Bike Info

VIN (or V.I.N) is the acronym for Vehicle Identification Code. A motorcycle VIN is comparable to the VIN on your car. We are required to use them to register and insure our vehicles.

Prior to 1981 vehicle manufacturers were responsible for creating their own systems of individually numbering each machine they produced. VINs differed in length and meaning.  Some manufacturers included a lot of information. Others, just the bare minimum. Duplicate VINs were possible. 

In the 1970's government regulators realized that allowing each individual manufacturer to use their own format for creating unique vehicle identification numbers was creating a paperwork nightmare for the DMV, insurance companies and law enforcement. 

The business world was becoming computerized and we needed to create standards for all manufacturers to abide by. These new regulations applied to automobiles, trucks, motorcycles, all terrain vehicles (ATVs) and motor-driven cycles (mopeds). 

We are only concerning ourselves with motorcycles, ATVs and mopeds here.  Beginning in 1981, all vehicle manufacturers had to conform to the new 17 digit VIN format and the year would no longer appear on the bike tag.

The 10th digit of each vehicle identification number would now represent the model year. Some motorcycle manufacturers began using the new system in 1979.  Most waited until 1981.  This new alpha-numeric numbering system would ensure that no two vehicles produced within thirty years of each other would have the same unique identifying number.

To view the NHTSB (National Highway Traffic Safety Board) VIN numbering requirements chart.

The cycle of A to Z, 1 to 9 will repeat itself every thirty years.

If you are looking for information about your bike or a bike you may want to purchase, you can check our list of VIN decoders for motorcycles using only its vehicle identification number.

Motorcycles

• American IronHorse motorcycles
• Aprilia motorcycles
• Big Dog motorcycles
• BMW motorcycles
• Buell motorcycles by Harley-Davidson
• Ducati motorcycles
• Harley-Davidson motorcycles
• Honda motorcycles and ATVs
• Kawasaki motorcycles
• KTM motorcycles
• Suzuki cycles
• Triumph motorcycles
• Yamaha motors
• Victory motorcycles by Polaris

The values of the 10th digit and their corresponding year appear in theYear Code Chart below.

10th Digit	Model Year
Z	1979
A	1980
B	1981
C	1982
D	1983
E	1984
F	1985
G	1986
H	1987
J	1988
K	1989
L	1990
M	1991
N	1992
P	1993
R	1994
S	1995
T	1996
V	1997
W	1998
X	1999
Y	2000
1	2001
2	2002
3	2003
4	2004
5	2005
6	2006
7	2007
8	2008
9	2009
A	2010
B	2011
C	2012
D	2013
E	2014
F	2015
G	2016
H	2017
I	2018
J	2019
K	2020

