VIN Number & Bikes Original Assembly Configurations

[MedicAndy]

I have bought me many older bikes during the last couple of years, and I was wondering if there is a way to find out on how a particular motorcycle came off or was assembled in the factory? For instance, what was the bikes original color, engine & transmission numbers?

I registered a silver 1996 Sport today, and my local DMV stated that they do not track the color on any vehicle, and they don't record the milage on older vehicles either.

I am assuming that the milage could be somehow traced, since the actual current milage is recorded during the yearly inspection. But, I own a bike which needed the speedometer replaced at 5k miles due to a defect, and I have all documentation of the change and when the speedometer was replaced, but no flag came up when this bike came up for inspection at now only showing 2k miles on the clock? So, is there a way to trace back the milage on an older bike that has changed hands a couple of times, since DMV does not record the milage on older bikes on the title when a bike transfers to a new owner?

I know the history of all my bikes, so I know what I have sitting in the barn is what it is. However, I'm looking to buy me another blue 96 1100 Sport, and I was wondering on how I could make sure that this bike was an original blue factory painted bike, and if the stated milage is as low as stated? I also noticed that each of my 96 & 97 Sports have serial numbers on the main fiberglass parts, are these somehow traced on the VIN number?

Thanks,

Andy

[Denis]

Your best bet on some of your questions, Andy, is to back track through the owners. It might be challenging though.
Back in the 1980s you could go to NC DMV, pay a few dollars and get copies of all the titles of your vehicle dating back to when it was new (if sold in NC) or first registered in the state. I did that around 1987 with my Studebaker truck and tracked it back to when it was sold new in November, 1959 at the dealer in Sanford.

As far as the numbers on fiberglass, I know that as far back as the earlier 1990s some cars had barcodes and numbers on hoods, fenders and some other body parts. Not sure if they are traceable to a particular VIN but it's possible, especially when manufacturers started really watching inventories, tracking parts and expected sales of a particular model.

I always suspected an added benefit to the barcodes on the body parts was to aid investigators if the vehicle was stolen and parts were recovered.

[rocker59]

Andy,

You're quickly coming into a position where you can decipher the VIN codes, based on your current stable!

Honestly, you should be able to tell if the blue is factory, or not.  Especially if you have an example on hand for comparison.  The color and the metallic content, plus the decals and their position usually give away a repaint. 

VIN codes don't tell a whole lot, but they do have some information.   

Example:  ZGUKEAKE7SM100064  1995 Black Sport 1100.

First three on a Guzzi are ZGU, for Italy Moto Guzzi.

Four through eight contain the vehicle attributes.  This is where you can compare all your Sport 1100s and get an idea of what they're referring to.  KEAKE in the above example of a black 1995 Sport 1100.  "KE" is the Sport 1100 engine.  You'll notice "KE" stamped on the block next to the last five of the VIN.   Never have figured out the "A".   Do all of yours have the "A" in the middle of that series?

9th digit is a check digit.  Used to verify the VIN is legitimate. 

10th digit "S" is for 1995.  "T" would be for 1996.

11th digit is for the assembly plant, in Guzzi's case it's for "Mandello".

12 through 17 tell where the bike is in the production run.


Hope that helps.



 

[rocker59]

Example:  ZGUKEAKE7SM100064  1995 Black Sport 1100.
 
You'll notice "KE" stamped on the block next to the last five of the VIN.   Never have figured out the "A".   Do all of yours have the "A" in the middle of that series?
 

Well, so much for knowing what the "A" is for. 

The VIN on a red 1996 Sport 1100:  ZGU KEAKE 0 T M 100196

Versus the black 1995 Sport 1100:   ZGU KEAKE 7 S M 100064   

So, it does not appear that there is anything in the VIN that tells you what color the bike was painted from the factory.

[Turin]

It makes sense for a car to have it's vin tag coded so they know what options to install as it goes down the assembly line. ( ex: car with orange paint and a green interior might sit on the showroom floor for a while).

Bikes don't really have a lot of options so it might not make sense for a manufacturer to put that much info on there.

[MedicAndy]

Thanks for the info, and sorry for my late reply.... It's been a busy time working in the Ped's ED during the last two month!

Below are the vin numbers of my LeMans and my 96/97 1100's. Looks like that I do have the "A" in each vin number.

VIN# ZGUVVAVV2FM100052 � Red 1985 LEMANS V1000 IV

VIN# ZGUKEAKEXTM100142 � Blue 1996 1100 SPORT
VIN# ZGUKEAKE1TM100255 � SILVER 1996 1100 SPORT

VIN# ZGUKFAKF2VM111709 � YELLOW 1997 1100 SPORT (Now painted in BMW Red)
VIN# ZGUKFAKF8VM111987 � YELLOW 1997 1100 SPORT
VIN# ZGUKFAKFXVM112073 � YELLOW 1997 1100 SPORT
VIN# ZGUKFAKF4VM112439 � Red 1997 1100 SPORT (Originally sold in Germany and was imported to the US)

It's too bad that the engine is not traced on the vin number. I'm going to look fo, and then record all individual serial numbers of my bikes (Engine, gearbox, fiberglass moldings, frame.....) to see if I can find a connection with either some or all of them.

So, thanks again for the info, and I will let you guys know if I find any correlation between all of the serial number stamped parts.

Andy

[rocker59]

What do you mean, "too bad the engine is not traced on the VIN" ??

VV = LeMans 1000
KE = Sport 1100 Carb
KF = Sport 1100 Injection

The engines are stamped with those two letters, and the last five numbers on the VIN. 

[MedicAndy]

What do you mean, "too bad the engine is not traced on the VIN" ??

VV = LeMans 1000
KE = Sport 1100 Carb
KF = Sport 1100 Injection

The engines are stamped with those two letters, and the last five numbers on the VIN.

I was referring to actually having a way to find out if the engine & gearbox was original to the bike. For instance, is there a way for me to find out if I were to buy a bike with 5k miles on the engine, if this is the actual engine that came on this bike from the factory, or is this possible a different 1100 engine with 45k miles on the clock and being sold as a 5k miles engine bike?

I'm probable looking way to deep into this issue, since there are not that many 1100 Sports out there anymore.....

Andy

[Denis]

Andy, yours is VIN# ZGUVVAVV2FM100052 � Red 1985 LEMANS V1000 IV

Mine is VIN# ZGUVVAVV4FM100036 � White 1985 LEMANS V1000 IV

So if the 9th digit is a check digit then the color is not reflected by the serial numbers.