Have you ever wondered what the series of letters and numbers on the side of your Honda CBR, Valkyrie, or Shadow meant? These Vehicle Identification Numbers (or VINs), which have been on every vehicle produced since 1981, have been compared to the motorcycle’s genetic code. Law enforcement agencies needed an uniform way to identify vehicles, therefore the VIN system was put into place. So what does this disorganized data actually mean?
Five steps to decode your Honda motorcycle’s VIN number
- Find your Honda motorcycle’s 17-digit Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) printed on the frame. This is frequently stamped onto the steering head’s right side, where the front fork is attached to the frame. Additionally, a metal tag with the VIN printed on it may be found on the left side of the frame, above the motor.
- Find the first person. The country of manufacturing is indicated by this letter or number. A “J” for Japan should be present in this instance.
- Find the “H” in the second character. This stands for the brand name of the producer, Honda.
- Find the third person. The vehicle type is represented by this letter or number. Although “A” or “1” may also be used, the majority of Honda motorcycles utilize a “2,” which denotes a motorcycle.
- Find the characters from the fourth to the eighth. Each unique manufacturer uses these letters and numbers to indicate the motorcycle’s model or engine type.
As an illustration, SC57 denotes a CBR1000RR sport bike and RC040 a CB750F motorcycle.
Through our online electronic Honda spare parts catalog, you may quickly and conveniently order genuine Honda parts by checking the Honda list and finding your model.
In This Article...
How can I locate the make and model of my Honda?
Vehicle Identification Number is referred to as VIN. It consists of a collection of unique numbers and letters, each of which contains details about your car. The VIN number may give you a lot of information about your automobile, including where it was created, who made it, what brand it is, what year it was made, what plant put it together, and more! This post will show you how to decipher the data from your own VIN number.
How can I determine the year of my Honda motorcycle?
Let’s quickly review what a VIN is before we explain how to decode the VIN year for a Honda motorcycle. Every car has received a special 17-digit identifier known as the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) since 1981 for identification purposes (VIN).
The manufacturer of your bike, the sort of vehicle it is, the model, the year it was made, and the manufacturing line number are all revealed by this 17-digit code, which is made up of letters and numbers. The model year of the motorcycle may be found in the tenth digit of the VIN. Visit our blog on the Honda Motorcycle VIN Decoder to find out more about the VIN’s location on a motorcycle and all of its digits.
How is a Honda VIN number decoded?
See how each digit or segment in the 17-digit string is decoded in the VIN decoding diagram below.
The model and model year of the car, the make, the location of the vehicle’s manufacture, and other details are all indicated by a specific character or set of characters in a Honda VIN. Since the model year 1981, a VIN that adheres to the ISO standard has been utilized. The letters O (o), I I and Q (q), which resemble the numbers 0, 1, and 9, are absent from the VIN.
Here is an example Honda VIN that has been decoded using the aforementioned diagram and the Honda decoding chart: 1HGEJ8145WL012057.
- G = Type of Vehicle (Passenger car)
- Production Sequence 012057
- market price
- H = The Manufacturer (Honda)
- existing warranty
- faults and recalls
- EJ8 = Civic 2/4 Door 1.6L Model
- equipment information
- rating for safety
- (Civic EX 2/4 Door) 4 = GRADE
- 1.0 = the country of manufacturing (United States)
- 1 denotes Body Type and Transmission (2 Door Coupe, Manual)
- Model Year = W (1998)
- Security Code: 5
- fuel economy
- L for Plant (East Liberty, Ohio, USA)
Can I search a motorcycle using its VIN?
All types of vehicles, whether they be cars, recreational vehicles, or motorcycles, are given a distinctive 17-digit vehicle identification number during production. Each VIN digit contains information about a specific car, such as the model, year, and other features as well as the factory where it was made.
When you run a VIN check, the VIN, like a fingerprint, shows the full history of the car. VINs are used by insurance companies and the Department of Motor Vehicles to record title transfers, registration, damage claims, and more in their systems.
The same information is available via a motorcycle VIN search online. It’s the best way to find information that isn’t immediately obvious and could eventually affect your buying decision.
How can I tell whether my Honda is an LX or an EX?
One of the most popular automobiles sold worldwide is the Honda accord. The LX and EX versions are the two primary Honda Accord models, despite the fact that there are other models available.
A more developed version of the standard model Honda Accord LX is the Honda Accord LX, which is a luxury variant.