Kawasaki Reference 

Model	Years	Stroke	NGK Spark Plug	Plug Gap	Yuasa Battery	Engine Oil Capacity	DriveChain or Belt	Chain Length	Curb Weight
BN125A Eliminator 125	01-02 04-07 2009		CR7E		YB9-B		428	132
KZ200	1978-79		B8ES		12N10-3B		520	98
EL250B Eliminator	1988-89		C8HSA		YB9L-A2		520	114
EL250E Eliminator 250	1991-94		CR8HSA		YB9L-A2		520	114
EX250E Ninja 250R	1986-87		C8HSA		YB9L-A2		520	104
EX250F Ninja 250R	1988-94		C8HSA		YB9L-A2		520	106
EX250F Ninja 250R	1995-96		C8HSA		YTX7L-BS		520	106
EX250F Ninja 250R	1997-07		CR8HSA		YTX7L-BS		520	106
EX250J Ninja 250R	2008		CR8E		YTX7A-BS		520	106
EX250J Ninja 250R	2009		CR8E		YTX9-BS		520	106
KE250	1977-79		B8ES		6N6-10-2		520	98
KZ250LTD	1980-81		B7ES		12N10-3A-1		520	102
KZ250LTD	1982		B7ES		12N10-3A-1		Belt
KZ250	1983		B8ES		12N10-3A-1		Belt
S1250	1973		B9HS		12N5.5-4A		525	102
S1250	1974-75		B9HS		12N5.5-4A		525	104
EX305GPZ	1983		DP9EA-9		YB9L-A2		Belt
KZ305ACSR	1981-82		D9EA		YB10L-A2		530	98
KZ350B CSR Belt	1982		D9EA		YB10L-A2		Belt
KZ305BLTD	1987-88		D9EA		YB10L-A2		Belt
F5350	1970-71		B10HS		6N2-2A-3		525	92
F9350	1972-75		B10HS		6N4B-2A-3		525	94
S2350	1972-73		B9HS		12N5.5-4A		530	102
KZ400	1974-79		B8ES		12N12A-4A-1		530	100
KZ400LTD	1979		B7ES		YB12A-A		530	104
KZ440	1980-81		B7ES		YB12A-A		530	100
KZ440	1982		B7ES		YB12A-A		Belt
KZ440LTD	1980-83		B7ES		YB12A-A		530	104
EN450A 454 LTD	1985-90		D9EA		YB12A-A		Belt
EN500A Vulcan 500	1990-96		D9EA		YB12A-A		Belt
EN500C Vulcan 500 LTD	1996-09		DR9EA		YB12AL-A2		520	110
EX500A	1987-93		D9EA		YB14L-A2		520	104
EX500D Ninja 500	1994-96		D9EA		YB14L-A2		520	104
EX500D Ninja 500R	1997-09		DR9EA		YB14L-A2		520	104
H1500	1969-72		B9HS		12N9-4B-1		530	102
H1500	1973-75		B9HS		12N9-3B		530	106
KH500	1976		B9HS		12N9-3B		530	106
KZ550STD	1980-83		D8EA		YB12A-A		530	100
KZ550GPZ	1981		D8EA		YB12A-A		530	100
KZ550GPZ	1982-83		D8EA		YB12A-A		530	104
KZ550 Spectre	1983		D8EA		YB12A-A		Shaft
KZ550LTD	1980-84		D8EA		YB12A-A		530	100
ZR550B Zephyr	1990-91		D9EA		YB12A-A		520	108
ZR550B Zephyr	1992-93		DR9EA		YB12A-A		520	108
ZX550A GPZ	1984-86		DP9EA-9		YB12A-A W/S		520	104
ZL600A Eliminator	1986-87		D9EA		YB12A-A		Shaft
ZL600B Eliminator 600	1996-97		D9EA		YB12A-A		Shaft
ZX600A Ninja 600	1985-87		D9EA		YB12A-A		530	102
ZX600B Ninja 600RX	1987		D9EA		YB12A-A		530	102
ZX600C Ninja 600R	1988-96		D9EA		YB12A-A		530	102
ZX600C Ninja 600R	1997		DR9EA		YB12A-A		530	102
ZX600D Ninja ZX6	1990-93		C9E		YB12A-A		530	110
ZX600E Ninja ZX6	1993-02		CR9E		YTX12-BS		530	112
ZX600E ZZR600	2003-04		CR9E		YTX12-BS		530	112
