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Posted by CousinVinnie
 - June 21, 2018, 20:08:00 PM

I know this is an old topic, but I thought I would put in my information.. My 1999 Drifter 1500 was built in December 1998. Says so right on the VIN sticker....My VIN # is 100105.  In other words it was the 105th bike off the line for the 99 model year.  I know that Denny Berg, (the Creator was given VIN 0048 by Kawasaki.  He just sold it awhile back to his brother.  Hopefully someone will win the prize for the oldest Drifter still up and running too!

Posted by tj
 - January 29, 2018, 03:14:42 AM

My 99' 1500 is 1515...don't think I win anything.lol

Posted by chief
 - January 18, 2018, 17:26:31 PM

My VIN number number is not a number... it is alphanumeric text.  8)

Posted by OR Seedman
 - January 18, 2018, 15:05:14 PM

I 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 AM

Sorry Pete...I should have excluded you from the grouping.... ::)

Posted by Pete
 - December 09, 2017, 14:37:53 PM
Quote from: OR Seedman on December 08, 2017, 18:53:25 PM

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  :o

Well, not actually everybody!  :P
Posted by CDNRatMan
 - December 08, 2017, 19:49:32 PM

  Sorry for saying VIN number Mr. language policeman Sir.........lol........

Posted by OR Seedman
 - December 08, 2017, 18:53:25 PM

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  :o

Posted by Pete
 - December 07, 2017, 03:21:38 AM

For 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 PM

Mine is feb 1999 bike # 112

Posted by Troll
 - August 06, 2017, 04:44:46 AM

My '01 was built in July of 2000 and the number is 099

Posted by drifter-paul
 - August 06, 2017, 03:34:26 AM

From 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 !!!   :P

Posted by freebrd1230
 - August 05, 2017, 12:11:08 PM

I have 1999 1500, number 588

Posted by BugzeeMalone
 - March 10, 2017, 22:35:38 PM

My 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 PM

Old thread, I know. But better late than never. Right? My '99 is 0076. Do I win a prize? (It'd be a first)

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