Decoding VIN numbers for 1500s

[chief]

Yeah, we've gone through this several times over the years. Kawasaki considers this info confidential. Additionally, the numbers are apparently NOT sequential and not necessarily only used for drifters... ie...55 might be 55 Vulcans, not 55 Drifters.... or might be 55 1500's and 800's... all of this is unclear.

Here's a decoder which may be of some use.

http://www.motoverse.com/tools/vin/kawasaki.asp

[bullride28]

JKB  JAPANESE KILLER BIKES 99/00 J1S ARE BLACKED OUT

[jveley]

I'm the new owner of a Drifter 1500, and after all I went through to find one, I'm interested in trying to determine how many were made.  I know Kawasaki didn't release production figures, BUT.....

I have a service manual for 2001-2004 models that has a chart for the models.

Chart says:
2001 is model VN1500-R1, with vin numbers starting at JKBVNAR1_1A000001 or JKBVNT50JRA015001
2002 is model VN1500-R2, with vin numbers starting at JKBVNAR1_2A005001 or JKBVNT50JRA005001
2003 is model VN1500-R3, with vin numbers starting at JKBVNAR1_3A008001 or JKBVNT50JRA020001
2004 is model VN1500-R4, with vin numbers starting at JKBVNAR1_4A010001

The blank space is a variable number.  The chart says it "Changes from one machine to another."   Probably either the production line or a random number.
The "or" for years 2001 to 2003 probably represent different markets.  That makes it tough to guess how many made in all.
JK is Japan Kawasaki. Don't know what the B is.  VN is drifter, A is probably for the 1500 as opposed to the 800, R--1, 2, 3 or 4 designates submodel by year.  Then the serial number.  Judging from this, my 2004, with a vin ending in 010055, was the 55th 1500 drifter made that year.    Seems like we have a pretty good database of vins here that could help guestimate how many were made in all.