ZX600F Ninja ZX6R	1995-97		CR9E		YTX12-BS		525	108
ZX600G Ninja ZX6R	1998-99		CR9E		YTX9-BS		525	108
ZX600J Ninja ZX6R	2000-02		CR9E		YTX9-BS		525	108
ZX600K Ninja ZX6RR	2003		CR9E		YTX9-BS		520	108
ZX600M Ninja ZX6RR	2004		CR9E		YTX9-BS		520	108
ZX600N Ninja ZX6RR	2005-06		CR9E		YTX9-BS		520	110
ZX600P Ninja ZX6R	2007-08		CR9E		YTX9-BS		520	112
ZX600R Ninja ZX6R	2009		CR9E		YTX9-BS		520	112
ZX636B Ninja ZX6R	2003-04		CR9E		YTX9-BS		520	108
ZX636C/D Ninja ZX6R	2005-06		CR9E		YTX9-BS		520	110
EJ650A W650	2000-01		CR8E		YTX14-BS		525	104
ER650C ER-6n	2009		CR9EIA-9		YTX12-BS		520	114
EX650A Ninja 650R	2006-08		CR9EIA-9		YTX12-BS		520	114
EX650C Ninja 650R	2009		CR9EIA-9		YTX12-BS		520	114
KLE650A Versys	2008-09	4	CR9EIA-9		YTX12-BS	2	520	114	454
KZ650B/C	1977-79		B7ES		YB10L-A2		530	102
KZ650 SR & LTD	1978-80		B7ES		YB10L-A2		530	102
KZ650F1	1980		B7ES		YB10L-A2		530	102
KZ650 CSR	1981-83		B7ES		YB12A-A		630	84
KZ700A1/A2 LTD	1984-85		B8ES		YB12A-A		630	88
VN700A1 Vulcan 700	1985		DP8EA-9		YB14L-A2		Shaft
ZN700A LTD	1985		B8ES		YB14L-A2		Shaft
H2750	1972-73		B9HS		12N5.5-4A		530	110
H2750	1974-75		B9HS		12N5.5-4A		530	120
KZ750/2 LTD-2 Twin	1980		B6ES		YB12A-A		530	106
KZ750H/4 LTD	1980-82		B8ES		YB12A-A		630	84
KZ750 E STD 4	1980-82		B8ES		YB12A-A		630	84
KZ750M CSR - TWIN	1982		B7ES		YB14L-A2		530	106
KZ750R GPZ 750	1982		B7ES		YB12A-A		630	88
KZ750K Belt	1983						Belt
KZ750H LTD - 4	1983		B7ES		YB14L-A2		630	84
KZ750F LTD Shaft	1983		B8ES		YB14L-A2		Shaft
KZ750L SPORTS	1983		B83S		YB12A-A		630	88
KZ750N SPECTRE	1982-83		B7ES		YB14L-A2		Shaft
VN750A VULCAN	1986-06		DP7EA-9		YB14L-A2		Shaft
ZR750C ZEPHYR 750	1991-93		D9EA		YTX12-BS		525	106
ZR750F ZR7 - ZR-7	2000		DR9EA		YTX12-BS		525	108
ZR750H ZR7S  ZR-7S	2001-03		DR9EA		YTX12-BS		525	108
ZR750K Z750S	2005-06		CR9EK		YTX9-BS		520	112
ZX750A GPz 750	1983-85		B9ES		SYB14L-A2		630	94
ZX750E GPz 750 Turbo	1984-85		BR9EV		SYB14L-A2		630	98
ZX750F NINJA 750R	1987-90		D8EA		YB14L-A2		530	110
ZX750H NINJA ZX7	1989-90		C9E		YB14L-A2		530	112
ZX750 NINJA ZX7	1991-92		C9E		YTX12-BS		530	110
ZX750K NINJA ZX7R	1991-92		C9E		YTX9-BS		530	108
ZX750L NINJA ZX7	1993-95		CR9E		YTX12-BS		530	110
ZX750M NINJA ZX7R	1993-94		CR9E		YTX9-BS		530	108
ZX750N NINJA ZX7RR	1996-97		CR9E		YTX9-BS		525	108
ZX750P NINJA ZX7R	1996-03		CR9E		YTX12-BS		525	110
VN800A VULCAN 800	1995-96		CR7E		YTX14-BS		530	114
VN800A VULCAN 800	1997-03		CR7E		YTX14-BS		520	114
VN800A VULCAN 800	2004-05		CR7E		YTX12-BS		520	114
VN800B VULCAN 800 CLASSIC	1996-03		CR7E		YTX14-BS		530	112
