VIN ?

Butter · Full Member Joined: Oct 16, 2007 Posts: 22

Hey. I just got the title to for my FREE 1981 XS650. The number on the frame neck is only a partial number compared to the title. Am I looking in the wrong place? Was there a metal tag that a previous owner may have removed? It wouldn't be a problem except that I will have to have it inspected before putting it on the road because it is a salvage title.
Thanks,
Butter

pumps · Posted: February 20, 2008, 1:41 am Post subject: Re: VIN ?

Mine has the sticker tag looking thing with the vin behind the headlight on the neck. No other tag I don't think.

Retiredgentleman · Posted: February 20, 2008, 1:54 am Post subject: Re: VIN ?

The steering neck has a white tag with VIN and date of manufacture, the VIN is also stamped on the neck. The engine number is stamped on the front of the crankcase, which should be the same as the one stamped on the neck unless there was an engine swap.

Butter · Full Member Joined: Oct 16, 2007 Posts: 22

Is it a thin metal plate that is rivited on? Or is it more like a sticker? The previous owner painted the frame, but it appears as if something is or was on the neck.
Thanks,
Butter

pumps · Posted: February 20, 2008, 3:10 pm Post subject: Re: VIN ?

Mine is a sticker, reflective type material, not metal riveted.

kingwj · Posted: February 20, 2008, 3:11 pm Post subject: Re: VIN ?

It's a sticker.

Butter · Full Member Joined: Oct 16, 2007 Posts: 22

If its painted over can I remove the paint without harming it? Or should I be able to read the number through the paint?
Thanks,
Butter

pumps · Posted: February 20, 2008, 4:07 pm Post subject: Re: VIN ?

I'd be very careful..maybe try a corner where there are no numbers ??

kingwj · Posted: February 20, 2008, 4:11 pm Post subject: Re: VIN ?

Maybe acetone gently applied. You can see where the critical areas are on the sticker, I'd stay away from there until you run a test. The paint probably is not well adhered to the sticker, you might first try scraping gently with a plastic scraper or carefully with a metal edge.

Butter · Full Member Joined: Oct 16, 2007 Posts: 22

Thanks everyone.
Butter

Butter · Full Member Joined: Oct 16, 2007 Posts: 22

OK. The tag is there, I scraped away a little of the paint with a razor blade. Does anyone know how "fragile" the numbers are? What happens if I ruin the numbers?
Thanks,
Butter

pumps · Posted: February 20, 2008, 8:42 pm Post subject: Re: VIN ?

use something not so sharp.....I'd wait to get it inspected and you could at least show the inspector the tag is there but painted over. If you scrape and it goes bye bye it might look like you are trying to hide something perhaps?

ttmaniac · Full Member Joined: Dec 22, 2006 Posts: 468

Who cares about the sticker?

DEAD WEIGHT!!!!

It's serial number is stamped right next to it, that is the only concern, the sticker doesn't mean jack to any dmv people I dealt with, only the numbers which are stamped.

grant · Posted: February 20, 2008, 11:04 pm Post subject: Re: VIN ?

OK, TT, here's one for ya (and I take your posts to be serious). I am rebuilding a tracker from a '77 titled motor but using what I thought was a '75ish frame.(It was a trailer full of stuff with one title that matched a cut up frame and motor) The thing I am having trouble with is the frame I am putting the motor into has no #'s. I can find no trace of any # on the neck or any raised paint from a previous sticker or any sanding or repainting. Is it possible this could be an insurance rebuild or was there a period when the 650 frames were not numbered with a stamped neck? By the way, I pulled what appeared to be stock wiring, wheels, forks, etc. out of the frame of which I speak. Can you or anybody out there give me a clue? My plan is to title this bike with the motor #'s that match the title. Is there a problem with a frame that has no #'s anywhere?

Shannon60 · Posted: February 20, 2008, 11:32 pm Post subject: Re: VIN ?

I remember from the dealership that some years only had a number on the motor, and nothing on the frame whatsoever

Butter · Full Member Joined: Oct 16, 2007 Posts: 22

pumps wrote:

use something not so sharp.....I'd wait to get it inspected and you could at least show the inspector the tag is there but painted over. If you scrape and it goes bye bye it might look like you are trying to hide something perhaps?

I was thinking the same thing.
Butter

Butter · Full Member Joined: Oct 16, 2007 Posts: 22

ttmaniac wrote:

Who cares about the sticker?

DEAD WEIGHT!!!!

It's serial number is stamped right next to it, that is the only concern, the sticker doesn't mean jack to any dmv people I dealt with, only the numbers which are stamped.

The number stamped on the neck is only a partial number. It is not the complete number that appears on the title. Is that all the DMV will require?

kingwj · Posted: February 21, 2008, 1:29 am Post subject: Re: VIN ?

If you click on the picture I attached you will see my Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) is 2F0-021570. Exactly what is stamped in the frame. I don't know what is on your title but mine has only those numbers. The VIN number with a gazillion digits was not used when my bike was made, it's different now.

ttmaniac · Full Member Joined: Dec 22, 2006 Posts: 468

kingwj wrote:

If you click on the picture I attached you will see my Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) is 2F0-021570. Exactly what is stamped in the frame. I don't know what is on your title but mine has only those numbers. The VIN number with a gazillion digits was not used when my bike was made, it's different now.

Yes, this post is correct.

I've never seen a frame without those numbers.

The DMV will ask for extra digits, just tell em the bike ain't a 16 digit code. Have em call a yamaha dealer when they won't believe you. Those are the correct numbers.

As far as the sticker being the only source of numbers, It don't seem right to me. Should be stamped. Maybe it's been filled in with paint or bondo.

Butter · Full Member Joined: Oct 16, 2007 Posts: 22

There is definitely more numbers on the title than the frame. I will post the numbers tonight when I get home from work.
Thanks,
Butter

Cooltouch · Posted: February 21, 2008, 2:41 pm Post subject: Re: VIN ?

Grant, if I were in your situation, I'd be tempted to pick up a set of stamps and stamp the motor's numbers into the steering neck. Then spray paint over them, make it look like they've been there all along. I suggest this because some states, like mine, title bikes from frame, and not motor, numbers.

Best,

Michael

Shannon60 · Posted: February 21, 2008, 7:49 pm Post subject: Re: VIN ?

Cooltouch, thats exactly as i've done before and never been hassled (saves getting a custom bike inspected also!!!)

Butter · Full Member Joined: Oct 16, 2007 Posts: 22

OK. Here are the numbers on my frame and title. I didnt know about putting all the numbers on the web so I put the X's on the end.

Frame: 4M4-010XXX

Title: JYA4M400XBA010XXX

I still dont know whats on the sticker.
What do ya think?

Thanks,
Butter

kingwj · Posted: February 22, 2008, 1:27 am Post subject: Re: VIN ?

Give it a shot, worst that happens is they say no. I can guarantee that the 16 digit is not the VIN used to issue the certificate of origin from Yamaha.

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Yamaha xs650