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VIN number location 75 Ironhead sportster

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  #1  
Old 03-19-2018, 07:12 PM
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Default VIN number location 75 Ironhead sportster

Looking for VIN number on frame for 1975 Ironhead sportster. I found the title matching number on right side of motor but not finding any numbers on neck or down tubes of frame. It has been repainted god only knows how many times over the years LOL! I do see something that looks could be possibly numbers on the right-hand side of the neck but really don’t want to go scratching into the paint if that’s not it! Any help is greatly appreciated!
 
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Old 03-19-2018, 08:41 PM
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Should be on the right side of the neck.
 
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Old 03-20-2018, 05:31 AM
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Your '75 won't have a modern VIN, they weren't introduced until a few years later, 1981 IIRC. You should find a frame number as Billy describes. Modern VINs are also displayed in a shortened form as the engine number, but before that the engine number was commonly completely different to the frame number. If your bike has been repainted over the years you may have to scrape the paint off to read the number clearly.
 
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Old 03-20-2018, 06:23 AM
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In the US I believe Harley started putting the VIN on frames around 1970. My 71 Superglide had the VIN on the frame.
I believe they went to the 17 digit number in 81 but Harley put the # on the frame way before then.
 

Last edited by apache snow; 03-20-2018 at 06:30 AM.
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Old 03-20-2018, 06:35 AM
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You may be right, however the expression VIN has probably been applied retrospectively, rather than literally. Bikes have had a frame number since Noah built the Ark and it would be easy to call that a VIN!
 
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Old 03-20-2018, 06:59 AM
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No 1969 and earlier Harley did not have a frame #. There was none on my 64 Panhead, The VIN was stamped on the engine cases with the first # being the year. 1970 is was when they went to alternators and changed the engine cases and started butting it on the frame and cases. I cant remember crap this morning.
 

Last edited by apache snow; 03-20-2018 at 07:02 AM.
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Old 03-20-2018, 08:08 AM
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VIN will be on the pad on the right downtube near the neck. Could be very hard to read as they get painted over. Do NOT mess with it, even if it's hard to see being painted over. Any alterations make it look worked over, and the cops will hassle you if they want. Not fun explaining to a cop younger than you how classic VIN's work for Harleys... The red box is where it is on my '72 and should be for yours as the frame didn't change.


VIN number location 75 Ironhead sportster-ldbhskrl.jpg
 

Last edited by Scuba10jdl; 03-20-2018 at 08:10 AM.
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