Free Honda CX500 Motorcycle VIN Decoder

How to decode a Honda CX500 motorcycle VIN

Characters 1-3 of a Honda CX500 motorcycle VIN

A World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is a unique sequence of characters assigned by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) to vehicle manufacturers around the globe, which forms the first section of the 17-character Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) found on vehicles. This code specifically identifies the manufacturer of the vehicle, providing insights into where the vehicle was made and by whom. For instance, Honda motorcycles, such as the CX500, are designated with a specific WMI code that links them directly to Honda Motor Co., Ltd. This code is pivotal in vehicle identification, registration, and tracking, and plays a critical role in recalling vehicles for safety issues or manufacturer defects. Understanding the WMI can also assist consumers and businesses in verifying the authenticity of a vehicle’s origin and manufacturer claims.

List of WMI Codes for a Honda CX500 motorcycle

WMI: JH2

• Model Years Covered: 1982
• Example VIN: JH2PC0307CM002317
• Manufacturer Name: Honda
• Vehicle Type: Motorcyle - Dual Sport / Adventure / Supermoto / On/Off-road
• City: Kumamoto
• State or Province: Kikuchi
• Country: Japan

Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a Honda CX500 motorcycle VIN

These characters correspond to components like:

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

Below find the known vehicle descriptor codes for a Honda CX500 motorcycle:

Auto 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 Honda CX500 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 the Honda CX500 motorcycle VIN — Year Code

11th Character in the Honda CX500 motorcycle VIN — Plant Code(s)

VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a Honda CX500 motorcycle

The final 6 characters in a Honda CX500 motorcycle’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.

What info can a Honda CX500 VIN reveal?

The below is an example of a Honda CX500 Motorcycle’s available specs based on its VIN, referencing the motorcycle in the table below:

• Model Year and Make: The VIN can reveal the model year as 1982 and indicates the motorcycle is a CX500, providing insights into the production era and model type.
• Body Class and Vehicle Type: The VIN report may disclose that the vehicle is classified as a Motorcycle - Standard, offering insights into the general style and functionality of the motorcycle.
• Engine Specifications: From the VIN, detailed engine information might be encoded, indicating a displacement of 498 CC (or 0.498 liters) and an engine configuration that is V-Shaped, demonstrating the motorcycle’s powertrain layout and capacity.
• Fuel Type - Primary: It could be determined from the VIN that the primary fuel type is Gasoline, which is essential for understanding the motorcycle’s compatibility with various fuel types and its potential efficiency and environmental impacts.
• Transmission Details: The report might specify that the motorcycle has a shaft drive transmission style with 5 speeds, which is crucial for understanding how power is transmitted from the engine to the wheels, affecting performance and handling.
• Plant Information: Details such as the manufacturing city being Hamamatsu, the plant country Japan, and the specific plant company name HAMAMATSU FACTORY could be revealed, offering a glimpse into the vehicle’s origin, potentially reflecting on the quality and design influences.
• Turbo and Gross Vehicle Weight Rating: It may indicate that the motorcycle is equipped with a turbo, enhancing its performance capabilities, and has a gross vehicle weight rating from Class 1A, highlighting its classification in terms of weight.

Sample VIN Decode Report for a Honda CX500