VN800B VULCAN 800 CLASSIC	2004-05		CR7E		YTX12-BS		530	112
VN800C VULCAN 800 DRIFTER	2000		CR7E		YTX14-BS		530	112
VN800E VULCAN 800 DRIFTER	2001-03		CR7E		YTX14-BS		530	112
VN900E VULCAN 800 DRIFTER	2004-06		CR7E		YTX12-BS		530	112
VN900B VULCAN 900 CLASSIC	2006-09		CPR7EA-9		YTX12-BS		BELT
VN900C VULCAN 900 CLASSIC	2007-09		CPR7EA-9		YTX12-BS		BELT
VN900D VULCAN 900 CLASSIC LT	2006-09		CPR7EA-9		YTX12-BS		BELT
ZL900A ELIMINATOR	1985-86		D8EA		YB14L-A2		SHAFT
Z1	1973-75		B8ES		12N14-3A		630	92
KZ900A	1976-77		B8ES		YB10L-A2		630	92
KZ900BLTD	1976		B8ES		YB10L-A2		630	92
ZX900A NINJA	1984-86		D8EA		YB14L-A2		530	114
ZX900B NINJA ZX9R	1994-97		CR9EK		YTX12-BS		530	112
ZX900C NINJA ZX9R	1998-99		CR9EK		YTX9-BS		530	110
ZX900E NINJA ZX9R	2000-01		CR9EK		YTX9-BS		530	110
ZX900F NINJA ZX9R	2002-03		CR9EK		YTX9-BS		525	110
KZ1000A	1977-80		B8ES		YB13L-A2		630	92
KZ1000D Z1R	1978 1980		B8ES		YB18L-A		630	92
KZ1000	1983		B8ES		YB18L-A		630	98
KZ1000M CSR	1981-82		B8ES		YB18L-A		630	96
KZ1000B LTD	1977-80		B8ES		YB14L-A2		630	92
KZ1000K LTD	1981-82		B8ES		YB18L-A		630	96
KZ1000J	1981-83		B8ES		YB18L-A		630	96
KZ1000P POLICE 1000	1982		BR8ES		YB18L-A		630	96
KZ1000P POLICE 1000	1983-01		BR8ES		YB18L-A		630	98
KZ1000P POLICE 1000	2002-03 2005		BR8ES		YTX20L-BS		530	116
KZ1000R EDDIE LAWSON REPLICA	1982-83		B8ES		YB18L-A		630	90
KZ1000E SHAFT	1979-80		B8ES		12N16-3B		SHAFT
ZG1000A CONCOURS	1986-93		D8EA		YB18L-A		SHAFT
ZG1000A CONCOURS	1994-95		D8EA		YB18L-A		SHAFT
ZG1000A CONCOURS	1997-06		DR8EA		YB18L-A		SHAFT
ZL1000A ZL1000 ELIMINATOR	1987		D8EA		YB14L-A2		SHAFT
ZR1000A Z1000	2003-06		CR9EK		YTX9-BS		525	112
ZR1000B Z1000	2007-08		CR9EIA-9		YTX9-BS		525	110
ZX1000A NINJA 1000R	1986-87		D8EA		YB14L-A2		632	94
ZX1000B NINJA ZX10	1988-90		CR9E		YB14L-A2		532	110
ZX1000C NINJA ZX10R	2004-05		CR9EIA-9		YT12B-BS		525	110
ZX1000D NINJA ZX10R	2006-07		CR9EIA-9		YT12B-BS		525	108
ZX1000E NINJA ZX10R	2008-09		CR9EIA-9		YT12B-BS		525	110
KZ1100A	1981-83		B8ES		YB18L-A		SHAFT
KZ1100B GPz	1981		B8ES		12N16-3B		630	98
KZ1100B GPz	1982		B8ES		12N16-3B		630	98
KZ1100D SPECTRE	1982-83		B8ES		YB18L-A		SHAFT
ZN1100B LTD SHAFT	1984-85		B8ES		YB14L-A2		SHAFT
ZR1100A ZR1100 ZEPHYR	1992-95		CR9E		YTX16-BS		530	116
ZR1100C ZRX1100	1999-00		CR9EK		YTX14-BS		530	110
ZX1100A GPz	1983-84		BR8ES		SYB16L-B		630	100
ZX1100C NINJA ZX11	1990-93		C9E		YB14L-A2		530	110
ZX1100D NINJA ZX11	1994-01		CR9E		YTX14-BS		530	110
ZX1100E GPz1100	1995-97		CR9EK		YTX14-BS		530	112
ZX1100F GPz1100 ABS	1996		CR9EK		YTX14-BS		530	112
