[bradshjr]

Hey Gang,

Is there a reference guide somewhere on the 'net that would tell me the year of manufacture by engine serial number or VIN? I just bought several Kaw's to part out and want to be sure and provide accurate information. Thanks

Rich

 

[Freakinout]

if there is any way from the VIN number I can't figure it out. If you have the frames too there should be a manufacture date on it though.

 

[Uncle Bob]

By law, on road vehicles must have a 17 digit VIN, the tenth digit is the model year. To identify the year you need the "secret code ".

Digits 1,2,3 are World, Manufacturer, Identifier

1 = J ( Japan or whatever country the vehicle is made in )
2 = k ( Kawasaki or Y for Yamaha or S for suzuki etc)
3 = 1 or A ( code for motorcycle )

Digits 4,5,6,7,8 are Vehicle descriptor Section

4 = Vehicle category

C=scooter
B=business model or commuter
N=single cylinder sport/street
G=multiple cylinder sport/street
F=Family
S=Off road
V=V-Type engine, street, V2/V4/v6/v8 etc)

5= Engine displacement

A=49cc and less
B=50-69cc
C=70-79cc
D=80-89cc
E=90-99cc
F=100-124cc
G=125-149cc
H=150-199cc
J=200-249cc
K=250-399cc
M=400-499cc
N=500-599cc
P=600-699cc
R=700-749cc
S=750-849cc
T=850-999cc
U=1000-1099cc
V=1100-1199cc
W=1200-1299cc
Y=1400-1499cc
Z=1500 & up

6= Engine Type

1=2 stroke single
2=2 stroke twin
3=2 stroke triple or four
4=4 stroke single
5=4 stroke twin
6=?
7=4 stroke four

7=Design sequence or model version first version uses 1 then second version uses 2 etc... the tenth version would then be identified by the letter A then B etc..

8=Model version ( base model usually by an A, another letter would be used for special editions or different models of the ame vehicle )

9=Check digit ( 0-9 or X )

10= Year Code

80-A
81-B
82-C
83-D
84-E
85-F
86-G
87-H
88-J
89-K
90-L
91-M
92-N
93-P
94-R
95-S
96-T
97-V
98-W
99-X
00-Y
01-1
02-2
03-3
04-4
05-5
06-6
07-7
08-8
09-9 ( Don't know what happens after that )

11= Factory code ( manufacturer code for what plant it was built in )

12,13,14,15,16,17= Vehicle Identification Number ( serial number )


So for example a 2003 Kawasaki Ninja 500 would look something like this

JKA GM71A X 3 2 123456

JKA= Japan,Kawasaki,Motorcycle
GM71A= Multiple cylinder sport/street, 400-499cc, 4stroke four, Version1, Base model
X= Check digit
3= 2003
2= Plant #2
123456= Serial number

 

[Freakinout]

So for example a 2003 Kawasaki Ninja 500 would look something like this

JKA GM71A X 3 2 123456

VIN on my 500R is ex500d with a few numbers afterwards. So it says on the title and the frame and motor.

 

[iaminsman]

uncle bob,
I was looking at your code and tried to match it to my 99 Kaw Vulcan 800- and it is not showing true with my vin. The first 10 digits of my vin are : jkbvnca10x the first 2 show correct, but my 3rd digit is a "b" and my bike is an 805cc vtwin and on your code it would be a "N" which shows a 500-599cc engine. Is your "secret code" and example?? I also checked on the Kawasaki page under warranty info and it to shows that this bike is a 99 kaw vulcan 800?? Just curious if mabye the vin is different if the bike is actually manufactured in Japan or the U.S.A? And mabye then the code would also be different?

 

[Uncle Bob]

Gee it took me so long to type that post too.

I was told that this was a universal VIN system for motor vehicles sold in North America. I know it works for Suzuki bikes but maybe it's not universal or I missed something somewhere. I'll check into it.

 

[Freakinout]

Gee it took me so long to type that post too.

I was told that this was a universal VIN system for motor vehicles sold in North America. I know it works for Suzuki bikes but maybe it's not universal or I missed something somewhere. I'll check into it.

that looks like its right for my truck, but not for my bike. I need to look at my friends suzuki

 

[Uncle Bob]

Man I'm screwed, after checking it seems that the 17 digit format is the legally accepted one but that certain parts may differ from one manufaturer to the next and yes even the place where it was built will affect the number.

But the 10th digit is the valid year code.

Sorry it was worth a shot.

