how do i get information from my serial #
My owner's manual has a section on VINs:
1st 3 chars - Mfr make and class
4-6 chars - "Decipherable information"
7-8 chars - Capacity/horsepower
9 - Checkdigit number
10 - year of mfr
11 - place of mfr
12-17 - engine number
Kevin has published an explanation and can probably provide the link. Meantime, here is the gist of it:
Says it should be located on the neck of the frame (in front of the gas tank); part of it is stamped into the engine case on the right hand side just below the cylinder (and should be the same as the last 6 digits found on the frame); a stamped plate on one of the down tubes; and inside a side cover.
He goes on to say that for US models, the first 6 characters are assigned by the US Gov't and always the same. These ID Royal Enfield as the mfr. The next 2 are HP. The next is a check digit ("part of a mathematical formula used to validate the VIN"), followed by the model year, and finally the serial number specific to your machine (and the same as your engine number).
My 2006 US market Electra X is similar: The first 6 characters are the mfr info: MBFFSV . The next two are the HP: 23. next is the check digit: 1, next the model year: 6; and finally a 6 character engine number (I won't share that!).
Year designation is:
2=2002
1=2001
Y=2000
X=1999
W=1998
V=1997
U=1996
T=1995
HTH,
Matt