The Honda Accord EX boasts a more potent engine when compared to the other two variants. The 2.4 L, 190 hp engine in the Honda Accord EX is different from the 2.4 L, 177 hp engine in the Honda Accord LX.
In terms of wheels, the Honda Accord LX is equipped with 16-inch alloy wheels, while the Honda Accord EX has 17-inch alloy wheels. Moon roof, heated seats, heated mirrors, blue ambient console lighting, rear HVAC vent, and motorized side mirrors are additional equipment included in Honda Accord Ex models. The Honda Accord LX variant does not have these features.
In addition, the two accord trims have distinct seating settings. The driver’s seat in the Honda Accord LX only has an eight-way power adjustment, in contrast to the ten-way power adjustment found in the Honda Accord EX, which also features power lumbar support.
In terms of curb weight, the Honda Accord Ex is heavier than the LX version. The curb weight of the Honda Accord LX is 3221 lbs as opposed to the Honda Accord EX’s 3278 lbs. The LX model slightly outperforms the other models in headroom. However, the legroom and cargo space are nearly identical in both levels.
Both trims essentially identically feature air bags, power assisted rack and pinion steering, multi-link rear suspensions, and VGR in terms of safety features. However, the Honda Accord EX adds Power-Assisted Ventilated Front Disc/Solid Rear Disc Brakes, a feature that is absent from the LX version.
1. The base model is the Honda Accord LX, while the top model is the Honda Accord EX.
2. The Honda Accord LX has a 2.4 L, 177 hp engine, whilst the Honda Accord EX has a 2.4 L, 190 hp engine.
3. While the Honda Accord LX is equipped with 16-inch alloy wheels, the Honda Accord EX has 17-inch alloy wheels.
4.The Honda Accord Ex has additional options not found in the Honda Accord LX variant, such as a moon roof, heated seats, heated mirrors, blue ambient console lights, a rear HVAC vent, and motorized side mirrors.
How is a Honda motorcycle’s VIN number read?
The World Manufacturer Identifier is another name for the first three characters of a VIN (WMI). This specifically indicates the manufacturer, the country of manufacturing, and the kind of car in question.
Find the very first character. The country of manufacturing is indicated by this letter or number. A “J” for Japan should be present in this instance. 2. “H,” the second letter. This stands for the brand name of the producer, Honda. 3. The third personality. The vehicle type is represented by this letter or number. Although “A” or “1” may also be used, the majority of Honda motorcycles utilize a “2,” which denotes a motorcycle.
The following six-character segment (RD stands for the Vehicle Descriptor Section) (VDS). The VDS offers details illustrating the general characteristics of the vehicle.
4. The characters from four through eight. The motorcycle’s model is identified by these letters and numbers. In this illustration, RD07A stands for an XRV, also referred to as an Africa Twin. 5. To make the VIN code fully unique, the ninth character is a randomly chosen number or letter; in this case, it is “9.
The Vehicle Indicator Section, which is the final section of the VIN and contains the final eight characters (VIS)
6. In this situation, the tenth digit represents the year of manufacture, which is “The year 1996 is T. With the exception of the following letters: I I O (o), Q (q), U (u), and Z (z), and digits from 1 to 9, the VIN uses both letters of the alphabet to identify the year (no 0). Our Honda motorbike year decoder blog, which includes a decoder year chart, has more information on determining the model year of your motorcycle.
7. Position 11’s letter or number identifies the factory where the car was put together. 8. The sequence in which the motorcycle left the factory is typically indicated by the final six characters (12 through 17). Usually, these numbers are preserved in ascending order.
The code is given to a car manufacturer in order to identify that manufacturer. When combined with the other parts of the VIN, the code ensures that each vehicle made during a 30-year period has a unique VIN.
Contact our parts experts here or via our online chat support if you need any help or have any questions about the VIN of your bike or about parts.
On a Honda motorcycle, where is the date of manufacture?
You must have a fundamental understanding of the elements that make up the VIN/Chassis number in order to decode a chassis number.
So, the three widely recognized parts of the Chassis number are listed below.
World Manufacturer Identifier(WMI)
WMI is a three-character number that identifies the parent firm and manufacturer of the vehicle as well as the country of origin.
Nation of Origin:
The first character in the VIN, which may be a letter or a number, designates the nation of origin.
Eg:
- India, M
- J: Japan.
- K: Korea, etc.
- 1,4 or 5: USA
- Nissan, N.
- A is for Audi, etc.
- A for Audi
The manufacturer or the vehicle’s parent firm is indicated by the third character in the VIN.