Enter the VIN of a Honda motorcycle to read what the number says.
The Honda VIN decoder reads the 17-character VIN of a motorcycle and shows the manufacturer, the model year and the country where it was built. It is free and needs no registration. Our Honda catalogue holds 818 models from 1965 to the present, among them the SH 125, CB 650R, CRF 1100L Africa Twin and GL 1800 Gold Wing, with engine sizes from 46 to 1833 cc.
The VIN does not contain accidents, mileage, theft entries or previous owners. That information comes from a vehicle history report, a paid service that is separate from this decoder.
818 models in our data, newest first.
A VIN built to the 17-character standard is read in sections. The first three characters identify the manufacturer and the country, and this is the part the decoder uses to name Honda and the country of manufacture. Characters 4 to 8 describe the machine, and each maker codes them in its own way, so they do not translate into a full spec sheet. Character 9 is a check digit, required in North America. Character 10 is the model year, character 11 the assembly plant, and characters 12 to 17 the serial number. The letters I, O and Q are not used, which is a quick way to spot a mistyped VIN.
On a motorcycle the VIN is usually stamped into the frame, often near the steering head, and repeated on a plate or sticker. It is also printed in the registration papers. Our Honda data starts in 1965, but 17-character VINs apply to vehicles built since 1981. An early machine from the 1960s or 70s can carry a shorter frame number, and a VIN decoder cannot read that. A newer model such as the Forza 750, the CB 1000GT or the XL750 Transalp E-Clutch will have the full 17 characters.
The decoder reads the number. A history report looks for the records tied to it.
Honda history reportLook at the frame first, usually near the steering head, where the VIN is stamped into the metal. It is often repeated on a plate or sticker, and it is printed in the registration papers.
The first three characters identify the manufacturer and the country where the machine was built. The decoder reads them to show that the motorcycle is a Honda and where it was made.
The model year is the 10th character of a 17-character VIN. Enter the full VIN and the decoder shows the year for you. Machines built before 1981 may have a shorter frame number that cannot be decoded this way.
It reads only the VIN itself, so it shows the manufacturer, model year and country of manufacture. Accidents, mileage, theft entries and owners are not stored in the VIN.
Compare the VIN stamped in the frame with the one on the plate and in the registration papers, and look for signs that any of them has been altered. Check that the model year from the decoder fits the seller's description, for example a recent CB 750 Hornet or an older machine with a shorter frame number.
Enter the VIN of a Honda motorcycle to read what the number says.