Motorcycle VIN numbers give a world of information if you know the decoding secrets. While they may seem like random strings of characters, VIN codes reveal the motorcycle's manufacturer, its model, engine size and other characteristics, where the motorcycle was manufactured (both country and plant), as well as the year it rolled off the assembly line.
VIN, or Vehicle Identification Numbers, were standardized in 1981 by the National Highway Transportation and Safety Administration (NHTSA). By law they are 17 characters long, consisting of both numbers and letters. Each character or sequence of characters has specific meaning.
Most importantly, your VIN cannot be identical to any other VIN within a 30-year period, so unless the bike you’re interested in is more than 30 years old, the code is unique. VIN numbers are mandated to be permanently affixed, so manufacturers typically stamp the code onto the frame and engine so that it isn’t easily altered or removed. The code must use the digits zero to nine and capital, sans-serif A to Z characters—except the letters “I”, “O,” and “Q”. Duplicate VIN codes, letters that are not capitalized, sans-serif style, or digits other than zero to nine (in other words, digits not common to the English language) are fraud alerts. Be prepared to walk away if the VIN codes do not conform to these standards.
Even if the VIN looks legitimate, if you're buying from a private owner, do all your homework before money changes hands. Your state's motor vehicle department will likely provide a means to verify details of ownership and reveal lien holders, such as a bank.
The First Three Characters
This first section renders information in this order: the country of origin, the manufacturer, and a third character showing either a “1” or an “A” to indicate “motorcycle.”
The Next Five Characters
![Serial Serial](https://images.cmsnl.com/img/partslists/yamaha-terrapro-primary-id-numbers-usa-only-1988-1989-1988-models-engineframe-numbers_bigyau17201_b65c.gif)
The second section is called the vehicle descriptor section. The fourth place in the VIN code indicates the vehicle category:
- C = scooter
- B = business model or commuter
- N = single cylinder sport/street
- G = multiple cylinder sport/street
- F = family
- S = off road
- V = v-type engine, street, V2/V4/V6/V8, etc.
In the fifth place, you will see a letter indicating engine displacement:
- A = 49cc and less
- B = 50-69cc
- C = 70-79cc
- D = 80-89cc
- E = 90-99cc
- F = 100-124cc
- G = 125-149cc
- H = 150-199cc
- J = 200-249cc
- K = 250-399cc
- M = 400-499cc
- N = 500-599cc
- P = 600-699cc
- R = 700-749cc
- S = 750-849cc
- T = 850-999cc
- U = 1000-1099cc
- V = 1100-1199cc
- W = 1200-1299cc
- Y = 1400-1499cc
- Z = 1500cc and up
The sixth place will have a digit for engine type:
- 1 = 2 stroke single
- 2 = 2 stroke twin
- 3 = 2 stroke triple or four
- 4 = 4 stroke single
- 5 = 4 stroke twin
Yamaha Motorcycle Serial Number Codes
Next in the sequence, the seventh spot, indicates design sequence while eighth is for model version. In the ninth space is a check digit mandated to verify the accuracy of the VIN code. This place does not render any specific information about the motorcycle itself.
Year Code and Manufacturing Plant
In the tenth and eleventh spaces will be the year code and an indication of the plant the motorcycle was manufactured respectively. The year codes are as follows:
- 1999..........X
- 2000..........Y
- 2001..........1
- 2002..........2
- 2003..........3
- 2004..........4
- 2005..........5
- 2006..........6
- 2007..........7
- 2008..........8
- 2009..........9
- 2010..........A
- 2011..........B
- 2012..........C
- 2013..........D
The Last Eight Digits
The motorcycle’s serial number takes up the last eight places in the VIN number. These are assigned sequentially as the motorcycles finish assembly.
Manufacturers used the numbers to identify the vehicles in the way they wanted until the 1980s. Yamaha wasn't an exception in this matter. Most of the manufacturers had nine months to implement this new rule on their assemblies. So if you plan to buy a bike of that year, the Yamaha VIN decoder can ask you to add a few more characters. The number was shorter, however, it can be decoded into the new VIN. If you buy a newer version of the bike, you will see a 17-characters code on the registration card that can tell you all the specs about it.
