Want to upgrade your bike to a new custom frame? You must apply for a new title. While it is nice to have an original Harley with matching engine and frame numbers, only the frame VIN is relevant when it comes to legal registration. [Source]
We have been helping friends buy and sell their bikes ever since I can remember. It seems like there’s always someone looking to trade up, or buy their first bike… and my husband is someone who is always consulted about what to get, where to look, and then determine if they’re getting a good deal. I usually wind up going along, and have learned a lot by just listening to all the conversations.
While blog surfing today, I found a great post about Harley-Davidson VIN’s, and why it’s so important to check them against the Title when you buy a bike. This post referrenced a site with great informational charts on the VIN model codes and where to find the VINs on all the different model years.
For information on what all the other digits in your Harley-Davidson VIN mean, check out this page.
Every so often, I enjoy impressing the guys with random motorcycle knowledge… so I’m looking forward to the next time we go out to look at a bike with a friend, so I can help to make sure all is well with the VINs. I can’t ride my own bike due to injuries from a car accident a few years ago, so they always seem surprised when a non-rider (driver) knows these little things. 
