Vin number year matching

[Evil Mitch]

I just read the info. It suggests the A in my VIN means it's a 2010 model. Made it a better deal than I thought then. The A is the 11th number in my VIN. If I read it as the 10th number rather than digit I get a 9. That makes a bit more sense to me though I would be happy to have a 2010 model.

That must be it mate mine is a 09 and if i read it as tenth number rather than digit it also says 9
think you figured it out

 

[CanberraR3]

I read that the first digit represents the place of manufacture the vin starts with SM so maybe its the first two that would make the 9 line up with the year i guess ?
anyone else with a 09 have a similer vin?

Sure is bloody confusing. I too have an '09 - that's what it was sold as and the VIN label has 05/09 on it, which presumably is when it rolled out of the factory. I've looked at a few different sites for explanation of the VIN. They all say that VINs consist of 17 digits and that the 10th digit is the "model year". On mine, like yours, the tenth digit is a 5.

The label does say that the bike 'category' is LC. LC are the 5th and 6th digits so if I count from there (including the LC) I have a 9 as the 10th digit. BUT I think this is a coincidence.

Here's what I think. I think all Standard Rockets are designated as 05 Model Year. I'd be interested in seeing what Classics say and R3Ts and R3Rs. If I'm correct that would mean that all R3Rs, for example, would say Model Year 10, regardless of when they roled out of the factory. T's would be what, 8? Classic's, 6? Just a thought.

Perhaps we could see what people with the different types of Rocket have as their 10th digit in the VINs, which might mean that you can tell nothing from the VIN to determine year of manufacture.

If I'm wrong then I'd like to know what mine's doing with 5 too.

 

[CanberraR3]

That must be it mate mine is a 09 and if i read it as tenth number rather than digit it also says 9
think you figured it out

My 10th number is a 2. All digits in VINs can be alphanumeric, except for the last 4 which must be numbers, according to what I've read recently. I think we need to be careful not to confuse "Model Year" with manufacture date. IMHO.

 

[Evil Mitch]

Sure is bloody confusing. I too have an '09 - that's what it was sold as and the VIN label has 05/09 on it, which presumably is when it rolled out of the factory. I've looked at a few different sites for explanation of the VIN. They all say that VINs consist of 17 digits and that the 10th digit is the "model year". On mine, like yours, the tenth digit is a 5.

The label does say that the bike 'category' is LC. LC are the 5th and 6th digits so if I count from there (including the LC) I have a 9 as the 10th digit. BUT I think this is a coincidence.

Here's what I think. I think all Standard Rockets are designated as 05 Model Year. I'd be interested in seeing what Classics say and R3Ts and R3Rs. If I'm correct that would mean that all R3Rs, for example, would say Model Year 10, regardless of when they roled out of the factory. T's would be what, 8? Classic's, 6? Just a thought.

Perhaps we could see what people with the different types of Rocket have as their 10th digit in the VINs, which might mean that you can tell nothing from the VIN to determine year of manufacture.

If I'm wrong then I'd like to know what mine's doing with 5 too.[/QUOTE
Maybe that is the case its doing my head in what number do you get if you start counting from where the letters end at the beginning mate?.

 

[CanberraR3]

Everything I've read refers to the 10th digit in the 17 digit sequence so you can't just use the numbers. As I said, my 10th number is a 2. I reckon we have 05 Model Year bikes, manfactured in 09.

 

[TriumPhil]

There is but one solution to this bloody mess...

 

[Evil Mitch]

Everything I've read refers to the 10th digit in the 17 digit sequence so you can't just use the numbers. As I said, my 10th number is a 2. I reckon we have 05 Model Year bikes, manfactured in 09.

Well that seems to make the most sense then
I think you may be rite you gotta be there is no other explanation

 

[9Ball]

my '07 standard has a "7" in the 10th position of the VIN....I know, no help.

 

[Rayvin]

My '06 Classic has a 6 for the 10th digit, so I figure all of you with the 5 as the 10th character have actually bought '05s disguised as newer models...

 

[CanberraR3]

Black engine, black face on the gauges, burgundy colour, 05/09 on the VIN label suggest otherwise. Perplexing.......