How does Harley tell the year?
As a classic American motorcycle brand, Harley-Davidson's vintage identification is crucial to collectors and enthusiasts. This article will combine the hot topics and hot content in the past 10 days to provide you with a detailed analysis of the year identification method of Harley-Davidson motorcycles, and provide structured data for reference.
1. The importance of identifying the year of Harley motorcycles

The age of a Harley motorcycle not only affects its market value, but is also closely related to parts replacement, repair and maintenance, etc. In the past 10 days, discussions on "Harley year identification" have continued to increase on social media and motorcycle forums, with many owners and enthusiasts seeking accurate methods.
2. How to identify the year of Harley motorcycles
The year of a Harley motorcycle can usually be identified by its chassis number (VIN) and engine number. The following is the specific identification method:
| Identification method | Specific methods | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle frame number (VIN) | Harley's frame number is usually located on the head tube or on the right side of the frame. The 10th character represents the year, for example, "H" represents 2017. | VIN: 1HD1KBM1H6J123456 |
| Engine number | The engine number is usually located on the bottom or side of the engine, and some year information may match the frame number. | Engine: AB1234517 |
| Factory label | Some models have a factory label on the frame or under the fuel tank, indicating the year of production. | Manufactured: 08/2020 |
3. Discussions on hot topics in the past 10 days related to Harley vintage
The following are the hot topics and hot content on the Internet regarding Harley motorcycle year identification in the past 10 days:
| topic | Source platform | Discussion popularity |
|---|---|---|
| How to Identify the Year of a Harley by VIN | Reddit, Harley Forum | high |
| Harley classic model year comparison table | Facebook motorcycle group | in |
| Used Harley Vintage Trap | Zhihu, Tieba | high |
| 2024 Harley new car year logo | Instagram, YouTube | in |
4. Harley motorcycle year comparison table (1980-2024)
The following is a comparison table of the Harley motorcycle year and the 10th character of the VIN for your reference:
| Year | VIN 10th character | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | A | Some models may differ |
| 1990 | L | - |
| 2000 | Y | - |
| 2010 | A | Repeated from 1980, need to be combined with other information |
| 2020 | L | - |
| 2024 | R | Latest year mark |
5. Things to note
1.VIN duplicate problem: Harley's VIN year mark is duplicated (for example, 1980 and 2010 are both "A"), which needs to be further confirmed by combining the model and engine number.
2.Regional differences: The year markings of some export models may be different from those in the United States. Please refer to local regulations.
3.Modified car identification: The year of modified Harley may be difficult to confirm due to parts replacement. It is recommended to have it authenticated by a professional organization.
6. Summary
Harley motorcycle year identification is a must-have skill for owners and enthusiasts. You can accurately determine the vehicle's year of production by using the frame number, engine number, and factory label. Hot topics in the past 10 days also show that Harley year identification has always been one of the hot spots in the motorcycle circle. I hope the structured data provided in this article can help you!
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