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Harley VIN numbers

Harley VIN numbers

Just imagine that your wandering on your favorite swap-meet and see the engine case you’ve been looking for. At least, that’s what you think. Wouldn’t it be helpful if there was a simple guide to check the engine/frame number to find out if it’s truly the part you’re looking for?

In this article we’ll explain the progression of VIN numbers used by Harley-Davidson and explain what they all mean. That being said this article is only being written to be a helpful guide, and hopefully you find it as such.

Prior to 1930:

Prior to 1930 H-D VIN numbers were a bit erratic and model number designations changed frequently. Unfortunately there is very little information out there for these numbers and what information is available is not always very accurate. So therefore it’s best to ask an expert what might be the corresponding year/model of the numbers stamped in the engine case.

1930 to 1962

From 1930 to 1962 the VIN number was the engine number and was only located on the left case. The VIN was between 8 and 10 digits with the first 2 digits being the production year, the next 2 – 4 letters being the model designation and the last 4 digits being the production number

Example:

YearModelProduction Number
49FL0001

1962-1969:

From 1962 to 1969 the VIN numbers where pretty much the same as from 1930 to 1962, but if the production number had 4 digits the first digit would be odd during odd production years and even during even production years. If the production number had 5 digits the first two digits would be odd during odd production years and even during even production years.

Example:

YearModelProduction Number
66FLHB22001

1970-1980:

From 1970 to 1980 the VIN number could be found on both the frame and the engine and would match exactly with the exception of a few months in 1979 which was due to an idea by the factory to make them different. The idea was quickly killed after law enforcement notified Harley-Davidson that it made the bikes look stolen. The production date range was from 1/9/1979 to 2/7/1979. The VIN numbers affected are 43000H9 through 48199H9. The engine numbers where 10 digit numerical IDs.

The VIN numbers of this era where 9 digit codes where the first two digits corresponded to the model code (see list below), the next 5 digits were the production numbers (always starting above 10,000) and the last 2 digits were the year code (see list below).

Example:

ModelProduction NumberYear
2A10859H4

Model Codes:

1A = FL/FLP-12003D = Z-902G = XLT-1000
2A = FLH -12004D = XLA3G = FLH-80
3A = XL – XLH-10005D = SX-1755G = FLT-80
4A = XLCH-10006D = SX-2506G = FXE-80
5A = GE-7507D = MX-2507G = FXS-80
6A = SS-350 Sprint9D = FXE – 12009G = FXWG-80
7A = SX-1254E = XLS-10001H = FXB-80
8A = M65-S5E = FXEF-12002H = CLE-80 Sidecar
7B = ERS6E = FXEF-803H = FLH-80 Classic
8B = MSR-1007E = FLHS-12005H = FLHS-80
2C = FX -12009E = SS-2506H = FL-80
3C = SX-350 Sprint2F = FXS – 12007H = FLH-1200 Police
5C = MC-653F = SXT-1258H = FLH-1200 Shrine
6C = SR-1004F = SS-1759H = FLH-80 Police
1D = LE Sidecar6F = SS-1251K = FLH-80 Shrine
2D = X-907F = XLCR-1000

Year Codes:

H0 = 1970H3 = 1973H6 = 1976H9 = 1979
H1 = 1971H4 = 1974H7 = 1977J0 = 1980
H2 = 1972H5 = 1975H8 = 1978

1981- Present:

From 1981 to present the VIN has been a 17 digit code located on the frame and abbreviated on the engine. In this VIN the first 3 digits are the world manufacturer ID (see list below), the fourth digit is the weight class (see weight class list below). The next two letters are the model designation (see list below), the sixth digit was the engine type (see list below), the seventh digit was the introduction period (see list below), The eighth digit was the VIN check digit which could be 0-9 or X, the next letter was the model year (see list below), the letter after that was the assembly plant (see list below) and the last 6 numbers were the production numbers. If you are looking for information on a specific VIN number on a bike produced after 1981 you can look it up on Harley-Davidson’s official VIN search at this link: https://serviceinfo.harley-davidson.com/sip/vehicle/lookup?vin=

