motorcycle

Motorcycle VIN Check – What Is It?

All motor vehicles have a Vehicle Identification Number. This 17 digit code contains information about the manufacturer, manufacturing plant, model, model year and more. The VIN is issued by the manufacturer. A motorcycle VIN number lookup decodes this number. This information helps you verify information provided by the seller, and identify any major modifications made since the bike rolled off of the assembly line. You can get a bike VIN check free from our website.

Want to know more? Since the VIN is unique to each vehicle, it’s used to identify the bike on official documents. A VIN report goes beyond a simple look up. It gathers information from these databases, giving you a full history of owners, insurance claims and more.

Reasons to Lookup a Motorcycle VIN

Using our motorcycle VIN decoder gives you the basic information about the bike as it came from the factory. This includes the make and model, the year it was manufactured and its equipment. Having a decoded VIN is especially helpful for verifying special edition models, and engines with different emissions systems. This way, you know what you’re buying is exactly as it’s being represented by the seller.

Some bikes are on sale for decades, with small running changes throughout their life. That means parts can be different between what appear to be identical bikes. Decoding the VIN tells you exactly what bike you have, so you can get the correct parts for repairs.

If you order a VIN report, you get a collection of information from official databases. This gives you a history of the bike, including how many owners it had, and any insurance claims.

Where can I find my Bike’s VIN number?

Before you do a motorcycle VIN search, you need to find the VIN. On bikes, the VIN is either engraved on the steering neck, or printed on a plate attached to the neck. This tube is where the forks connect to the frame. It’s just under the handlebars and behind the headlight. You can usually see it by turning the handlebars to the left and looking at the right side of the tube.

That’s not the only spot you’ll find this number. Manufacturers often place a sticker, plate or engraving of the VIN under the seat, just behind the fuel tank or air box. You’ll need to lift the seat to find this plate. If you have a trike with two front wheels, like a Can-Am Spyder, this is the first place you should check. For a dirt bike VIN lookup, check these places, plus the downtubes. The VIN is sometimes printed on the right side of the frame downtube, just above the front skid plate. Some manufacturers also engrave the VIN into the engine. This is usually on the crankcase, directly below one of the cylinders.

Where do you find the VIN on a scooter? First, check the fairing for a sticker or plate that lists the VIN, as well as other model information. On some scooters, manufacturers place the VIN on the front frame member, below or on the steering neck. There’s usually a small rectangular plastic cover on the fairing you can remove to reveal this VIN. If you don’t see anything there, check the lower frame rails. Depending on the manufacturer, there will be a plate on the left or right side rail.

The VIN is also used to identify the vehicle on official documents. You can find this code printed on titles, insurance cards, bills of sale and sometimes service receipts. Some online sellers also list the VIN in the description, so you can VIN check cycles before you see them in person.

How Do I Check a Motorcycle VIN Number?

Once you’ve found your bike’s VIN, just type it into the search box on our site. This bike VIN lookup will decode the number, giving you basic information on the bike, including the model, year, engine and manufacturer. From there, you can order a complete VIN report to get information on the bike’s history.

Motorcycle History Reports: What is Included?

When you VIN lookup bikes, you get factory information. This tells you how the bike was built, but not what happened after it left the factory. Since the VIN is unique to each bike, it creates a paper trail through its life. This code is required on titles, insurance policies and legal documents. When you order a report, we gather information from several databases, creating a history of the vehicle. Here’s what you’ll find on these reports:

• Previous owners
• Outstanding liens
• Insurance claims, including accident damage
• Theft reports
• Title brands, including salvage titles and natural disaster write-offs
• The current market value of similar bikes
• Recalls
• Odometer reporting discrepancies
• Current bike value by VIN, based on recent sales reports

While you can’t get a free VIN check that includes stolen property information, a few dollars can keep you from having your new bike repossessed. The same goes for bikes that might be recovered due to outstanding loans.

Keep in mind that while a free VIN check on a road bike and a dirt bike VIN check are the same, a dirt bike report may not be as detailed. If these bikes are only used off-road, the owner isn’t required to carry insurance. That means there aren’t any permanent records of repairs after single bike accidents. However, there will be information on accidents with other vehicles, or those that caused property damage.

No matter what you’re buying, spending a few dollars on one of these reports can save you a significant amount of money and headaches down the road.