Tech
Identification: VIN & Date Codes
How to decode a 1982 to 2000 Harley-Davidson VIN and tell which FXR you are looking at.
Reading a VIN
Harley-Davidsons built from 1981 on carry a 17-character VIN. It tells you the maker, model, engine, model year and plant, followed by a serial number (Lowbrow Customs VIN guide).
For an FXR, the three positions that matter most are 5 and 6 (the model) and 10 (the year), highlighted below.
Position numbers and what each one means.
Position table
| Position(s) | Meaning | Values seen on FXRs |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Country of origin | 1 = United States |
| 2 to 3 | Manufacturer | HD = Harley-Davidson |
| 4 | Weight class | 1 = heavyweight |
| 5 to 6 | Model code | E plus a letter, see the next table |
| 7 | Engine | K = Shovelhead; L = 1340 Evolution |
| 8 | Introduction | 1 = regular; 2 = mid-year; 3 = California; 4 = Daytona or March introduction |
| 9 | Check digit | Calculated from the other characters |
| 10 | Model year | C 1982, D 1983, E 1984, F 1985, G 1986, H 1987, J 1988, K 1989, L 1990, M 1991, N 1992, P 1993, R 1994, X 1999, Y 2000 |
| 11 | Assembly plant | Y = York, Pennsylvania |
| 12 to 17 | Serial number | Unique to each bike |
Source: Lowbrow Customs VIN guide; engine and model codes also from Rider, Sep 2017.
FXR model codes
| Code (5 to 6) | Model | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| EA | FXR | Super Glide |
| EB | FXRS | Sport, Low Glide, Low Rider |
| EC | FXRT | Sport Glide |
| ED | FXRP | Police, windshield |
| EE | FXRDG | Disc Glide |
| EF | FXRP | Police, fairing |
| EG | FXRS-SP | Low Rider Sport Edition |
| EH | FXRD | Deluxe touring |
| EJ | FXRC | Custom |
| EK | FXRP | California Highway Patrol |
| EL | FXLR | Low Rider Custom |
| EM | FXRS-Conv | Convertible |
| ES | CVO FXR2 | 1999 only (H-D Parts Catalog, 1999 FXR2) |
| EV | CVO FXR4 | 2000 only (H-D Parts Catalog, 2000 FXR4) |
| ET | CVO FXR3 | 1999 only (H-D Parts Catalog, 1999 FXR3) |
Sources: Rider, Sep 2017; CVO codes from the factory parts catalogs (H-D Parts Catalog, 1999 FXR2; H-D Parts Catalog, 1999 FXR3; H-D Parts Catalog, 2000 FXR4).
Worked example (fictional VIN)
This VIN is made up
We built this example for teaching only. The serial 000000 does not belong to any real motorcycle. We calculated the check digit with the standard formula so the example is internally consistent.
- 1 H D: built in the USA by Harley-Davidson
- 1: heavyweight
- E C: FXRT Sport Glide
- L: 1340 Evolution engine
- 1: regular introduction
- 1: check digit
- G: 1986 model year
- Y: York plant
- 000000: serial (fictional)
Engine case numbers
From 1981 to 2000 Harley stamped an abbreviated version of the VIN on the engine case (Lowbrow Customs VIN guide). Matching it to the frame VIN is a quick originality check.
The factory's 1985 FLT/FXR owner's manual says the abbreviated VIN is stamped on the left side of the crankcase, at the base of the front cylinder. It is made of the model code, the engine letter, the model-year letter and the serial number, printed in the form DBLF 010000 (Harley-Davidson 1985 FLT/FXR Owner's Manual). For comparison, that manual lists EB for the FXRS, EC for the FXRT and ED for the FXR Police.
Whether FXR engine cases also carry separate date codes unverified.
Frame stamps & neck tags
The full VIN is stamped on the frame at the steering head (the neck) (Lowbrow Customs VIN guide). The frame VIN is the bike's legal identity, so it is the one that should match the title (Lowbrow Customs VIN guide).
The 1985 owner's manual adds that the full 17-digit VIN is also printed on a label on the right front frame downtube, and that a separate label on the front frame downtube gives the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) and axle ratings (Harley-Davidson 1985 FLT/FXR Owner's Manual).
Title & paperwork tips
- Check that the frame VIN, the engine stamp and the title all agree.
- Look up open recalls with NHTSA's free tool (NHTSA recall lookup).
- Check theft and total-loss records with NICB VINCheck (NICB VINCheck).
- Use the model and year codes to confirm the bike is the model the seller says. A code of EC on a bike sold as an FXLR is worth asking about.
Privacy note
We never publish a real bike's full VIN on this site. If you send us photos, please cover or blur the VIN and plate.
Sources
- Lowbrow Customs, "Harley-Davidson Motorcycle VIN Lookup and Decoder Chart". Link
- Harley-Davidson Motor Co., 1985 FLT/FXR Models Owner's Manual, part no. 99465-85 (specifications pages 77 to 80, tire pressures, and vehicle identification). Scanned copy hosted by Ratbike Service. Link
- Kip Woodring, "Motorhead Memo: The Gentleman's Express", Rider Magazine, September 20, 2017 (year-by-year FXR history and VIN model codes). Link
- Harley-Davidson, "1999 Harley-Davidson Parts Catalog: FXR2 Models" (catalog 99426-99A), on the Harley-Davidson Service Information Portal. Link
- Harley-Davidson, "1999 Harley-Davidson Parts Catalog: FXR3 Models" (catalog 99427-99A), on the Harley-Davidson Service Information Portal. Link
- Harley-Davidson, "2000 Harley-Davidson Parts Catalog: FXR4 Models" (catalog 99429-00A), on the Harley-Davidson Service Information Portal. Link
- U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, recall lookup by VIN. Link
- National Insurance Crime Bureau, VINCheck (theft and total-loss records). Link
About the unverified flag: it marks a detail we have not yet been able to confirm in a published source, such as a factory document, owner's or service manual, or period magazine test. Where a table cell shows only the flag, we have not found a reliable figure. We keep these details visible so they can be checked. If you have a source, please tell us.
Full bibliography and image credits: Sources & Credits. Magazine pages are linked, never copied or hosted here. Spot an error? Tell us.