VIN plate on airhead

snoop · 09-13-2007, 08:18 AM

I just bought a titled frame, the vin matches the frame on the lower half. however there is no vin plate on the head tube. Is there supose to be on there?

elmoreman · 09-13-2007, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by snoop

I just bought a titled frame, the vin matches the frame on the lower half. however there is no vin plate on the head tube. Is there supose to be on there?

What year/model bike? On my '71 /5 it was stamped on the head tube, no plate. I dunno about other bikes. PO powdercoated over the vin on my G/S, and I had to sandpaper the coating off to register the bike, then clear nail polished over it.

snoop · 09-13-2007, 10:09 AM

I have a 1987 R80. I just have a vin stamped on the bottom of the frame.

dlrides · 09-13-2007, 10:15 AM

My '71 & 74 have VIN plates on the neck.

crazydrummerdude · 09-13-2007, 12:08 PM

Both my 74's have VINs on plates on the neck.

jellycow · 09-13-2007, 12:36 PM

According to my manual the VIN moved downworth somewhere around 1980isch

snoop · 09-13-2007, 01:11 PM

Cool, thanks for the research, I appreciate it.

Middleweightboxer · 09-13-2007, 03:12 PM

Yes - the plate was replaced with a perforated aluminum sticker on the right side frame loop under the jug/footrest is my memory serves me.

bmwhd · 09-13-2007, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Middleweightboxer

Yes - the plate was replaced with a perforated aluminum sticker on the right side frame loop under the jug/footrest is my memory serves me.

Yep. That's what my '78 has.

jellycow · 09-14-2007, 12:55 AM

Just had a closer look, the VIN# moved from the neck downworth in 1983,
the alu plate moved at the same time from the front of the neck to the side-plate at the neck. No idea if something changed later on, this is what I can see in the manual and the frames hanging around here.
But still, what frame have you got over there, tell us?

opposedcyljunkie · 09-14-2007, 02:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jellycow

the alu plate moved at the same time from the front of the neck to the side-plate at the neck. No idea if something changed later on...

my '92 still has that side plate.

snoop · 09-14-2007, 10:25 AM

I have it stamped on the frame so I think I am fine. I am just worried about border crossings.

ctp13 · 09-14-2007, 09:54 PM

snoop

ON a newer BMW ( I believe 1981 on) there are TWO vin numbers ( one is called by the DMV as teh "secondary Vin"

ON these Bmw's they can be stamped on right frame next to brake shifter and they ALSO use a perferated alu stick on stamp some times they are just ahead of the stamped #'s right under the Carb.

They can also be on the swing arm on the right side near bearing .

Check further where they should be. BMW will order new stick on Vins for you as they finally realized thet having them under the cyl right where your toe hits the frame is not a good idea and they werar out.

YMMV

Chuck

Mugwest · 09-15-2007, 01:14 AM

that 'alu sticker' you guys keep ref'ing is anything but Alu. It's a plastic/vinyl sticker with dot-matrix perf'd numbers-- that sumbitch proved a sticking point when i had the G/S tagged in FL for the first time. On the right lower frame tube (under the R jug) it had apparently been gouged by rocks, stumps, roots etc and some of the numbers were munged. The tag lady decided it was her duty that day to morph into Super-Fly and get all medieval on my ass-- she just knew i was trying to wreck America by sneaking in a BMW G/S with 2 VIN digits obscured.

I pointed out that the stamped VIN with the 2 little stamped BMW roundels on the right steering head gusset agreed with the munged sticker, but she would'nt have a bit of it. With much super-lifer fanfare she called in her supervisor who said "This is OK. What's the problem?".

Back to orig querry: VIN's are all over the map on airheads. I know from personal ownership that up to 77 there was a riveted VIN plate with 'made in Western Germany' fastened to the right side steering head gusset-- the VIN was also stamped into the space above the oil dipstick on these. That all stopped in the late 70's, early 80's when the silver sticker started. Some got the sticker under the right jug on the frame (like my G/S), later ones got the sticker on the swingarm -- the fully faired RS/RT's are the ones i've seen this on, but i've also seen some unfaired monolever R80's with swingarm VINs.

exhaust_nut · 06-07-2010, 07:14 AM

old thread, new question,

I'm missing the Vin sticker on my '82 R65 and have moved, my new state's DMV wants to see the Vin.

Has anyone been able to order a new Vin sticker from BMW?

Quote:

Originally Posted by ctp13

they ALSO use a perferated alu stick on stamp some times...
....BMW will order new stick on Vins for you as they finally realized thet having them under the cyl right where your toe hits the frame is not a good idea and they werar out.

YMMV

Chuck

09-13-2007, 08:18 AM	#1
snoop ^OP Sven from Road Rash Joined: Mar 2007 Location: Philadelphia, USA Oddometer: 223	VIN plate on airhead I just bought a titled frame, the vin matches the frame on the lower half. however there is no vin plate on the head tube. Is there supose to be on there?

