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:
| Year | Model | Production Number |
| 49 | FL | 0001 |
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:
| Year | Model | Production Number |
| 66 | FLHB | 22001 |
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:
| Model | Production Number | Year |
| 2A | 10859 | H4 |
Model Codes:
| 1A = FL/FLP-1200 | 3D = Z-90 | 2G = XLT-1000 |
| 2A = FLH -1200 | 4D = XLA | 3G = FLH-80 |
| 3A = XL – XLH-1000 | 5D = SX-175 | 5G = FLT-80 |
| 4A = XLCH-1000 | 6D = SX-250 | 6G = FXE-80 |
| 5A = GE-750 | 7D = MX-250 | 7G = FXS-80 |
| 6A = SS-350 Sprint | 9D = FXE – 1200 | 9G = FXWG-80 |
| 7A = SX-125 | 4E = XLS-1000 | 1H = FXB-80 |
| 8A = M65-S | 5E = FXEF-1200 | 2H = CLE-80 Sidecar |
| 7B = ERS | 6E = FXEF-80 | 3H = FLH-80 Classic |
| 8B = MSR-100 | 7E = FLHS-1200 | 5H = FLHS-80 |
| 2C = FX -1200 | 9E = SS-250 | 6H = FL-80 |
| 3C = SX-350 Sprint | 2F = FXS – 1200 | 7H = FLH-1200 Police |
| 5C = MC-65 | 3F = SXT-125 | 8H = FLH-1200 Shrine |
| 6C = SR-100 | 4F = SS-175 | 9H = FLH-80 Police |
| 1D = LE Sidecar | 6F = SS-125 | 1K = FLH-80 Shrine |
| 2D = X-90 | 7F = XLCR-1000 |
Year Codes:
| H0 = 1970 | H3 = 1973 | H6 = 1976 | H9 = 1979 |
| H1 = 1971 | H4 = 1974 | H7 = 1977 | J0 = 1980 |
| H2 = 1972 | H5 = 1975 | H8 = 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. | Class | Model | Engine | Intro | Check | Year | Plant | Production Number |
| 1HD | 1 | AA | K | 1 | 9 | B | Y | 158126 |
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 = FLH | DJ = FLHTC | FR = FLHRCI, FLHRC |
| AB = FLHP | DK = FLTC Shrine | FS = FLTRI |
| AC = FLH | DM = FLTCU – Ultra | FT = FLHPEI |
| AD = FLH – Classic | DN = FLTCU – Ultra | FW = FLHR Shrine |
| AE = FLT | DP = FLHTC | KA = FLHX |
| AF = FLTC | DS = FLTCU – Ultra Shrine | KB = FLHX |
| AH = FLHP – Deluxe | DT = FLHTCU – Ultra Shrine | KE = FLHTK |
| AJ = FLH – Heritage | FA = FLHRS, FLHS | KG = FLTRU |
| AK = FLHS | FB = FLHRI, FLHR | KH = FLTRX |
| AL = FLH – Shrine | FC = FLHTCUI, FLHTCU | KX = SIDECAR TLE ULTRA |
| DA = FLT, FLHTP | FD = FLHR | MA = FLHTCUTG – Trike |
| DB = FLTC | FE = FLTCUI | MB = Trike |
| DC = FLHT | FF = FLHTCI, FLHTC | PF = FLSTDSE |
| DD = FLHT | FG = FLHTCUI | PG = FLHRSEI2 |
| DE = FLHTC | FH = FLHPI | PR = FLHTCUSE7 – CVO |
| DF = FLHTP | FL = FLHTCUI, FLHTCU | PY = FLSTSE3 – CVO |
| DG = FLHTC Shrine | FM = FLHTPI | PZ = FLHXSE – CVO |
| DH = FLTC | FP = FLTR | MC = FLRT |
FX/FL Dyna Glide Models:
| BA = FXE | EK = FXRP – C.H.P. | GM = FXDI |
| BB = FXEF, FXSTDI | EL = FXLR | GN = FXDL |
| BC = FXS | EM = FXRS – CON | GP = FXDWG |
| BD = FXB | ES = FXR | GR = FXDXI |
| BE = FXWG | ET = FXR | GT = FXDC |
| BF = FXSB | EV = FXR | GV = FXDC |
| BG = FXDG | GA = FXDB-D Daytona | GX = TL |
| EA = FXR | GB = FXDB-S Sturgis | GY = FXDF |
| EB = FXRS | GC = FXDC | GZ = FLD |
