1. Locate the VIN:
The VIN is usually stamped on the frame or engine of the motorcycle. It is typically a 17-character alphanumeric code.
2. First Character:
The first character of the VIN indicates the country where the motorcycle was manufactured. For Honda, Japanese bikes will have J, and bikes made in the US will usually have 1 or 4.
3. Second Character:
The second character represents the manufacturer. H stands for Honda.
4. Third Character: Type of Vehicle:
The third character indicates the type of vehicle. For motorcycles, it is usually M.
5. Fourth Character: Engine Size:
The fourth character designates the engine size. It can be a number or a letter. For example, C may represent a 50cc motorcycle, D for 100cc, E for 125cc, and so on.
6. Fifth and Sixth Characters: Model Code:
The fifth and sixth characters together represent the model code of the motorcycle. This code varies based on the specific Honda model.
7. Seventh and Eighth Characters: Model Year:
The seventh and eighth characters indicate the model year of the motorcycle. The seventh character represents the last digit of the production year, and the eighth character is a letter that corresponds to the year. Here's the decoding scheme:
- 1 = A: 1980, 1990, 2000, etc.
- 2 = B: 1981, 1991, 2001, etc.
- 3 = C: 1982, 1992, 2002, etc.
- 4 = D: 1983, 1993, 2003, etc.
- 5 = E: 1984, 1994, 2004, etc.
- 6 = F: 1985, 1995, 2005, etc.
- 7 = G: 1986, 1996, 2006, etc.
- 8 = H: 1987, 1997, 2007, etc.
- 9 = J: 1988, 1998, 2008, etc.
- 10 = K: 1989, 1999, 2009, etc.
8. Ninth Character: Assembly Plant:
The ninth character identifies the assembly plant where the motorcycle was produced. It can be a letter or a number.
9. Tenth and Eleventh Characters: Engine Number:
The tenth and eleventh characters represent the engine number.
10. Twelfth and Thirteenth Characters: Check Digit:
The twelfth and thirteenth characters serve as a check digit to verify the accuracy of the VIN.
11. Fourteenth to Seventeenth Characters: Serial Number:
The last five characters are the serial number specific to the individual motorcycle.
By decoding the VIN, you can obtain important information about your old Honda motorcycle, including its country of origin, manufacturer, model, engine size, model year, and assembly plant. This information can be helpful for identification, registration, parts lookup, and historical research.
