Assigned Identification Number

[Turin]

A local vintage bike (850 LeMans) has an Assigned Identification Number with a state of California tag riveted to the frame down tube.  Speculations on why this would have this been needed?

[Ryan]

Don't know about California, but when I lived in Washington, when you title anything from out-of-state, they do a VIN inspection. If the VIN is not legible or does not exist, the Washington State Police would issue a VIN.

[Turin]

It's on E-bay . 850 Lemans.

[krglorioso]

My sold-last-year 1974 Norton Commando 850 Interstate had an "assigned serial number" riveted to the left, front down tube due to it having had a frame replacement in its first year.  California Highway Patrol is charged with the responsibility to do this in that state.  The replacement frames from Norton-Villiers did not come with a Serial number. 

It's safe to assume that the subject bike had a frame replacement. 

Ralph

[Canuck750]

In my experience I have had to get an assigned vin tag on one bike; my 73 Laverda SF1.

When I went to my DMV to register the bike I was told that the six digit vin stamped onto the bike frame was already registered to an Argo 8 wheel ATV.

The only way I could register the bike locally was to get an independent inspector recognized by my insurance company to assure the insurer the motorcycle was not recorded as stolen in Canada or the USA.

It cost me $500.00 for the inspection and to have an assigned VIN tag riveted to the frame.

The inspector (retired police officer) finished the search he used the original six digits at the end of the new 14 digit assigned vin.