William Harley and Walter Davidson, along with two brothers, brought their childhood fascination with bicycles to life with their first prototype motorcycle in 1903. From there, H.O.G. history began, and the iconic Harley-Davidson brand endured the Great Depression, countless assassinations, a moon landing, and two world wars.
The brilliant band of brothers created their HOG Nation in a backyard woodshed, including a buckle crank, decades of manufacturing innovation, the start of a revolutionary racing team, and the unmistakable Harley-Davidson low, guttural growl of the engine.
In 1909, HD took their bikes to the next level with a two-cylinder V-twin configuration. The distinctive V-twin shape and spark plug position would only allow the engine to spark at 45 degrees. A crankshaft connected to both cylinders would allow a little bit more rotation and the recherche sound is created.
Harley-Davidson VIN Decoder
Motorcycle VIN decoders provide quick VIN checks, assuring the user that their code is valid and matches a specific vehicle. Quality VIN decoders reveal basic information on a specific bike, such as make, model, and any added equipment. The GoodCar VIN Decoder application uses the same 17-digit coding as any car or truck and sticks to the NHTSA’s formatting requirements.
Deciphering an Harley-Davidson VIN
As any enthusiast would expect, the 17-digit alphanumeric code found on every HOG is uniquely Harley-Davidson.
The first three positions of the Harley VIN are part of the World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) section. The WMI is a complex numbering system that helps identify every unique VIN code.
- 1
- F
- T
- 8
- W
- 3
- D
- T
- 8
- 5
- 5
- c
- 3
- 8
- 8
- 9
- 9
Popular Harley-Davidson Models
Harley-Davidson’s Sportster
Harley-Davidson’s Sportster has been an iconic model for the brand for 67 years. This versatile machine is one of the world’s longest continuously produced motorcycles. Weekenders, novices, racing teams, and track racers feel their Sportster is in a class by itself. First built in 1957, the Sportster took several queues from its predecessor, the model K.
However, the new bike boasted a revolutionary 55-inch pushrod overhead valve design, giving the beast an 883 cc displacement. Only 1983 units were built that first year; by 1974, HOG Nation took over, and the company spits out 23,830 Sportsters to satisfy the skyrocketing demand. The completely redesigned 2024 Sportster S, starting at $16,999, features the Revolution MAX 1250T liquid-cooled powertrain. High-mounted exhaust, advanced instrumentation, and powerful rider technology make this Sportster iteration simply thrilling.
Grand American Touring and Cruisers
The Fat Boy debuted in 1990 and rapidly became a symbol of American motorcycle culture. The bike’s distinctive aesthetic appeal, characterized by its muscular stature and solid-cast disc wheels, instantly elevated it to a status symbol. The iconic bike was featured on the silver screen and adopted by police organizations across the country.
The 2024 Fat Boy, starting at $21,999, is embedded with advanced engineering, a high-performance front suspension, and lots of chrome finishes. The bike features the ninth generation of Harley’s big twin engines and the first for the Milwaukee Eight 114 powertrain. The Milwaukee Eight engines provide up to 10% more torque and accelerate 8% quicker while retaining the classic 45-degree V-Twin design and sound.
Touring motorcycles are built for comfortable long-distance traveling, and Harley-Davidson has one of the best in the Elektra Glide model, introduced in 1965. Each 2024 Elektra Glide model features the iconic Milwaukee Eight 114 engine, which has more torque and acceleration. The Batwing Fairing, has abundant chrome accents, luggage carriers, and on-demand power coupled with the Harley-Davidson sound. The Elektra Glide series is the ultimate in long-distance touring machines with no equal.
Harley-Davidson created its CVO (Custom Vehicle Operations) program in 1999 to create custom HOGS from their current lineup of Touring and Cruisers. One of the CVO models for 2024 is the Road Glide, with a starting price of $44,499. This stunning Harley features a wealth of performance and innovation upgrades, along with striking design enhancements. The Milwaukee-Eight 121 High-Output V-Twin Platform is exclusive to the Road Glide. The engine produces 127hp and 145 lb. ft. of torque, the most power and torque from a Harley-Davidson-installed engine. The Road Glide features a seamless visual flow, from the Sharknose Fairing to its full saddlebags. Tire Pressure Monitoring systems, reduced weight, and computational fluid dynamics make the Road Glide a breathtaking example of the legendary brand.
The Harley-Davidson VIN
Harley-Davidson VIN development over the years has been better than most. In the early 1900s, VINs were erratic. From the 1930s to 1962, VIN development improved to 8 to 10 digits, with the first two being the production year. VIN development continued to improve until the world stepped in and began standardizing the VIN. Harley Davidson follows the 17-digit alphanumeric code the NHTSA set in 1981 and continues with this formatting.
Harley-Davidson VIN Lookup
Uncover the history of your bike with a detailed VIN lookup, which gives you detailed information on the model, accident and ownership history, odometer checks and wholesale, retail values. To discover a bike’s documented history, use the GoodCar VIN Check service. GoodCar is one of the most trusted and reliable reporting services available to any Harley-Davidson owner or prospective buyer.
GoodCar Harley-Davidson VIN Checks
Enter the 17-digit code into the GoodCar Service, and the application will return every significant event that has happened to your Harley since it rolled off the production line. If you want to purchase or sell your bike, take the time to learn everything.
Title records are a vital part of every history report; know that your Harley’s ownership can be transferred freely. A history report can also reveal a branded title, such as a salvage or rebuilt title, which means there has been a severe accident or total loss event.
Uncover the complete ownership history and every odometer check to make sure no mileage fraud is being used. An odometer crime is the fastest-growing fraud for any vehicle. The GoodCar VIN Check service verifies every odometer check to make sure they are correct.
Know instantly every dealership or aftermarket add-on for your Harley. GoodCar provides up-to-date retail and wholesale values to help you make a wise decision about selling or buying.
Technical Service Bulletins (TSB)
A quality history report by GoodCar uncovers any manufacturer or NHTSA recall information. Detailed reports provide the issue and the action the owners should take.
The Latest Harley-Davidson Technical Service Bulletins
- M1601: Corrects the front brake disc screw torque for the 2023 CVO service manual
- M1600: Covers the oil pan fastener change for the 2023 Milwaukee Eight
- M1599: Updates the 50S/30K headset for compatibility with the Infotainment Control Unit (IFCU)
Recalls
On August 31, 2023, Harley-Davidson recalled 65,000 Softail motorcycles built between 2017 and 2023 due to a suspension issue that may damage the rear wheels. Owners of the affected bikes should bring their models to a dealership to have them fixed free of charge.
October 2022, one of the largest recalls in the company’s history affects several trikes, CVO trikes, and touring models. The affected motorcycles may experience unintended brake illumination, which may cause a rear-end collision. Consumer Reports says 199,419 bikes, with model years 2019 through 2022, are affected. Dealers will update the software on Touring and CVO Touring motorcycles. A new pressure switch will also be installed on Trike and CVO Trike motorcycles. All repairs will be performed free of charge.