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Posted by OR Seedman
- January 18, 2018, 15:05:14 PMI finally got around to checking the VIN on my 2001 1500......000053 pretty low....but it was purchased by the original owner on July 30, 2002...so it sat for a while after it was shipped over from Japan....
Posted by OR Seedman
- December 11, 2017, 09:38:57 AMSorry Pete...I should have excluded you from the grouping.... 
Posted by Pete
- December 09, 2017, 14:37:53 PMQuote from: OR Seedman on December 08, 2017, 18:53:25 PMWell, not actually everybody!why does everyone always use the word number with the acronym VIN....in essence you are say Vehicle Identification Number Number....just like saying PIN number....my rant for December..LOL
Posted by CDNRatMan
- December 08, 2017, 19:49:32 PMSorry for saying VIN number Mr. language policeman Sir.........lol........
Posted by OR Seedman
- December 08, 2017, 18:53:25 PMwhy does everyone always use the word number with the acronym VIN....in essence you are say Vehicle Identification Number Number....just like saying PIN number....my rant for December..LOL 
Posted by Pete
- December 07, 2017, 03:21:38 AMFor those of you who are interested, the VIN system is described in an article in the January 2018 issue of "The Classic Motorcycle Magazine" which is now on sale.
- The VIN system was initially defined in ISO377 of 1977. The current revision is ISO3779 of 2009.
- The VIN does not tell you anything about where a bike was sold.
- Manufacturers start a year with a block of numbers. They do not necessarily use all of that block of numbers. The numbers are not necessarily used in sequence.
The System works like this:
Character 1: Where vehicle built.
Characters 2 & 3: Identity of manufacturer.
Characters 4 to 8: Identifies vehicle model, version of model, engine type (characters chosen by and for convenience of manufacturer).
Character 9: Security code (calculated by an algorithm from the rest of the VIN, it changes for each motorcycle, it can be 0 - 9 or "X").
Character 10: Year of manufacture.
Character 11: Identifies assembly plant.
Characters 12 - 17: Serial No to identify specific vehicle.
If your VIN differs slightly from this scheme it may have been allocated at a different revision of the standard.
Posted by jamman
- December 04, 2017, 13:11:55 PMMine is feb 1999 bike # 112
Posted by Troll
- August 06, 2017, 04:44:46 AMMy '01 was built in July of 2000 and the number is 099
Posted by drifter-paul
- August 06, 2017, 03:34:26 AMFrom Lane Cove, Sydney, Australia - probably the earliest and biggest shipment to OZ -- 03/99 JHBVNAJ1 9XA002599
And who started this potential shit fight and why !!!
Posted by freebrd1230
- August 05, 2017, 12:11:08 PMI have 1999 1500, number 588
Posted by BugzeeMalone
- March 10, 2017, 22:35:38 PMMy 1500J is 663. It is a 1999 but was Kawasaki's own display bike so it wasn't sold and registered until 2002 here in New Zealand.
Posted by ElCaminoGuy
- February 14, 2017, 12:16:57 PMOld thread, I know. But better late than never. Right? My '99 is 0076. Do I win a prize? (It'd be a first)
Posted by water buffalo
- November 07, 2013, 22:01:12 PMMy VIN ends in 9xaoo4188 These are the numbers after the pre-printed characters on the sticker. not sure that means.....
Posted by Troll
- October 26, 2013, 19:25:09 PMQuote from: kawasaki101 on October 26, 2013, 07:38:54 AMAnybody here know what and/or where the build date stamp is on 1999 1500 Drifter's?
When I first got my R model, I didn't have an owner's manual (who does?) so I poked around and found this J manual. I have since found an R-1 manual....The labels are clearly marked, but they also say US only....
Posted by yamaha101
- October 26, 2013, 07:38:54 AMAnybody here know what and/or where the build date stamp is on 1999 1500 Drifter's?