomahawk, Wisconsin. A “J” indicates that the motorcycle was assembled in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Read the final six digits. This is the serial number, or sequential production run number, which is unique to this motorcycle.
Harley-Davidson VINs from 1970 through 1980
Locate the VIN. On Harley-Davidson motorcycles manufactured between 1970 and 1980, the 10-character alpha-numeric VIN was stamped on both the frame and engine. For a few months during 1979 Harley-Davidson used a different number on the engine. Once Harley-Davidson learned that two separate numbers on one motorcycle could cause law enforcement to believe the bike was stolen and “chopped,” the company abandoned the practice.
Read the first two characters. This number and letter identify the model of this motorcycle.
Read the next five digits. These are the sequential production numbers.
Read the last two characters. This letter and number identify the year of manufacture for this motorcycle.
Harley-Davidson VINs from 1930 through 1969
Locate the VIN. On Harley-Davidson motorcycles manufactured from 1930 through 1969, the VIN was stamped on the engine only. Prior to 1930, Harley-Davidson VINs and placement were not as standardized and changed frequently.
Read the the first two digits. These numbers indicate the year when this motorcycle was manufactured.
Read the next sequence of letters. The letters -- up to four of them -- identify the model.
Read the last group of numbers. These represent the sequential production number of the motorcycle.
Harley VIN Numbers
VIN number location and general information for Harley Davidson.
Mid 1930's - 1961
Engine numbers is the VIN and is located on the left case. NO frame number.
First two numbers are the year.
Letters (up to four) are the model.
last numbers (always four) are the production number.
1962 - 1969
Engine number is the VIN and is located on the left case. NO frame number.
First two numbers are the year.
Letters (up to four) are the model.
last numbers (four or five) are the production number.
If the production number has four digits,
the first number will be even if the year is even, odd if the year is odd.
If the production number has five digits,
the first two numbers will be even if the year is even, odd if the year is odd.
Frame ID Numbers - 1970-1980
Vehicle Identification Number (V.I.N.) is located on the engine crankcase
and is the same as the number located on frame steering head.
Example: 1A 13478 H7
1A = Model Designation
1A = FL-1200
6E = FXEF-80
2A = FLH-1200
7E = FLHS-1200
3A = XLH-1000
9E = SS-250
4A = XLCH-1000
2F = FXS-1200
5A = GE-750
3F = SXT-125
6A = SS-350 Sprint
4F = SS-175
7A = SX-125
6F = SS-125
8A = M65-S
7F = XLCR-1000
7B = ERS
2G = XLT-1000
8B = MSR-100
3G = FLH-80
2C = FX-1200
5G = FLT-80
3C = SX-350 Sprint
6G = FXE-80
5C = MC-65
7G = FXS-80
6C = SR-100
9G = FXWG-80
1D = LE Sidecar
1H = FXB-80
2D = X-90
2H = CLE Sidecar
3D = Z-90
3H = FLH-80 Classic
5D = SX-175
5H = FLHS-80
6D = SX-250
6H = FL-80
7D = MX-250
7H = FLH-1200 Police
9D = FXE-1200
8H = FLH-1200 Shrine
4E = XLS-1000
9H = FLH-80 Police
5E = FXEF-1200
1K = FLH-80 Shrine
13478 = Sequential Number
H = Decade Code
H = 1970 thru 1979
J = 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
Frame ID Numbers - 1981 and Later
Vehicle Identification Number (V.I.N.) is located on the engine crankcase
and is the same as the number located on frame steering head.
Example: 1HD1AAK11BYO13478
The frame number is broken down like this:
1 HD 1 AA K 1 1 B Y 013278
1 = Made in U.S.A.
HD = Harley Davidson
1 = Weight Class
1 = Heavyweight
4 = Lightweight
8 = Sidecar
AA = Model Designation
K = Engine Displacement
K = 1340 Shovelhead
H = 1000 Ironhead XL
L = 1340 Evolution
M = 883 Evolution 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 = 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
Harley Davidson Serial Number Location
Y = Plant of Manufacture (York, PA)
T = Plant of Manufacture (Tomahawk, WI)
J = Plant of Manufacture (Milwaukee, WI)
013278 = Sequential Number
FL/FX Models
AA FLH - 80
AB FLHP - 80 Chain
AC FLH - 80 Shrine Chain
AD FLH - Classic
AG FLH - Classic w/ sidecar
AH FLHP - 80 Belt Deluxe
AJ FLH - 80 Heritage
AK FLHS - 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 FXSTSB
FLT/FXR Police Models
DA FLHTP - Windshield 1984 and later
DF FLHTP - Fairing
ED FXRP - Windshield
EF FXRP - Fairing
EK FXRP - C.H.P.
FLT/FXR Models
AE 1981 FLT
AF 1981 FLTC
DA FLT 1982 and 1983 only
DB FLTC
DC FLHT
DD FLHTC
DE FLHTC w/ Sidecar
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
EE FXRDG
EG FXRS-SP Sport Edition
EH FXRD
EJ FXRC
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
Dyna Glides
GA FXDB-D Daytona
GB FXDB-S Sturgis
GC FXDC
GD FXDL
GE FXDWG
GG FXDS-CON
GH FXD
XL Models
CA XLH
XLH 1000cc 1981 - 1985
XLH 883 1986 - 1987
XLH 883 Deluxe
XLH 1100
XLH 883 1988 - present
XLH 1200
CB XLS 1981 - 1985
CC XLX 1981 - 1985
CD XR-1000, 1983 - 1985
CE XLH 883 Hugger 1987 - present
CF XLH 883 Deluxe 1988 - present
CG XLH 1200 Custom
CH XLH 1200 Sport
Sidecars
SA CLE Purchased w/FLH
SD CLE Purchased w/FLH
SE CLE Separate
SF TLE Purchased w/FLTC/FLHTC
SG TLE Separate
SH CLE Purchased w/FLHX
GX TLE
HX RLE
KX TLE Ultra
Crankcase Identification Numbers
Numbers located on both left and right crankcase halves.
Big Twin: Left Case - Outside, Lower Front
Right Case - Inside, Gearcase Compartment
XL Models: Left Case - Inside, Primary Compartment
Right Case - Outside, Near Oil Pump
Serial Number Location 1973 Harley Davidson
Stamped at Capitol Drive Facility
Used to identify engine and track production changes
Example: 1588 321 007
15 = Engine Designation
1 = 1200cc Shovelhead
7 = 1000cc Iron XL
14 = 1340cc Shovelhead
15 = 1340cc Evolution
16 = XR-1000
17 = 883cc Evolution XL
18 = 1100cc Evolution XL
19 = 1200cc Evolution XL
20 = 1340cc Evolution, California (1988 - *)
21 = 883cc Evolution XL, California (1988 - *)
22 = 1200cc Evolution XL, California (1988 - *)
88 = Model Year
321 = Day of Production
001 = Jan. 1st
032 = Feb. 1st
060 = Mar. 1st
091 = Apr. 1st
121 = May 1st
152 = Jun. 1st
182 = Jul. 1st
213 = Aug. 1st
244 = Sep. 1st
274 = Oct. 1st
305 = Nov. 1st
335 = Dec. 1st
007 = Number That Day
The name Harley-Davidson ®, it's logos, and any other references,
are copyrighted and owned by the Harley-Davidson ® Motor Company.
This is not an official Harley-Davidson ® site. This website is not endorsed or sponsored by the Harley-Davidson ® Motorcycle Company. We are not affiliated with the Harley-Davidson ® Motorcycle Company.