VIN/Engine #

[Guest]

I didn't know where to put this one. I figgered in "General Topics" is a good place.
Where can a person go to find out if the VIN and engine go together?
Suzuki will not give that info out. I tried. All she told me was that the frame number is good but the engine is from a different bike.
I have been trying to title the bike since '09 and I'm having a helluva time. My father-in-law passed away and I found it in his shed in boxes.

 

[Nessism]

Look at your title to see if both a VIN and engine number are listed. If not, don't worry about the engine number. Suzuki didn't link them.

 

[Steve]

Correct. The engine number never matched the frame number.

As Nessism mentioned, the only time you might have the "wrong" engine is if your title has both numbers listed.

.

 

[cowboyup3371]

The title should be based off the number on the frame

 

[Nessism]

In California both the VIN and engine number are on the title.

 

[limeex2]

In Minnesota, they ask for the engine number on a new title. I assume to cut down on stolen parts? If the bike is already titled in Fl. and he's re-titling it in Fl under a new name the engine number on file is somehow different than what he has now. Ask the clerk what the issue is. Tell them the situation. Ask them for a solution, the answer that it doesnt match is not a way to remedy the problem. If that clerk can't help you, ask for their supervisor.

 

[MrGoldennuggets]

Is it normal for these bikes to simply not have a VIN number stamped? I got mine from a storage unit that was abandoned (I have all the paperwork from the sale) but the only number I have found stamped on the frame is what looks like a model indicator rather than VIN number. GS850 -104XXX. I'm trying to find one so that I can go through the proper avenues for getting it registered

 

[Guest]

Sounds like you have a bike that pre-dates the current VIN system. I believe your system started in 1981? If that's correct the GS850-104xxx number is the frame number that you'll need.

 

[hannibal]

Is it normal for these bikes to simply not have a VIN number stamped? I got mine from a storage unit that was abandoned (I have all the paperwork from the sale) but the only number I have found stamped on the frame is what looks like a model indicator rather than VIN number. GS850 -104XXX. I'm trying to find one so that I can go through the proper avenues for getting it registered

That is the VIN. A similar style VIN is listed on my title. The 17 digit VINs started in 1981.

It appears you have 1979 GS850G: http://www.ozebook.com/compendium/suzi/engine-nos/engnos.htm

 

[Redman]

Is it normal for these bikes to simply not have a VIN number stamped? I got mine from a storage unit that was abandoned (I have all the paperwork from the sale) but the only number I have found stamped on the frame is what looks like a model indicator rather than VIN number. GS850 -104XXX. I'm trying to find one so that I can go through the proper avenues for getting it registered

The number stamped on the frame (stering neck, right?) is a frame number. There is also an engine number stamped on the engine, which is different than the frame number. The frame number is what was used for the registration back in the day, 1980 and prior.

Was not till later that Suzuki started to use the convention of the VIN number.


Some info (wicipedia)
VINs were first used in 1954 in the United States.[SUP][1][/SUP] From 1954 to 1981, there was no accepted standard for these numbers, so different manufacturers used different formats.

In 1981, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration of the United States standardized the format.[SUP][1][/SUP] It required all on-road vehicles sold to contain a 17-character VIN, which does not include the letters O (o), I (i), and Q (q) (to avoid confusion with numerals 0, 1, and 9).

 

[LAB3]

Could be the clerk may not be familiar with a bike that old, they probably don't see too many of them. Asking for a supervisor might put them on the defensive, it's probably better to politely say "Could we verify this with someone else, I just want to make sure we're getting this done properly"

 

[Guest]

Thank you to all that replied.
My problem is that there is NO title. The Wisconsin DMV wanted to have me research the bike's history. Through the DMV's back round checks, I was told that the engine number didn't come on that frame. And the bike was registered in Minnesota. They won't give out any information. Typical Viqueen people!
So I called Suzuki in Cali and asked if they had anything about the history. That is when she told me that the engine did not come on that frame.

 

[Redman]

. . . . . .
My problem is that there is NO title. The Wisconsin DMV wanted to have me research the bike's history. Through the DMV's back round checks, I was told that the engine number didn't come on that frame........
....

"No title" is a separate problem .... and the process for dealing with that is different from state to state. In many states the net result is the bike's only value is as a parts bike.

Relative to what number should be or was on any title: What you need to understand is that in 1980 and before, Suzuki had thier own type of frame number convention (the GS850 blah blah that you mentioned) and that is what would have most likley been on the title, and what you need to use in any search-history. ALthough maybe just the blah blah numbers. Was not till 1981 that Suzuki used the more standard VIN convention used today.
And the Suzuki engine number is differenet than the fame number.