ZG1200A VOYAGER XII	1986		DPR8EA-9		SY50-N18L-AT		SHAFT
ZG1200B VOYAGER XII	1987-03		DPR8EA-9		SY50-N18L-AT		SHAFT
ZR1200A ZRX1200R	2001-05		CR9EK		YTX14-BS		530	110
ZX1200A ZX12R	2000-01		CR9EKPA		YTX14-BS		530	116
ZX1200B ZX12R	2002-05		CR9EKPA		YTX14-BS		530	116
ZX1200C ZZR1200	2002-05		CR9E		YTX14-BS		530	112
KZ1300A	1979		B8ES		Y50N18L-A		SHAFT
KZ1300A	1980-82		BR6ES		Y50-N18L-A		SHAFT
KZ1300B TOURING	1980		BR6ES		Y50-N18L-A		SHAFT
ZN1300A VOYAGER 1300	1983-88		BPR6ES		12N24-3		SHAFT
ZG1400A CONCOURS 14 ABS	2008-09		CR9EIA-9		YTX14-BS		SHAFT
ZG1400B CONCOURS 14	2008-09		CR9EIA-9		YTX14-BS		SHAFT
ZX1400A/C NINJA ZX14	2006-09		CR9EIA-9		YTX14-BS		530	116
VN1500A/B VULCAN 88/88SE	1987-95		DP7EA-9		Y50-N18L-A		SHAFT
VN1500A VULCAN 1500	1996		DP7EA-9		Y50-N18L-A		SHAFT
VN1500A VULCAN 1500	1997-99		DPR7EA-9		Y50-N18L-A		SHAFT
VN1500C VULCAN 1500L	1996-97		DP7EA-9		Y50-N18L-A		SHAFT
VN1500D VULCAN CLASSIC	1996-97		DPR7EA-9		YTX16-BS		SHAFT
VN1500E VULCAN CLASSIC	1998-04		DPR5EA-9		YTX16-BS		SHAFT
VN1500G VULCAN NOMAD	1999-01		DPR5EA-9		YTX16-BS		SHAFT
VN1500J VULCAN DRIFTER	1999-00		DPR6EA-9		YTX20CH-BS		SHAFT
VN1500L VULCAN NOMAD Fi	2000-04		DPR6EA-9		YTX20CH-BS		SHAFT
VN1500N VULCAN CLASSIC Fi	2000-02		DPR6EA-9		YTX20CH-BS		SHAFT
VN1500N VULCAN CLASSIC	2005-08		DPR6EA-9		YTX20CH-BS		SHAFT
VN1500P VULCAN MEAN STREAK	2002-03		DPR6EA-9		YTX20CH-BS		SHAFT
VN1500R VULCAN DRIFTER	2001-05		DPR6EA-9		YTX20CH-BS		SHAFT
VN1600A/E VULCAN CLASSIC	2004-08		DPR6EA-9		YTX20CH-BS		SHAFT
VN1600B/F VULCAN MEAN STREAK	2004-08		DPR6EA-9		YTX20CH-BS		SHAFT
VN1600D/G VULCAN NOMAD	2005-08		DPR6EA-9		YTX20CH-BS		SHAFT
VN1700A VULCAN VOYAGER K-ACT ABS	2009						BELT
VN1700B VULCAN VOYAGER	2009						BELT
VN1700C VULCAN NOMAD	2009						BELT
VN1700E VULCAN CLASSIC	2009						BELT
VN1700G VULCAN CLASSIC LT	2009						BELT
VN2000A/G VULCAN 2000	2004-09		IZFR6F-11		YTX20CH-BS		BELT
VN2000D VULCAN 2000 CLASSIC LTD	2005-06		IZFR6F-11		YTX20CH-BS		BELT
VN2000E/H VULCAN 2000 CLASSIC	2006-09		1ZFR6F-11		YTX20CH-BS		BELT
VN2000F/J VULCAN 2000 CLASSIC LT	2006-09		1ZFR6F-11		YTX20CH-BS		BELT

Model Code Designation	Machine Marketing Name
KAF	Mule
KEF	Lakota
KLF 110	Mojave and LF
KLF 185/220/300/400	Bayou
KLT	3 Wheelers (Duckster 200, LT200, Prairie 250)
KPS 250	Mojave
KSF	KFX
KSF90	KFX90
KSF250	KFX250 Mojave
KVF	Prairie, Brute Force
KXF250	Tecate-4
KXT	Tecate (Three Wheel ATV)

Service Manuals

kawasaki_ex500.pdf

Kawasaki_ZX6R.636_Manual_2005_US.rar

Kawasaki_ZX7R_96-03)(Password=motocd).pdf

kawasakiZX-9R.pdf