Example:

World Mfg.ClassModelEngineIntroCheckYearPlantProduction Number
1HD1AAK19BY158126

World Manufacturer ID:

1HD = Manufactured for sale within the United States

5HD = Manufactured for sale outside of the United States

932 = Manufactured in and for sale only in Brazil

MEG = Manufactured in and for sale only in India

Weight Class:

1 = Heavyweight (≥ 901 cc)

4 = Lightweight (≤ 900 cc)

8 = Sidecar

Model Designation:

FL Touring Models:

AA = FLHDJ = FLHTCFR = FLHRCI, FLHRC
AB = FLHPDK = FLTC ShrineFS = FLTRI
AC = FLHDM = FLTCU – UltraFT = FLHPEI
AD = FLH – ClassicDN = FLTCU – UltraFW = FLHR Shrine
AE = FLTDP = FLHTCKA = FLHX
AF = FLTCDS = FLTCU – Ultra ShrineKB = FLHX
AH = FLHP – DeluxeDT = FLHTCU – Ultra ShrineKE = FLHTK
AJ = FLH – HeritageFA = FLHRS, FLHSKG = FLTRU
AK = FLHSFB = FLHRI, FLHRKH = FLTRX
AL = FLH – ShrineFC = FLHTCUI, FLHTCUKX = SIDECAR TLE ULTRA
DA = FLT, FLHTPFD = FLHRMA = FLHTCUTG – Trike
DB = FLTCFE = FLTCUIMB = Trike
DC = FLHTFF = FLHTCI, FLHTCPF = FLSTDSE
DD = FLHTFG = FLHTCUIPG = FLHRSEI2
DE = FLHTCFH = FLHPIPR = FLHTCUSE7 – CVO
DF = FLHTPFL = FLHTCUI, FLHTCUPY = FLSTSE3 – CVO
DG = FLHTC ShrineFM = FLHTPIPZ = FLHXSE – CVO
DH = FLTCFP = FLTRMC = FLRT

FX/FL Dyna Glide Models:

BA = FXEEK = FXRP – C.H.P.GM = FXDI
BB = FXEF, FXSTDIEL = FXLRGN = FXDL
BC = FXSEM = FXRS – CONGP = FXDWG
BD = FXBES = FXRGR = FXDXI
BE = FXWGET = FXRGT = FXDC
BF = FXSBEV = FXRGV = FXDC
BG = FXDGGA = FXDB-D DaytonaGX = TL
EA = FXRGB = FXDB-S SturgisGY = FXDF
EB = FXRSGC = FXDCGZ = FLD
EC = FXRTGD = FXDLPB = FXDWG
ED = FXRP – WindshieldGE = FXDWGPE = FXDWG3
EE = FXRDGGG = FXDS-CONPS = FXDSE
EF = FXRP – FairingGH = FXDPX = FSDFSE
EG = FXRS-SP Sport EditionGJ = FXDXVA = FXDBP
EH = FXRDGK = FXDP
EJ = FXRCGL = FXDXT

FL/FX Softail Models:

BH = FXSTBX = FLSTFJL = FXSTC
BJ = FLST, FLSTCBY = FLSTCJM = FLSTSB
BK = FXSTCBZ = FXSTSIJN = FLSTFB
BL = FXSTSJA = FXSTBJP = FXS
BM = FLSTFJB = FXSTDIJR = FLS
BN = FLSTNJD = FLSTNPF = FXSTDSE
BP = FXSTSBJE = FLSTPH = FXSTDSE
BR = FLSTSJF = FLSTIPL = FLSTFSE
BS = FXSTDJG = FLSTFPN = FLSTFSE
BT = FXSTBJH = FLSTCPT = FXSTSSE
BV = FXSTJJ = FXCWPY = FLSTSE
BW = FLSTCJK = FXCWCJT = FLSTFBS

