Harley Davidson VIN Numbers

VIN NUMBERS

VIN Number Location and General Information

Disclaimer:

The bulk of knowledge contained below is very accurate, however some variations may occur. This information is gathered from a variety of sources and compiled by the editor of this website.

Section One: Big Twins

Mid 1930's - 1969

Engine number is the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) and is located on left case.
No frame number.
First two numbers are the year. 48EL5719
Letters are the model. 48EL5719

G , GE - Servi Car Side valve 45 cubic inch three wheeler, 1932 to 1972
E , EL- Overhead valve 61 cubic inch
F , FL- Overhead valve 74 cubic inch
K - Side valve 45 and 55 cubic inch
U , UL- Side valve 74 or 80 cubic inch
V , VL- Side valve 74 cubic inch made prior to 1936
W , WL,- Side valve 45 cubic inch made 1934 to 1952

Last numbers are the production number. 48EL5719

1970 - 1980

Numbers on both frame and engine. The legal vin number is on the frame (on steering neck).
First two digits are model code. (See Below) 1A77690H4

UPDATE (3F) reported as found in 1979 Shovelhead

1A	FL or FLP 1200
1H	FXB - 80Sturgis (Belt)
1K	FLH - 80 Shrine
2A	FLH 1200
2C	FX 1200Superglide Kick start
2F	FXS 1200
2H	CLE - 80
3G	FLH - 80
3H	FLH - 80 Classic
5E	FXEF 1200
5H	FLHS - 80
5G	FLT
6E	FXEF - 80
6G	FXE - 80 Superglide Electric Start
6H	FL - 80
7G	FXS - 80
7H	FLH 1200 Police
8H	FLH 1200 Shrine
9D	FXE 1200
9G	FXWG - 80Wide Glide
9H	FLH - 80 Police

Third through seventh numbers are the production numbers. 1A77690H4
Last two digits are the year code as described below. 1A77690H4

1970	H0
1971	H1
1972	H2
1973	H3
1974	H4
1975	H5
1976	H6
1977	H7
1978	H8
1979	H9
1980	J0

1981 and later

17 digit vin# number on frame. Abbreviated vin# on engine.
Example ,frame # =1HD1BFK11BY127956. Engine # would be BFKB117956.
1st digit >1< Made in USA 1HD1BFK11BY127956
2nd/3rd >HD< Harley Davidson 1HD1BFK11BY127956
4th digit >1< Heavy Weight (4=Light Weight,8=Side Car) 1HD1BFK11BY127956
5th/6th Model Designation (See Below) 1HD1BFK11BY127956

AA	FLH - 80
AB	FLHP 80 Police Chain
AC	FLH - 80 Shrine Chain
AE	1981 FLT
AD	FLH Classic
AF	1981 FLTC
AG	FLH Classic w/ Side Car
AH	FLHP - 80 Police Belt Deluxe
AJ	FLH 80 Heritage
AK	FLHS - 80
AL	FLH - 80 Shrine Belt
BA	FXE - 80 Superglide Electric Start
BB	FXEF - 80 Fatbob
BC	FXS - 80Low Rider
BD	FXB - 80 Sturgis (Belt)
BE	FXWG - 80
BF	FXSB - 80
BH	FXST Softail Standard
BG	FXDG - 80
BJ	FLSTC Heritage Classic
BK	FXSTC Softail Custom
BL	FXSTS Springer Softail
BM	FLSTF Fat Boy
BN	FLSTN Nostalgia
BP	FXSTSB BadBoy
BR	FLSTS Heritage Springer Softail
BS	FXSTD Softail Deuce
BT	FXSTB Night Train
DA	FLT 82 - 83 Rubber Mount Dresser
DB	FLTC Rubber Mount Dresser Classic
DC	FLHT Electra Glide Standard
DD	FLHTC
DE	FLHTC W/sidecar
DF	FLHTP Police Fairing
DG	FLHTC Shrine
DH	FLTC W/sidecar
DJ	FLHTC 1986 up
DK	FLTC Shrine
DM	FLTCU Ultra
DN	FLTCU Ultra w/ Side Car
DP	FLHTCU Ultra Classic
DR	FLHTCU Ultra Classic w/ Side Car
DS	FLTCU Ultra Shrine
DT	FLHTCU Ultra Shrine
EA	FXR Rubber Mount Super Glide
EB	FXRS FXR Sport
EC	FXRT FXR Touring
ED	FXRP Police windshield
EE	FXRDG
EF	FXRP Police Fairing
EG	FXRS-SP Low Rider Sport Edition
EH	FXRD Disc Glide
EJ	FXRC
EK	FXRP Police C.H.P. California Highway Patrol
EL	FXLR Low Rider
EM	FXR Conv
FA	FLHS Electra Glide Sport
FB	FLHR-I Road King Injected
FC	FLHTCU-I Ultra Classic Injected
FD	FLHR Road King
FE	FLTCU-I
FF	FLHTC-I Injected
FG	FLHTCU-I with/SideCar Ultra Classic Electra Glide
FH	FLHP-I Police
FJ	FLHP Police
FL	FLHTCU-I Shrine Ultra Classic Electra Glide
FM	FLHTP-I Police
FN	FLHPE (Japan)
FP	FLTR Road Glide
FR	FLHRC-I Road King Classic
FS	FLTR-I Road Glide EFI
FT	FLHPE-I (California)
GA	FXDB-D Daytona
GB	FXDB-S Sturgis
GC	FXDC
GD	FXDL Dyna Low Rider
GE	FXDWG Dyna Wide Glide
GG	FXDS Con Dyna Convertible
GH	FXD Dyna Super Glide
GX	TLE
HX	RLE
KX	TLE Ultra
SA	CLE w/FLH
SD	CLE w/FLH?
SE	CLE
SF	TLEw/FLTC/FLHTC
SG	TLE Separate (Police?)
SH	CLE Purchased w/FLHX

