mrsquirrel Posted November 1, 2005 Share Posted November 1, 2005 Living in Thailand I have to buy my bikes second hand. Just the way things are out here. So I buy from the best bike importer in the country. You pay a little more but you have peace of mind with the company. My Bird is meant to be a Blue 99 FI. It has the analogue clocks but has the newer rear light fixture. Now registering bikes here is sometimes a bit of cash under the table affair and with this bike it probably was too but I won't really ever know. My chassis number on the steering column etched into frame has not been changed. The number on the metal chassis plate near the oil filler has been acided of and re stamped with the number on the frame. The reason I am curious is that my regulator is on the left hand side and was a big 2002 model or later one in the 2002 model and later place. ARe there any other clues I should look for to determine the year of the bike. Paint colour, ECU or something else. I know this sounds a bit dodgy but it is Thailand and it is not uncommon for numbers to be changed to compliment a log book that is already out here on the market. Saves time and money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redbird Posted November 1, 2005 Share Posted November 1, 2005 Analogue clocks + FI = '99-'00 '97-'00 regulator is on the left side. It grew cooling fins in '99, moved to the right side and got slightly bigger in '01 . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsquirrel Posted November 1, 2005 Author Share Posted November 1, 2005 Thanks Mis-information on my part then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikey Posted November 1, 2005 Share Posted November 1, 2005 Doesn't the badge on the right side of your bike on the frame show the year in big letters? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsquirrel Posted November 1, 2005 Author Share Posted November 1, 2005 Numbers even Not sure will look Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matey_peeps Posted November 1, 2005 Share Posted November 1, 2005 Only ones sold in the US have the big year letters. Surely there's a manufacture date on that sticker, probably look like '08/98' or something. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmystartup Posted November 2, 2005 Share Posted November 2, 2005 What is the 10th digit of your VIN? That tells you the model year. See below for a reference... A 1980 2010 L 1990 2020 Y 2000 2030 B 1981 2011 M 1991 2021 1 2001 2031 C 1982 2012 N 1992 2022 2 2002 2032 D 1983 2013 P 1993 2023 3 2003 2033 E 1984 2014 R 1994 2024 4 2004 2034 F 1985 2015 S 1995 2025 5 2005 2035 G 1986 2016 T 1996 2026 6 2006 2036 H 1987 2017 V 1997 2027 7 2007 2037 J 1988 2018 W 1998 2028 8 2008 2038 K 1989 2019 X 1999 2029 9 2009 2039 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Obby Posted November 2, 2005 Share Posted November 2, 2005 I got my money on a '99. I think that WAS the only year for the old blue bird. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gharknes Posted November 24, 2005 Share Posted November 24, 2005 i am in thailand and just bought a black 99 xx, where abouts are you ? get in touch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsquirrel Posted November 25, 2005 Author Share Posted November 25, 2005 Oddly enough I saw a Blackbird in Black last week with a foreign rider in town. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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