Hitchcocks Forum

Hi all,

Sorry to be annoying, but I have not been able to find the way to decode the VIN stamped on Tornado my Bullet Military, first UK registered 1998.

The manual gave an example where 9B meant 1989 and Bullet, but It did not say wehter my "4" meant 1984 or possibly 1994 if they repeated the numbers.

Just checking so that I know the year when ordering parts and spares etc.

VIN is 4B 53248 F

Thanks in advance

Simon

That looks more like an engine number rather then a VIN, however, you are correct in thinking that the engine prefix number repeats every 10 years, my '99 Bullet 500 has an engine serial number in the 9000's If someone here has one closer to 53248 you may be able to work the date out. I take it yours doesn't have the ID plate on the downtube where the VIN and date normally is? Sometimes dates can also be found on various items and castings.

I meant your engine number of 3248, the 5 of course standing for 500!

Normally the 10th digit of the VIN (Not engine number) gives the model year. I don't know if this will apply to yours as I'm guessing its an import? but for anyone else interested, have a look at + http://www.researchmaniacs.com/VIN/VIN-Decoder.html

Hi Scalyback.
My 1996 Bullet 500 has the number 6B5 5590, so that suggests strongly that yours is of very similar age.
Cheers
ChrisD

In addition, they didn't make 500 Bullets until, I think, 1990. ChrisD

Thanks guys,



so 4B 53248F decodes as...



4=1994

B=Bullet

5=500cc engine

3248=engine /frame number

F=?



Anyway thanks for the replies.



My next question, will Tornado run on this bloody 10% alcohol fuel

without acting drunk or pissing it everywhere (corrosion), as it seems

to be built in 1994, or are there measures I should take if available?


I guess Thunderbolt my 2010 woodsman (electra EFi) is ok?

From the advice here, i fed it a tank of 98 fuel, then tonight I checked

the NGK BPR6ES plug. It seems ok, and the Bike's idling inconsistencies

vanished! I am very pleased!





Is this correct for a 'good' plug?



Thanks, Simon






"Brown text and big too!"

The 'F' is the month, 'A' being January etc. so 'F'= made in June