Free Harley Davidson Motorcycle VIN Decoder

How to decode a Harley Davidson Motorcycle VIN

Characters 1-3 of a Harley Davidson Motorcycle VIN

A World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is a code used to uniquely identify the manufacturer of a vehicle. It is the first three characters of the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), which serves as a unique identifier for each vehicle. The WMI contains significant information about the vehicle, including the country of manufacture, the manufacturer itself, and sometimes the vehicle type. For Harley-Davidson motorcycles, the WMI provides insight into the make and origin of the bike, underscoring the brand’s iconic status and heritage in the automotive industry. This code is crucial for vehicle registration, recall identification, and for enthusiasts, understanding the lineage of their motorcycle.

List of WMI Codes for a Harley Davidson Motorcycle

WMI: 1HD

• Model Years Covered: 1995, 2000-2023
• Example VIN: 1HD1YWZ13NB025514
• Manufacturer Name: Harley Davidson, LiveWire
• Vehicle Type: Motorcyle - Custom
• City: York
• State or Province: Pennsylvania
• Country: United States

WMI: 5HD

• Model Years Covered: 2005, 2010
• Example VIN: 5HD1PLF115Y954855
• Manufacturer Name: Harley Davidson
• Vehicle Type: Motorcyle - Touring / Sport Touring
• City: York
• State or Province: Pennsylvania
• Country: United States

Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a Harley Davidson Motorcycle VIN

These characters correspond to components like:

• Engine type
• Transmission
• Model or trim
• Body style
• Gross vehicle weight range

Below find the most popular vehicle descriptor codes for a Harley Davidson:

Motorcycle manufacturers have some discretion to decide how they want to code this section, but its contents and decoded results are generally consistent.

Character 9 is the “check digit” in a Harley Davidson Motorcycle VIN.

Based on a formula developed by the US Department of Transportation, it helps reduce fraud by ensuring the validity of the VIN.

10th Character in a Harley Davidson Motorcycle VIN — Year Code

11th Character in a Harley Davidson Motorcycle VIN — Plant Code(s)

Known Harley Davidson Motorcycle Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)

VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a Harley Davidson Motorcycle

The final 6 characters in a Harley Davidson Motorcycle’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every motorcycle.

What info can a Harley Davidson Motorcycle VIN reveal?

The below is an example of a Harley Davidson Motorcycle’s available specs based on its VIN, referencing the vehicle in the table below:

• Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicle’s model year as 2013, providing insights into the age of the motorcycle.
• Make and Model: From the VIN, one may learn that the motorcycle’s make and model are specified as Seventy-Two, Series XL1200V, which can be crucial for identification and verification purposes.
• Engine Specifications: The VIN might reveal details about the engine, indicating it is an air-cooled, V-Shaped engine known as the Evolution, with a displacement of 1200 CC (1.2 Liters) and a power output of up to 54 horsepower.
• Body Class and Size: It can be determined from the VIN that the body class is identified as a Custom Motorcycle, falling into the heavyweight class, specifically 901 cm3 or larger, which may influence its handling and performance characteristics.
• Fuel Type: The primary fuel type, as revealed by the VIN, is gasoline, highlighting the engine’s compatibility with common fuel standards and possibly its efficiency and performance parameters.
• Manufacturing Details: The details from the VIN might include that the motorcycle was assembled in Kansas City, Missouri, USA, providing insights into its manufacturing heritage and potentially affecting its collectibility and value.
• Safety and Weight Classification: The VIN could indicate that the motorcycle falls within the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating Class 1A, suggesting it weighs 3,000 lb or less, which might have implications for its classification and regulation compliance.

Sample Decoded Harley Davidson Motorcycle VIN