The VIN code usually starts with the letters such as JYA that refer to the world manufacturer code. The Yamaha VIN decoder will tell you that J stands for Japan, the country where it was manufactured. Y stands for Yamaha, the label of the company and A determines the type of the vehicle. We have a motorcycle in this case. If you see any other letters and the owner of the bike looks suspicious, you should definitely decode the full code to compare the bike you see with the data from the decoder.
If you wish to buy a bike, the owner tells you the year, but the Yamaha ATV VIN decoder gives you another year, don't panic. The year in the code means the model year of the motor, but not the year when it was manufactured. Of course, it will be strange if the difference is more than a year or two. You can buy a new bike of the next year in autumn or in December of this year. It's a common practice of many companies.
VIN Location
The VIN code is placed on non-removable parts of Yamaha bikes. If you see any scratches or deformations, use the Yamaha motorcycle VIN decoder to check whether this number is genuine. If you see that such a code doesn't exist, don't buy this bike even if the price is too low. Let's take a closer look at the locations of the VIN on your bike. There are three main places:
- The right part of the head pipe or the steering tube (different names for one and the same part). Here you will see a shorter code for the models produced prior to 1982 or the 17-characters code for the models produced after 1981 and later. It's stamped vertically.
- Take a look at the left part of the steering tube to find the printed card with the code and some additional information. For the Yamaha motor decoder, you will need only the VIN code and nothing more. However, the actual year of manufacture is indicated there. And yes, the code is located on the both sides of the tube.
- The third place is on the case of the motor. You can find it next to or behind the clutch cover just on the right part of the motor. It's a small pad that's looking into the sky. Yamaha XJ550 models have the code is placed left to right while on other models it's front to back. The vintage Yamaha VIN decoder will decipher any code from any location on the bike.
The Yamaha VIN decoder ATV will tell you the information about the type of the engine, its specs and the type of fuel you can use. You should compare the code on the registration card with the code on all the locations on the bike. If you see any difference, it means the bike was repaired after an accident. If the codes are the same, the bike has its genuine parts that were produced in Japan.
Yamaha Sample VIN
- JYARM06YXGA002282 — 2016 Yamaha Fz07c - (689 cc), Motorcycle - Sport
- JYAVP32EXDA003396 — 2013 Yamaha XVS1300CT CT (1300CC), Motorcycle - Cruiser
- JYARJ16E0AA020429 — 2010 Yamaha YZF-R6 - (600 cc), Motorcycle - Sport
- JYAVM01E76A087480 — 2006 Yamaha XVS650 - (650CC), Motorcycle - Cruiser
- JYAVP02E42A018410 — 2002 Yamaha XV1600 AS (1602CC), Motorcycle - Cruiser
Yamaha models can be identified by locating and decoding the crankcase engine number. Yamaha uses a standardized numbering system, which is broken into four sections: model code, basic part number, design code and the finish code. Because the crankcase engine number is actually the part number, improper identification might occur if the engine has been replaced, or if an interchangeable case has been swapped with the original. According to Tangedal.no, the first section of the part number identifies the Yamaha model.
Locate the engine number. Yamaha engine numbers normally are located on the top of the crankcase, next to the clutch cover on the right side of the engine while sitting on the vehicle.
Write this number down for referencing. According to Tangedal.no's Yamaha part structure PDF, the first three positions of the 12-position code designate the model and is either alpha-numeric or all digits -- 2A0, for example. Nokia x2 00 rm 618 flash file download.
Look the model number up on a Yamaha model listing. A listing similar to the ones found on Off-Road and Net Bikes.com should be consulted to properly identify the model. The model year is included within the code, as each year is assigned a different code unique to the year of manufacture. Off-Road.com is primarily a dirt bike/off road reference, Net Bikes references street models.
Tip
Because VINs and engine numbers are different, the VIN should be used for proper identification, as the engine might have been replaced. The VIN is located on the steering head pipe, which is the the short tube at the forward part of the frame, near the handle bar mount. VIN identification can be made at Motoverse.com.