1.2.3.1  Breakdown of the 17-character VIN

1HD 1 DJ L 1 X J Y 505175
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
1   =   World manufacturer identifier code (WMI)
1HD = Harley-Davidson
5HD = Harley-Davidson
2   =  Engine
1 = Heavyweight over 901 cc (e.g. FL, FLT, FX, XLH1200)

4 = Medium weight between 351 and 900 cc (e.g. XLH 883)

6 = Light weight under 350 cc

7 = Racing and Off Road

8 = Works sidecar models

3   =   Model designation
4 =   Engine
7th characters of the VIN Cubic capacity in cc
1 1449
2 984
4 1202
A 1131
B 1449
D 1545
E 1690
F 1690
G 1249
M 883
P 1202
W 1449
Z 1131
5   =   Normal date of introduction
1 = Normal date of introduction

2 = ‘Mid-year’ introduction (outside the normal date of introduction)

3 = California models

4 = Special models (special edition)

6   =   Check number ( 0 – 9; or X)
7 =   Model Year
B = 1981 L = 1990 X = 1999 8 = 2008
C = 1982 M = 1991 Y = 2000 9 = 2009
D = 1983 N = 1992 1 = 2001 A = 2010
E = 1984 P = 1993 2 = 2002 B = 2011
F = 1985 R = 1994 3 = 2003
G = 1986 S = 1995 4 = 2004
H = 1987 T = 1996 5 = 2005
J = 1988 V = 1997 6 = 2006
K = 1989 W = 1998 7 = 2007
8  =  Assembly Plant
till 2009 including:
Y = York/Pennsylvania (Motorcycle production)
T = Tomahawk/Wisconsin (Sidecar production)
J = Juneau/Milwaukee/Wisconsin (Motorcycle of racing motorcycles)
K = Cansas (from MY 2000) (Motorcycle production)
M = Manaus, Brazil
3 = Buell East Troy
from 2009 including:
B = York/Pennsylvania (Motorcycle production)
A = Tomahawk/Wisconsin (Sidecar production)
D = Manaus, Brazil
C = Cansas (from MY 2000) (Motorcycle production)
3 = Buell East Troy (Motorcycle of racing motorcycles)
9   =   Serial number         (6-digit)