| EC = FXRT | GD = FXDL | PB = FXDWG |
| ED = FXRP – Windshield | GE = FXDWG | PE = FXDWG3 |
| EE = FXRDG | GG = FXDS-CON | PS = FXDSE |
| EF = FXRP – Fairing | GH = FXD | PX = FSDFSE |
| EG = FXRS-SP Sport Edition | GJ = FXDX | VA = FXDBP |
| EH = FXRD | GK = FXDP | |
| EJ = FXRC | GL = FXDXT |
FL/FX Softail Models:
| BH = FXST | BX = FLSTF | JL = FXSTC |
| BJ = FLST, FLSTC | BY = FLSTC | JM = FLSTSB |
| BK = FXSTC | BZ = FXSTSI | JN = FLSTFB |
| BL = FXSTS | JA = FXSTB | JP = FXS |
| BM = FLSTF | JB = FXSTDI | JR = FLS |
| BN = FLSTN | JD = FLSTN | PF = FXSTDSE |
| BP = FXSTSB | JE = FLST | PH = FXSTDSE |
| BR = FLSTS | JF = FLSTI | PL = FLSTFSE |
| BS = FXSTD | JG = FLSTF | PN = FLSTFSE |
| BT = FXSTB | JH = FLSTC | PT = FXSTSSE |
| BV = FXST | JJ = FXCW | PY = FLSTSE |
| BW = FLSTC | JK = FXCWC | JT = FLSTFBS |
XL Sportster Models:
| CA = XLH | CN = XL883 | CZ = XL1200N |
| CB = XLS | CM = XL883L | LA = XR1200 |
| CC = XLX | CP = XL883C | LC = XL1200X |
| CD = XR-1000 | CR = XL883L | LD = XR1200X |
| CE = XL 883H | CS = XL883R | LE = XL883N |
| CF = XL 883 Deluxe | CT = XL1200C | LF = XL1200V |
| CG = XL 1200C | CV = XL1200R | LH = XL1200CP |
| CH = XL 1200S | CW = XL1200L | LJ = XL1200CA |
| CJ = XL 883C | CX = XL1200L | LK = XL1200CB |
| CK = XL 883R | CY = XL50 |
V-ROD Models:
| HA = VRSCA | HF = VRSCA | HP = VRSCF |
| HC = VRSCR | HH = VRSCDX | |
| HD = VRSCD | HJ = VRSCX |
Street Models:
| NA = XG500 | NB = XG750 |
Engine Displacement:
| A = 1130 Revolution (100 CV) | R = 1340 Evolution Fuel Injected |
| B = 1450 Fuel Injected Counter Balanced | S = 500 Single (Armstrong Military) |
| C = 1550 | V = Twin Cam 88 Carburetor, 130B |
| D = 1550 EFI | W = Twin Cam 88 Fuel Injected |
| E = 1690 EFI | Y = Twin Cam 88 Counter Balanced – Carb |
| F = 1690 Balanced-EFI | Z = 1130 Revolution |
| G = 1246 Revolution EFI | 1 = 1450 EFI |
| H = 1246 (2001-2009), 1000 Ironhead XL | 2 = 883 ESPFI |
| J = 1246 | 3 = 1200 ESPFI |
| K = 1340 Shovelhead | 4 = 1584 ESPFI |
| L = 1340 Evolution | 5 = 1584 ESPFI, Twin Cam 96B |
| M = 883 Evolution XL, Twin Cam 103 | 6 = 1200 |
| N = 1100 Evolution XL | 8 = 1800 ESPFI |
| P = 1200 Evolution XL | 9 = 1800 ESPFI H 1250 ESPFI |
| A = 500cc Liquid Cooled Revolution X | B = 749cc Liquid Cooled Revolution X |
Introduction Period:
| Normal Introduction | Mid-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 = 2010 | J = 1988, 2018 | T = 1996 | 4 = 2004 |
| B = 1981, 2011 | K = 1989, 2019 | V = 1997 | 5 = 2005 |
| C = 1982, 2012 | L = 1990 | W = 1998 | 6 = 2006 |
| D = 1983, 2013 | M = 1991 | X = 1999 | 7 = 2007 |
| E = 1984, 2014 | N = 1992 | Y = 2000 | 8 = 2008 |
| F = 1985, 2015 | P = 1993 | 1 = 2001 | 9 = 2009 |
| G = 1986, 2016 | R = 1994 | 2 = 2002 | |
| H = 1987, 2017 | S = 1995 | 3 = 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.
