how do i get information from my serial #

[daveh]

how do i get information from my serial #

[Thumper]

how do i get information from my serial #

My owner's manual has a section on VINs:

1st 3 chars - Mfr make and class
4-6 chars - "Decipherable information"
7-8 chars - Capacity/horsepower
9 - Checkdigit number
10 - year of mfr
11 - place of mfr
12-17  - engine number

Kevin has published an explanation and can probably provide the link. Meantime, here is the gist of it:

Says it should be located on the neck of the frame (in front of the gas tank); part of it is stamped into the engine case on the right hand side just below the cylinder (and should be the same as the last 6 digits found on the frame); a stamped plate on one of the down tubes; and inside a side cover.

He goes on to say that for US models, the first 6 characters are assigned by the US Gov't and always the same. These  ID Royal Enfield as the mfr. The next 2 are HP. The next is a check digit ("part of a mathematical formula used to validate the VIN"), followed by the model year, and finally the serial number specific to your machine (and the same as your engine number).

My 2006 US market Electra X is similar: The first 6 characters are the mfr info: MBFFSV . The next two are the HP: 23. next is the check digit: 1, next the model year: 6; and finally a 6 character engine number (I won't share that!).

Year designation is:
2=2002
1=2001
Y=2000
X=1999
W=1998
V=1997
U=1996
T=1995

HTH,
Matt

[DaveG297]

Thanks Matt.  Phew, its easier to send him a parts catalog.   Like the book better than the online catalog but know its gotta be a lot cheaper to put out.   My old catalogs are called classic reading..........dg

[daveh]

thanks for the info im having a hell of a time trying to figure mine out i really want to know what year my bike is and where it was made. my registration was done by a retarded clerk in ontario canada so its all wrong.

[Kevin Mahoney]

what is the VIN on the bike?

[daveh]

ya ,thanks my vin is g253608 only 7 digits i hope you can decipher this.i got this off the head tube on my frame and it matches the registration.

[daveh]

thank you thumper, for the info but i still cant decipher the vin

[scoTTy]

wax it.. then buff it.. the #'s turn white since the wax stays until U take a toothpick to it .

 easier to read..

U are looking at the down tube? right?

[daveh]

i apreciate the help on reading the #, i havnt had any trouble with that part of the opperation ,my problem is the deciphering

[daveh]

someone please help me ,this is really frustrating having a bike and not being able to answer the simple questions.no body seems to know what year it is

[Leonard]

someone please help me ,this is really frustrating having a bike and not being able to answer the simple questions.no body seems to know what year it is

Maybe these folks can help you out:
http://www.royalenfield.org.uk/

[daveh]

the enfield guys are more concerned about paper work and the correct process than they are about finding an answer to my problem. does any body else have a solution cause that would be so sweet. thanks for all your help

[Kevin Mahoney]

We only have real knowledge of the Indian made Royal Enfield which were made for the US or Canadian market. We have no references for bikes made for other markets especially the Indian market. They use different numbering systems in each country they are sold in. The best resource for a Brit made bike has been given below and that is the Royal Enfield Club. Because I got felt guilty about not spending more time on this  I did take the time to  consult the worlds leading authority of RE's and here is his response:

Kevin,
The bike is an Indian made 350 Bullet from 1963 or 1964. Be prepared for him to come back and say it is a 500, there are a number of these coming in to England by naughty Indian dealers who have either bored out the crankcases and then restored the bike with all 90's parts or got a 90's 500 and stamped the engine number.
 2 facts that will help:
G2 stands for 350
500 not produced in India until 1989

When it comes to getting parts it is going to be a crap shoot. If you have a 350 "converted" into a 500 you will have to order older Indian 350 parts for the bottom end and newer 500 parts for the upper end. Then you will have to decide if the engine is metric or Whitworth. It will most likely be an older Whitworth engine and if you stick to pre-2000 parts you should be in good shape 85% of the time.

[SRL790]

I took a close look at my "54 last night.

The frame is stamped on the vertical of the triple tree G227786.

The engine is stamped on the forward end of the left side crankcase G2/27786.

As Kevin posted, this indicates a model G2 (350 Bullet) serial number 27786.

My best guess at what you have is an Indian engine in a Redditch built frame.  Is there a serial number anywhere on the engine?