XL Sportster Models:

CA = XLHCN = XL883CZ = XL1200N
CB = XLSCM = XL883LLA = XR1200
CC = XLXCP = XL883CLC = XL1200X
CD = XR-1000CR = XL883LLD = XR1200X
CE = XL 883HCS = XL883RLE = XL883N
CF = XL 883 DeluxeCT = XL1200CLF = XL1200V
CG = XL 1200CCV = XL1200RLH = XL1200CP
CH = XL 1200SCW = XL1200LLJ = XL1200CA
CJ = XL 883CCX = XL1200LLK = XL1200CB
CK = XL 883RCY = XL50

V-ROD Models:

HA = VRSCAHF = VRSCAHP = VRSCF
HC = VRSCRHH = VRSCDX
HD = VRSCDHJ = VRSCX

Street Models:

NA = XG500NB = XG750

Engine Displacement:

A = 1130 Revolution (100 CV)R = 1340 Evolution Fuel Injected
B = 1450 Fuel Injected Counter BalancedS = 500 Single (Armstrong Military)
C = 1550V = Twin Cam 88 Carburetor, 130B
D = 1550 EFIW = Twin Cam 88 Fuel Injected
E = 1690 EFIY = Twin Cam 88 Counter Balanced – Carb
F = 1690 Balanced-EFIZ = 1130 Revolution
G = 1246 Revolution EFI1 = 1450 EFI
H = 1246 (2001-2009), 1000 Ironhead XL2 = 883 ESPFI
J = 12463 = 1200 ESPFI
K = 1340 Shovelhead4 = 1584 ESPFI
L = 1340 Evolution5 = 1584 ESPFI, Twin Cam 96B
M = 883 Evolution XL, Twin Cam 1036 = 1200
N = 1100 Evolution XL8 = 1800 ESPFI
P = 1200 Evolution XL9 = 1800 ESPFI H 1250 ESPFI
A = 500cc Liquid Cooled Revolution XB = 749cc Liquid Cooled Revolution X

Introduction Period:

Normal IntroductionMid-Year or Special Introduction
1 = Domestic (Normal)2, 4 = Domestic (Mid-Year)
3 = California (Normal)5, 6 = California (Mid-Year)
A = Canada (Normal)B = Canada (Mid-Year)
C = International (Normal)D = International (Mid-Year)
E = Japan (Normal)F = Japan (Mid-Year)
G = Australia (Normal)H = Australia (Mid-Year)
J = Brazil (Normal)K = Brazil (Mid-Year)
L = Asia Pacific (Normal)M = Asia Pacific (Mid-Year)
N = India (Normal)P = India (Mid-Year)

Check Number:The check number is used to detect invalid VINs. The number that appears varies and is based on a mathematical formula that the U.S. Department of Transportation developed.

Model Year:

A = 2010J = 1988, 2018T = 19964 = 2004
B = 1981, 2011K = 1989, 2019V = 19975 = 2005
C = 1982, 2012L = 1990W = 19986 = 2006
D = 1983, 2013M = 1991X = 19997 = 2007
E = 1984, 2014N = 1992Y = 20008 = 2008
F = 1985, 2015P = 19931 = 20019 = 2009
G = 1986, 2016R = 19942 = 2002
H = 1987, 2017S = 19953 = 2003

Manufacturing Plant:

Y, B = York, PA

T = Tomahawk, WI

J = Milwaukee, WI

K = Kansas City, KS

D = Manaus, Brazil

E = Buell East Troy

N = Haryana, India (Bawal District Rewari)

This article is written to be a helpful guide, and hopefully you found it to be so. However, we DO NOT provide support related to VIN numbers. So, if you are unable to find an answer to your question in this article than please DO NOT contact us. If it is not in this article, we can not help you.

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Rick Cazemier

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