Question concerning VIN

[love2ride]

VIN #KTZ00A-029123

Made in Japan?

1978 KZ1000-A2

Bike manufactered in 6/77 (on VIN tag).

Not a big deal just wanting to clarify bike info. Papers say the bike is a 78 as well (Title and Registration).

[A2rider]

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[Jeff.saunders]

Originally Posted by A2rider

The first Kawi plant didn't open here in the US until 1978, so I would guess that it's Japanese made.

Much earlier than that... The first bikes out of the Lincoln Nebraska plant were some of the KZ400's in 1975. Followed by some KZ900's in 1976.

All Lincoln Nebraska bikes would have a 5 in the first digit of the number - i.e. KZT00B-5xxxxx - so yes, a Japanese made bike.

[Andy the gringo]

Look at the white tag on the headstock if your bike was made in Lincoln it should say Kawasaki Motors USA. The made in Japan bikes usually read Kawasaki Heavy Industries and somewhere on the tag it will say made in Japan.

[A2rider]

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[Jeff.saunders]

The Kawasaki plant opened in 1974. They were the first automotive or motorcycle company from Japan to open a plant in the USA.

Just as a point of interest, many of the bikes coming out of the Lincoln plant were unique to the USA (like the LTD models) - and many used parts sourced from USA manufacturers. Companies like Jardine, Mulholland and more provided the exhausts and shocks respectively. LTD seats were made by a small company in Lincoln Nebraska. Morris provided some of the early cast wheels.

[A2rider]

So you have to go a long ways back to find a real rice burner? LOL

[herk]

delete

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[Jeff.saunders]

Originally Posted by herk

Here's a decoder, but it's only good for the 17-digit vins.
Motoverse Kawasaki VIN Decoder. JMK.

1981 and up - and only for North American bikes - many other countries have different VIN requirements, so there's no single VIN look-up reference for bikes in the 80's

[love2ride]

So am I correct in that this bike is a 78 not a 77?

Yes, it was made in Japan.

Cool responses. My internet was down all day at home. Wish I was able to get on the internet before I came to work.

[corey]

Originally Posted by Jeff.saunders

1981 and up - and only for North American bikes

Jeff, I'm not sure what you mean by "North American bikes" but the VIN decoder that herk linked to here handles any 17 digit VIN no matter where the bike was manufactured.

Example: JKAENVC14YA164439

[Jeff.saunders]

Originally Posted by corey

Jeff, I'm not sure what you mean by "North American bikes" but the VIN decoder that herk linked to here handles any 17 digit VIN no matter where the bike was manufactured.

Example: JKAENVC14YA164439

What I meant is bikes produced for the North American market....

In the USA, 1981 was the year the 17-digit VIN was implemented. That VIN number is a N. American standard. There is a similar European standard. That is not a globally accepted VIN number - so some countries have their own requirements.

We've had customers in Europe with mid-80's bikes still using the original style Kawasaki vin number - i.e. KZTxxA-xxxxxx.

[corey]

Originally Posted by Jeff.saunders

What I meant is bikes produced for the North American market....

Ok, thanks for clarifying!