Imported bike production year

srikantans04 · 14th June 2006, 16:46

Hey guys,

Is there anyway of determining what year an importted bike was manufactured through the chassis number? or any other method?

Recently, while hunting for a SBK i received 2 conflicting dates of manufacture of the vehicle from 2 different sources. Since, year of make for second hand SBK's is an important component in its pricing; is there anyway it can be officially determined so that no one gets taken for a ride and the fair value of the vehicle can be determined.

In my case I was fortunate the 2 parties contacted me independantly so I was able to spot the guy was trying to fool buyers. Do note that the difference in quoted price was about 1 lakh because one claimed the bike was 4 years younger.

manson · 14th June 2006, 16:50

well one option is the vin number that is unique for each bike.
what i often did to figure out the year of manafacture is look up www.bikepics.com, has snaps of each bike yearwise. there are some crap posts here and there but i'm sure you can figure it out. sometime the tiniest differences can be figured by looking at those snaps.

manson.

Rtech · 14th June 2006, 16:56

Quote:

Is there anyway of determining what year an importted bike was manufactured through the chassis number? or any other method?

Yes, you can find out a bikes age from its chassis number. Most manufacturers official websites allow you to do this. Thats what I did before buying my bike.

Or, if its a popular model, you can get it off one of their forums.

Also, usually there are clues to different models, as unlike India, there were alwyas changes in model years abroad. Some small (colours, graphics,), some large (fairings, suspension, brakes).

Its essential to study the model history of a bike you are planning on looking at.

srikantans04 · 14th June 2006, 17:02

Thanks Manson.

I did check out Bike Pics before checking out this vehicle. But, as in most cases, the vehicle had been tampered with - new fairings, seat, tail light etc etc. so it was a little difficult to reach any conclusion.

Rtech · 14th June 2006, 17:09

Which bike are you or your friend looking at? And what year is it supposed to be as per the seller?

srikantans04 · 14th June 2006, 17:28

I dont want to make that public. Ill PM you.

Rtech · 14th June 2006, 17:30

We're not trying to steal your sale here...but if you need help, you'll have to tell us what bike it is? Keep the other details off the board.

srikantans04 · 14th June 2006, 17:32

CBR 400 RR.
I have already rejected the offer btw.

manson · 14th June 2006, 18:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by srikantans04

I did check out Bike Pics before checking out this vehicle. But, as in most cases, the vehicle had been tampered with - new fairings, seat, tail light etc etc. so it was a little difficult to reach any conclusion.

i would try and stay away from a bike with too many changes, unless its offered at a mouth watering price.
btw, did the yellow 400 have a karizma's tailight. I did vaguely see an inline four revving from far away one, yellow colour bike et all, but rtech told me it was an old hurricane.

manson.

Rtech · 14th June 2006, 18:28

I think he was refering to the bikes on bikepics.com having to many changes.

And yes, that yellow one IS a hurricane 600

See it quite often around here.

speedcrazy · 16th June 2006, 15:10

One way is to check the year stamp on things like brake lines, headlights, indicators, rims, etc.

The oldest date would be closest to the YOM of the bike.

Other options are as mentioned before VIN and chassis verification though it might be difficult.

condor · 17th June 2006, 10:09

[quote=Rtech]Yes, you can find out a bikes age from its chassis number. /quote]

Vehicle Identification Number [VIN] is used extensively abroad .. I'd second this point abt trying to use the chassis number and trying on the forums for that bike.
Another point may be to use the year of manufacture as seen on the tyres, to compare with other details given by the seller. Of course, this will work only if it had original tyres.

14th June 2006, 16:46	#1
srikantans04 BHPian Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: bombay Posts: 62 Thanked: 0 Times View My Garage	Imported bike production year Hey guys, Is there anyway of determining what year an importted bike was manufactured through the chassis number? or any other method? Recently, while hunting for a SBK i received 2 conflicting dates of manufacture of the vehicle from 2 different sources. Since, year of make for second hand SBK's is an important component in its pricing; is there anyway it can be officially determined so that no one gets taken for a ride and the fair value of the vehicle can be determined. In my case I was fortunate the 2 parties contacted me independantly so I was able to spot the guy was trying to fool buyers. Do note that the difference in quoted price was about 1 lakh because one claimed the bike was 4 years younger.
	() Thanks

14th June 2006, 16:50	#2
manson Team-BHP Support Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 3,934 Thanked: 4,169 Times View My Garage	well one option is the vin number that is unique for each bike. what i often did to figure out the year of manafacture is look up www.bikepics.com, has snaps of each bike yearwise. there are some crap posts here and there but i'm sure you can figure it out. sometime the tiniest differences can be figured by looking at those snaps. manson.
	() Thanks

14th June 2006, 17:02	#4
srikantans04 BHPian Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: bombay Posts: 62 Thanked: 0 Times View My Garage	Thanks Manson. I did check out Bike Pics before checking out this vehicle. But, as in most cases, the vehicle had been tampered with - new fairings, seat, tail light etc etc. so it was a little difficult to reach any conclusion.
	() Thanks

14th June 2006, 17:09	#5
Rtech Team-BHP Support Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 5,770 Thanked: 359 Times View My Garage	Which bike are you or your friend looking at? And what year is it supposed to be as per the seller?
	() Thanks

14th June 2006, 17:28	#6
srikantans04 BHPian Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: bombay Posts: 62 Thanked: 0 Times View My Garage	I dont want to make that public. Ill PM you.
	() Thanks

14th June 2006, 17:30	#7
Rtech Team-BHP Support Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 5,770 Thanked: 359 Times View My Garage	We're not trying to steal your sale here...but if you need help, you'll have to tell us what bike it is? Keep the other details off the board.
	() Thanks

14th June 2006, 17:32	#8
srikantans04 BHPian Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: bombay Posts: 62 Thanked: 0 Times View My Garage	CBR 400 RR. I have already rejected the offer btw.
	() Thanks

14th June 2006, 18:28	#10
Rtech Team-BHP Support Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 5,770 Thanked: 359 Times View My Garage	I think he was refering to the bikes on bikepics.com having to many changes. And yes, that yellow one IS a hurricane 600 See it quite often around here.
	() Thanks

16th June 2006, 15:10	#11
speedcrazy Newbie Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 20 Thanked: 0 Times	One way is to check the year stamp on things like brake lines, headlights, indicators, rims, etc. The oldest date would be closest to the YOM of the bike. Other options are as mentioned before VIN and chassis verification though it might be difficult.
	() Thanks

17th June 2006, 10:09	#12
condor Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Speed-brkr City Posts: 15,864 Thanked: 16,018 Times View My Garage	[quote=Rtech]Yes, you can find out a bikes age from its chassis number. /quote] Vehicle Identification Number [VIN] is used extensively abroad .. I'd second this point abt trying to use the chassis number and trying on the forums for that bike. Another point may be to use the year of manufacture as seen on the tyres, to compare with other details given by the seller. Of course, this will work only if it had original tyres.
	() Thanks