I'm a bit confused by the vin number, according to the information I have the tenth digit is the year and my tenth digit is J this should be 1988 so that can't be correct can it..
can anyone help with the code please.
John.
There were no 1988 Drifters. Ensure you have 17 digits in the number, verify the number is correct and go to this url to check it. ...
http://www.motoverse.com/tools/vinDecoder.asp
You ever get that sinking feeling that you have been had?
It looks as if my bike might have a forged VIN because it doesn't match up with any other Drifter
Mine is JKBVNT50JJA004527..and has been registered with the UK DVLA without problems or question for at least the last four years..
That T50 bit seems wrong and the J in the tenth position should be a 1.
or am I missing something.
John.
Mine is JKBVNAR171A000099. I used the web link and it came up with correct information. Did you typo any of the digits? Mine was built July of 2000, and the official model designator is VN1500R-1.
That's not a valid VIN. It doesn't validate with Kawasaki's site either. The Check digit is wrong, the VDS is strange as well.
http://www.kawasaki.com/DefaultFrame.aspx?strContentURL=/SITE/VIVEHICLEINFORMATION/VICHOOSEVEHICLE.ASP (http://www.kawasaki.com/DefaultFrame.aspx?strContentURL=/SITE/VIVEHICLEINFORMATION/VICHOOSEVEHICLE.ASP)
Double check it... find it on the bike ... its stamped on the steering head below the handlebars. Find the title and ensure its the same on both. You can call Kawasaki - don't have that number at the moment.
Chief if I use your last link I come up with the following message = We could not find a match on the VIN provided. Please correct and try again.
the first one gives me this info =
1999 KAWASAKI VN800-C
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VIN:JKBVNCC12XA002419
World region:Asia
Manufactured in:Japan
Year:1999
Make:Kawasaki
Model:VN800-C
Body style:Road / Street
Drive type:RWD
Cylinders:2 Cylinders
wondering if having the -C makes a diffrence in what the computer can find?
John Hopkins VIN JKBVNT5OJJA004527
My VIN JKBVNCC12XA002419 slight diffrences too.
Quote from: chief on December 27, 2012, 14:03:01 PM
That's not a valid VIN. It doesn't validate with Kawasaki's site either.
http://www.kawasaki.com/DefaultFrame.aspx?strContentURL=/SITE/VIVEHICLEINFORMATION/VICHOOSEVEHICLE.ASP
Double check it... find it on the bike ... its stamped on the steering head below the handlebars.
Yep double and triple checked it on the steering head and the plate and the documents..I can't believe that the registration documents have never been questioned..
John.
Yeah, the T50JJ is the part that makes no sense.
JK = Japan, Kawasaki
B = Vehicle type
VN = engine, etc.
T50 = supposed to be the Vehicle descriptor... T50??
J = supposed to be a check digit, but its wrong. these are 0-9 and X for 10.
J = Year, but this one says 1983...
A = Plant
004527 = sequential numbering, but Kaw uses for all models so doesn't necessarily mean 4527th drifter.
OK I got my answer, I was worried needlessly..
I bought a Haynes service manual and on page 9 it has a list of identification numbers from 1999 to 2004..
1999 VN1500-J1 JKBVNT50JJA000001
2001 VN1500-R1 JKBVNT50JJA010001
So my number comes right in the middle meaning that it is probably a J1 made in 2000 and registered in 2001.
Oh yeah..and I posted this in the 800 section by mistake..
John.
I've also done some more research... that T50JJ won't work in online decoders, I tried japan and some european... but our registry lists the same numbering system in Belgium, Czech Republic, Australia, New Zealand, Netherlands, UK, etc. There is probably a decoder someplace that will show these but I haven't found it yet.
The Kawasaki Manual also lists that numbering system in its starting frame numbers... (2001) - JKBVNAR1X1A000001, JKBVNT50JRA015001.
Quote from: chief on December 27, 2012, 12:12:51 PMThere were no 1988 Drifters. Ensure you have 17 digits in the number, verify the number is correct and go to this url to check it. ...
http://www.motoverse.com/tools/vinDecoder.asp (URL NOT VALID - Do a web search for MOTORCYCLE VIN DECODER to get more recent links)
This link not work anymore. Can anyone send new working link...
Quote from: chief on December 27, 2012, 14:03:01 PMThat's not a valid VIN. It doesn't validate with Kawasaki's site either. The Check digit is wrong, the VDS is strange as well.
http://www.kawasaki.com/DefaultFrame.aspx?strContentURL=/SITE/VIVEHICLEINFORMATION/VICHOOSEVEHICLE.ASP (http://www.kawasaki.com/DefaultFrame.aspx?strContentURL=/SITE/VIVEHICLEINFORMATION/VICHOOSEVEHICLE.ASP) (URL NOT VALID)
Double check it... find it on the bike ... its stamped on the steering head below the handlebars. Find the title and ensure its the same on both. You can call Kawasaki - don't have that number at the moment.
This link not work anymore. Can someone send new working link ...
Just search for motorcycle Vin Decoder on the web, there should be several.
https://www.cyclepedia.com/motorcycle-vin-decoder/ is one such site which may work. There may be better ones out there.
One on the NHTSHA site... https://vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov/decoder provides a bit more information. This is in the USA.
Quote from: chief on May 25, 2025, 16:23:36 PMJust search for motorcycle Vin Decoder on the web, there should be several.
https://www.carvertical.com/ is one such site which may work. There may be better ones out there.
This is not free, must pay 20€
Quote from: moto on May 31, 2025, 01:50:50 AMThis is not free, must pay 20€
Sure is now... it was free when I checked it. There are decoders for just basic info from the VIN. I changed my post to reflect a different free one... the decode is after the first paragraph, sorta easy to miss.