7th digit >K< Engine Type K=1340 Shovelhead 1HD1BFK11BY127956
( H=1000 Ironhead XL, L=1340 Evolution, M=883 Evo XL, N=1100 Evo XL, P=1200 Evo XL ,
V = TwinCam 88 Carbureted ,W - Twin Cam 88 EFI)
8th digit >1< Introduction Date 1HD1BFK11BY127956
(1=regular, 2= mid-year January, 3=California Special,4=Daytona March)
9th digit >1< called "check digit" 1HD1BFK11BY127956
10th digit is year code (See Below) 1HD1BFK11BY127956

1981	B
1982	C
1983	D
1984	E
1985	F
1986	G
1987	H
1988	J
1989	K
1990	L
1991	M
1992	N
1993	P
1994	R
1995	S
1996	T
1997	V
1998	W
1999	X
2000	Y
2001	1
2002	2
2003	3
2004	4
2005	5

11th digit is the place of manufacture 1HD1BFK12BY127956

Y	York, Pa.
T	Tomahawk, Wi.
K	Kansas City, Mo.
J	Milwaukee, Wi.

Last 6 digits are production numbers

Capital Drive Numbers

Crankcase Identification Numbers stamped at Capitol Drive facility (Milwaukee), used to identify engine and track production changes. The numbers are located on both left and right crankcase halves.

Big Twin: Left Case - Outside lower front
                                        Right Case - Inside gear case compartment

XL Models: Left Case - Inside primary compartment
           Right Case - Outside near oil pump

Example: 1992 244 137

15 = Engine Designation
     1 = 1200cc Shovelhead
     7 = 1000cc Iron XL
     14 = 1340cc Shovelhead
     15 = 1340cc Evolution
     16 = XR-1000
     17 = 883cc Evolution XL
     18 = 1100cc Evolution XL
     19 = 1200cc Evolution XL
     20 = 1340cc Evolution - California (1988 - ?)
     21 = 883cc Evolution XL- California (1988 - ?)
     22 = 1200cc Evolution XL- California (1988 - ?)

92 = Model Year

244 = Day of Production
      001 = Jan. 1st        182 = Jul. 1st
      032 = Feb. 1st        213 = Aug. 1st
      060 = Mar. 1st        244 = Sep. 1st
      091 = Apr. 1st        274 = Oct. 1st
      121 = May 1st        305 = Nov. 1st
      152 = Jun. 1st        335 = Dec. 1st

137 = Unit Number That Day (production number)

Section Two: Sportster

Year ,Engine, Location Codes same as above Big Twin

Model Codes

1970 - 1980 1st/2nd digit 4E12345H1

2G	XLT
3A	XL / XLH
4A	XLCH
4D	XLA
4E	XLS
7F	XLCR

1981 - 1985 5th/6th digit 1HD1CDHY15B186492

CA	XLH
CB	XLS
CC	XLX
CD	XR1000

1986 - 1996 5th/6th/7th digit 1HD1CAN15GY185636

CAM	XLH 883 / Deluxe
CAN	XLH1100
CEM	XLH Hugger
CFM	XLH 883 / Deluxe
CAP	XLH 1200
CGP	1200 Custom
CHP	1200 Sport