Hey maybe Kawi or Joey could let us know if there is a system we can use to decipher for Kawasaki.

 

[Uncle Bob]

Ok from what I've found so far the digits 4 through 8 are mandated to be

Type of motorcycle, line, engine type, and net brake horsepower.

However this is not standard setup from one manufacturer to the next. Bike makers have only to supply to the powers that be a description of their "code" in order to conform to the law.

Sorry for the confusion.

Still hoping to find Kawasaki descriptions.

 

[jim_palmore]

what about motor numbers.I had to change motors and need to know the year of the replacement motor.

 

[Deathwish]

Yes, I need to verify an engine number as well. Have a 2000 ZX12R that appears to have had the engine replaced with a 2003 or newer, as some parts I ordered do not fit correctly. Engine number us ZXT20AE024504 and VIN is JKAZX9A15YA007153.

Thanks

 

[urly]

Cheers guys:
To know for certain where it was assembled a Kawasaki motorcycle, we see Box 11 of the VIN and if we have:

A= Japan
B= USA
C= Philippines
D= Thailand
K= Indonesia.

the first three boxes may be:

JKA, JKB, JKA, MH4 or MKS which will be used for each model in relation to the cubic capacity of the engine cc.
Related to the box six (attached table).

After this: four & five boxes we will interpret this:
(On-Road Motorcycles).

ZX = Super Sport, in line four-cylinder four-stroke water-cooled
ZR = European Sport, inline four-cylinder four stroke water cooled.
ZL = American Sport, inline four-cylinder four stroke water cooled.
ZG = Touring, inline four-cylinder four stroke water cooled.
VN = Easy Riding, V-twin cylinder four stroke, water cooled.
EX = Super Sport, two-cylinder in line four-stroke, water cooled.
ER: European Sport, two cylinders in-line four-stroke, water cooled.
EN = Easy Riding two-cylinder in line four-stroke, water cooled.
EJ = Classic Sport, two-cylinder in-line four-stroke, air-cooled.
KZ = Police and Easy Riding, inline four-cylinder four-stroke and air-cooled.
KL = Dual purpose, a four-stroke cylinder.
KH = Utility Sport, One-cylinder two-stroke, air cooled.
KE = Dual purpose, a cylinder two-stroke, air cooled.
LX = Dual purpose, a cylinder-four-stroke, water cooled.
MX = Dual purpose, a cylinder two-stroke, water cooled.
BN = Easy Riding, cylinder-four-stroke, air cooled.
AN = Standard Moped, a cylinder air-cooled four-stroke.

If our VIN began with JKA, the sixth digit in the box will have the following values in cubic centimeters:

A=1300
B=1100
C=1000
D=750
E=650
F=550
G=450
H=440
J=420
K=400
L=305
M=250
N=200
P=175
R=125
S=110
T=100
V=500
W=80
X=60
Y=50
1=560
2=900
3=150
4=600
5=160
6=700
7=185
8=300
9=1200

If our VIN began with JKB:
the digit in the sixth box you will then have the following values:

A=1500
B=220
C=800
D=90
E=65
F=85
G=79
H=360
J=636
K=1600
L=112
M=2000
N y P=reserved
R hasta Y=1700
1 al 9= 1700

If our VIN began with JKS:
the sixth digit in the box will be as follows:

A=2000
B=1600
C=250
D=112
E=110
F=100
G=65
H=60
J=700
K hasta Y=Reserved
1 al 9= Reserved

If our VIN began with MH4:
the sixth digit in the box will be as follows:

S=110

If our VIN began with MKS:
the sixth digit in the box will be as follows:

S=110

Kawasaki language.
(I will stop here I`ll see you guys at next post)

 

[klaustukas]

Hello, everyone

I'm trying to buy used zx6r and I found second bike which has intresting VIN code. I want to buy zx6r 2003 or better years
would like to have 636 model

here are some examples:

jkbzx636bba XXXXXX
JKBZX636CCA XXXXXX

is it wrong something about these VIN codes ? because normal number would be like
jkbzxjb1534 XXXXXX

I am confused....

 

[purcitron]

how can i check if the instrument panel is original or has been replaced on a 2007 ninja 500?

possible to match the serial number from the instrument panel to a serial number on the frame or VIN?

thanks!

 

[martin-csr]

Probably not. I would poke around the parts diagrams at Partzilla & compare photos on eebbaayy.
If you're wondering about the mileage on the bike, you'd have to find some sort of documentation somewhere.







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