09-13-2007, 10:15 AM	#4
dlrides 1:1.618 Joined: Jul 2005 Location: Newton NC Oddometer: 4,794	My '71 & 74 have VIN plates on the neck. __________________ I must work, millions of losers are depending my taxes for a check.

09-13-2007, 12:08 PM	#5
crazydrummerdude Wacky Bongo Boy Joined: Nov 2006 Location: Moore/OKC Oddometer: 6,917	Both my 74's have VINs on plates on the neck. __________________ 1974 BMW R75/6, 1974 BMW R90/6, 1969 BMW R60/2 hack, 1929 Ford Model A, Metal casting, Part 2/Part 1 among others..

09-13-2007, 12:36 PM	#6
jellycow out there & loving it Joined: May 2005 Location: the Netherlands Oddometer: 481	According to my manual the VIN moved downworth somewhere around 1980isch __________________ [Sir Mix-a-lot mode] I like big tanks and I cannot lie [\Sir Mix-a-lot mode]

09-13-2007, 03:12 PM	#8
Middleweightboxer Middleweightboxer Joined: Feb 2005 Location: Paradise, TX Oddometer: 665	Yes - the plate was replaced with a perforated aluminum sticker on the right side frame loop under the jug/footrest is my memory serves me. __________________ Bill Tiger 800XC, R1, FZ1, RD400, CB400F R80ST, R90S, Monster S2R, Penton 125 JPS, T25T

09-13-2007, 10:09 AM	#3
snoop ^OP Sven from Road Rash Joined: Mar 2007 Location: Philadelphia, USA Oddometer: 223	I have a 1987 R80. I just have a vin stamped on the bottom of the frame.

09-13-2007, 01:11 PM	#7
snoop ^OP Sven from Road Rash Joined: Mar 2007 Location: Philadelphia, USA Oddometer: 223	Cool, thanks for the research, I appreciate it.

09-14-2007, 12:55 AM	#10
jellycow out there & loving it Joined: May 2005 Location: the Netherlands Oddometer: 481	Just had a closer look, the VIN# moved from the neck downworth in 1983, the alu plate moved at the same time from the front of the neck to the side-plate at the neck. No idea if something changed later on, this is what I can see in the manual and the frames hanging around here. But still, what frame have you got over there, tell us? __________________ [Sir Mix-a-lot mode] I like big tanks and I cannot lie [\Sir Mix-a-lot mode]

09-14-2007, 10:25 AM	#12
snoop ^OP Sven from Road Rash Joined: Mar 2007 Location: Philadelphia, USA Oddometer: 223	I have it stamped on the frame so I think I am fine. I am just worried about border crossings.

09-14-2007, 09:54 PM	#13
ctp13 Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Apr 2006 Oddometer: 255	snoop ON a newer BMW ( I believe 1981 on) there are TWO vin numbers ( one is called by the DMV as teh "secondary Vin" ON these Bmw's they can be stamped on right frame next to brake shifter and they ALSO use a perferated alu stick on stamp some times they are just ahead of the stamped #'s right under the Carb. They can also be on the swing arm on the right side near bearing . Check further where they should be. BMW will order new stick on Vins for you as they finally realized thet having them under the cyl right where your toe hits the frame is not a good idea and they werar out. YMMV Chuck

09-15-2007, 01:14 AM	#14
Mugwest Friend. Joined: Oct 2005 Location: 3rd Ring of Buzztopia Oddometer: 5,210	that 'alu sticker' you guys keep ref'ing is anything but Alu. It's a plastic/vinyl sticker with dot-matrix perf'd numbers-- that sumbitch proved a sticking point when i had the G/S tagged in FL for the first time. On the right lower frame tube (under the R jug) it had apparently been gouged by rocks, stumps, roots etc and some of the numbers were munged. The tag lady decided it was her duty that day to morph into Super-Fly and get all medieval on my ass-- she just knew i was trying to wreck America by sneaking in a BMW G/S with 2 VIN digits obscured. I pointed out that the stamped VIN with the 2 little stamped BMW roundels on the right steering head gusset agreed with the munged sticker, but she would'nt have a bit of it. With much super-lifer fanfare she called in her supervisor who said "This is OK. What's the problem?". Back to orig querry: VIN's are all over the map on airheads. I know from personal ownership that up to 77 there was a riveted VIN plate with 'made in Western Germany' fastened to the right side steering head gusset-- the VIN was also stamped into the space above the oil dipstick on these. That all stopped in the late 70's, early 80's when the silver sticker started. Some got the sticker under the right jug on the frame (like my G/S), later ones got the sticker on the swingarm -- the fully faired RS/RT's are the ones i've seen this on, but i've also seen some unfaired monolever R80's with swingarm VINs. __________________ .

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: .
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode