The Vehicle Identification Number or VIN of your motorcycle, dirt bike or ATV is non something worth memorizing however knowing where its etched on your ride is worth the x seconds it takes.

The VIN is 17 characters long and is more or less a code to the motorcycle's background. The VIN contains information on the manufacture, model yr and where it was built. In many respects, the VIN is the ID for your motorcycle, clay bike or ATV. This is also truthful for cars. All vehicles require a VIN.

The VIN appears on registrations, titles and even insurance cards but if you're like many people those papers are somewhere in some room within some box in your business firm. Or is information technology in the garage? So knowing where it's at on your 2- or 4-wheeler makes it a lot easier and saves a flake of time. When buying parts, using the VIN is a sure manner to find exactly what you need and quite frequently a sales rep will ask for it.

Additionally, if you are selling or buying a used motorcycle, dirt wheel or ATV the VIN tells you or a prospective buyer if the cycle has been in an accident, rebuilt or even stolen, among other data.

The VIN is one long stretch of letters and numbers only actually divided into three sections - the beginning three characters, the next six (spots iv through 9) and the last 8.

The first three characters make up the Earth Manufacturer Identifier. The Vehicle Description Section is the next vi characters and explains the vehicle attributes from the manufacturer. The Vehicle Identifier Department, the last viii characters, tells y'all when and where the bicycle was manufactured and the wheel's serial number.

The numbers 0 through 9 and messages A to Z are used except for I, O and Q so not to be confused with the numbers i and 0. No other characters other than letters and numbers get used and no spaces.

Then for example, the start graphic symbol is the country code. The United States is "1" or "4," Canada is "2" but England is "Due south" and Germany "W." The second digit is the manufacturer. Kawasaki of class gets "Chiliad," Honda "H" and Suzuki "Southward," for examples. The third character IDs what the vehicle is. Motorcycles typically become "ane" or "A" though two dirt bikes on display at MotoSport got a "1" the other a "ii."

Characters four through ix vary by manufacturer only contain information on engine size, engine blazon, and fifty-fifty model. The ninth digit is an accuracy check and verifies the previous characters equally authorized by the manufacturer.

The 10th digit is a yr code, the 11th is a manufactory lawmaking and finally the twelfth to 17th digits represent the series number. Yous can social club a VIN check through DMV.org for $25, useful for past accident history, or use the VIN decoder at Concordance to explicate the numbers on your bicycle or ATV.

Motorcycle VIN Diagram

At present that you know everything most VINs where on earth do you find it? The VIN location is mostly the same for motorcycles and dirt bikes - on the steering neck - though some are located on the motor almost the bottom of the cylinders. Turn the handlebars to the left and look on the right side of the frame where the steering head goes through the frame. It's etched on the metal vertically.

To observe the VIN on an ATV it unfortunately depends on the manufacturer. Quite frequently, if yous're lucky, the ATV VIN is on the left side of the frame under the shifter in relatively plain site. Other areas to locate the VIN for your ATV include down through the slit in the plastic hood. You'll probably need a flashlight just it'll be located on the cross axle connecting the front struts.

The more difficult areas include etched on the frame under the tail section, the left side of the frame down by the engine, and inside the left wheel well by the radiator or backside the left bicycle well on the frame.

Now you know everythinhg there is nigh the Vehicle Identification Number for your motorcycle, clay cycle or ATV - and probably more than you need to know! However, when the fourth dimension comes, and somewhen information technology will, you'll save a lot of time and in the issue y'all're ownership a used bike those 17 characters provide you lot with the necessary data needed to make an informed buying purchase.