VIN decoder / Kawasaki
Kawasaki VIN decoder: free VIN check and lookup
Decode any Kawasaki motorcycle VIN: model year, maker, country, plant and specifications, with a check-digit test. Free, no sign-up.
Kawasaki maker codes (WMI)
The first three characters of a VIN are the world manufacturer identifier. Kawasaki VINs in our data begin with 13 different maker codes, covering vehicles built in Japan, Taiwan, China, India, Indonesia and Thailand.
- Japan: JK1, JK8, JKA, JKB, JSA, JSK, JSL
- Taiwan: RK6, RK7
- China: LM4
- India: MAA
- Indonesia: MH4
- Thailand: ML5
| WMI | Manufacturer | Built in | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| LM4 | Suzuki Motor Of America, Inc. Also used by Suzuki | China | Motorcycle |
| MAA | Kawasaki Motors, Ltd. | India | Motorcycle |
| MH4 | Kawasaki Motors, Ltd. | Indonesia | Motorcycle |
| JK1 | Kawasaki Motors, Ltd. | Japan | Motorcycle |
| JK8 | Kawasaki Motors, Ltd. | Japan | Motorcycle |
| JKA | Kawasaki Motors, Ltd. | Japan | Motorcycle |
| JKB | Kawasaki Motors, Ltd. | Japan | Motorcycle |
| JSA | Suzuki Motor Of America, Inc. Also used by Suzuki | Japan | Motorcycle |
| JSK | Suzuki Motor Of America, Inc. | Japan | Motorcycle |
| JSL | Suzuki Motor Of America, Inc. | Japan | Motorcycle |
| RK6 | Suzuki Motor Of America, Inc. | Taiwan | Motorcycle |
| RK7 | Suzuki Motor Of America, Inc. | Taiwan | Motorcycle |
| ML5 | Kawasaki Motors Enterprise Thailand Co., Ltd. | Thailand | Motorcycle |
How to read a Kawasaki VIN
A Kawasaki VIN follows the same 17-character layout as every other make. What differs is the maker code in positions 1-3 (above) and the model, body and engine codes in positions 4-8, which Kawasaki defines itself.
| Position | Part | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| 1-3 | WMI | World manufacturer identifier: country and maker. |
| 4-8 | VDS | Vehicle descriptor: model, body, engine, restraints. Codes are the maker's own. |
| 9 | Check digit | A calculated digit that catches typos. Mandatory in North America and China. |
| 10 | Model year | One letter or digit. The code repeats every 30 years. |
| 11 | Plant | Assembly plant, coded by the maker. |
| 12-17 | Serial | Production sequence number. |
Kawasaki model year codes
Position 10 of a Kawasaki VIN is the model year. The code repeats every 30 years, so a letter can mean two years. On Kawasaki cars and light trucks built for North America, the seventh character settles it: a letter means the newer cycle, a digit the older one. Elsewhere, use the registration date.
| Code (position 10) | 1980-2009 cycle | 2010-2039 cycle |
|---|---|---|
| A | 1980 | 2010 |
| B | 1981 | 2011 |
| C | 1982 | 2012 |
| D | 1983 | 2013 |
| E | 1984 | 2014 |
| F | 1985 | 2015 |
| G | 1986 | 2016 |
| H | 1987 | 2017 |
| J | 1988 | 2018 |
| K | 1989 | 2019 |
| L | 1990 | 2020 |
| M | 1991 | 2021 |
| N | 1992 | 2022 |
| P | 1993 | 2023 |
| R | 1994 | 2024 |
| S | 1995 | 2025 |
| T | 1996 | 2026 |
| V | 1997 | 2027 |
| W | 1998 | 2028 |
| X | 1999 | 2029 |
| Y | 2000 | 2030 |
| 1 | 2001 | 2031 |
| 2 | 2002 | 2032 |
| 3 | 2003 | 2033 |
| 4 | 2004 | 2034 |
| 5 | 2005 | 2035 |
| 6 | 2006 | 2036 |
| 7 | 2007 | 2037 |
| 8 | 2008 | 2038 |
| 9 | 2009 | 2039 |
Where to find the VIN on a Kawasaki
- Steering head. The VIN is normally stamped into the frame at the steering head (the neck the forks pivot on). Turn the bars to see it; it is often on the right-hand side.
- Frame or plate. Many bikes also carry a plate or label with the VIN on the frame, or under the seat.
- Paperwork. The registration document or title, and your insurance papers, show the VIN.
Exact positions differ by model, so treat these as the usual places on any Kawasaki rather than a fixed spot.
Older Kawasaki chassis numbers
Kawasaki vehicles built before 1981 do not carry a standard 17-character VIN, and each maker had its own chassis number format. Those cannot be decoded from the number alone.
Marque-specific chassis numbers are kept in the model registries on Moterno.
Kawasaki VIN questions
How do I decode a Kawasaki VIN?
Enter the 17-character VIN in the decoder above. It shows the model year, maker, country and plant from the VIN structure, plus the model, body, engine and drive type from NHTSA data when the vehicle is in that database, and it checks the check digit.
Where was my Kawasaki built?
The first three characters of the VIN are the maker code. NHTSA and the manufacturer registry list Kawasaki maker codes for Japan, Taiwan, China, India, Indonesia and Thailand. The first character alone gives the region: 1, 4 and 5 are the United States, 2 Canada, 3 Mexico, J Japan, K South Korea, S the United Kingdom, W Germany, V France or Spain, Z Italy and Y Sweden or Belgium.
What does the 10th character of a Kawasaki VIN mean?
It is the model year code. Letters and digits repeat every 30 years, so a letter such as K means 1989 or 2019. On North American Kawasaki cars and trucks the seventh character settles it: a letter means 2010 or later, a digit means 2009 or earlier.
Does a Kawasaki VIN have a check digit?
Position 9 is a check digit. It is mandatory on VINs of vehicles built for North America, so a mismatch there usually means a typo. Vehicles built for Europe and most of Asia do not have to follow the rule, so a mismatch is not a warning sign.
Is this Kawasaki VIN check free?
Yes, it is free with no sign-up and no ads. A VIN decode shows the vehicle's specifications, not its history, so it will not show accidents, mileage or owners.
My Kawasaki is older than 1981. Can I still look it up?
Vehicles built before 1981 do not use the standard 17-character VIN, so they cannot be decoded from the number. Marque-specific chassis numbers are kept in the model registries on Moterno.