Suzuki Model Year Codes and VIN

Monday, November 14th, 2011 Tech Articles 55 Comments

Have you ever wondered how you can identify the model year of a Suzuki motorcycle or ATV?

Suzuki assigns a year letter code to the end of each model name. Perhaps you’ve noticed this letter designation in your Suzuki repair manual or owners manual but weren’t sure what it meant.

Here’s how it works: If you own a 1999 Suzuki TL1000S X or a TL1000R X or a GSXR600X etc the X at the end tells us it was sold as a 1999 model year. The year of manufacture is not necessarily the model year. Usually around October the new models are released, so it’s possible to have a built date of say 10/98 and have an X (1999) model even though it was built in 1998.

You might notice that “I”, “O”, “Q”, “U” and “Z” are missing from the codes. The letters I, O & U cannot be used in a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) at all. The digit / number 0 and letters U & Z are not used in the year model code.

There is more VIN information here on a Wikipedia – Vehicle Identification Number page.

In ascending order, the ISO and Suzuki year code letter designations are as follows:

Year	ISO	Suzuki
1980	A	T
1981	B	X
1982	C	Z
1983	D	D
1984	E	E
1885	F	F
1986	G	G
1987	H	H
1988	J	J
1989	K	K
1990	L	L
1991	M	M
1992	N	N
1993	P	P
1994	R	R
1995	S	S
1996	T	T
1997	V	V
1998	W	W
1999	X	X
2000	Y	Y
2001	1	K1
2002	2	K2
2003	3	K3
2004	4	K4
2005	5	K5
2006	6	K6
2007	7	K7
2008	8	K8
2009	9	K9
2010	A	?
2011	B	?
2012	C	?
2013	D	?
2014	E	?
2015	F	?
2016	G	?
2017	H	?
2018	J	?
2019	K	?

Tags: code, letter, Model, VIN

55 Comments to Suzuki Model Year Codes and VIN

[…] […]

Your Questions About New Models Of Trucks | Bites With Brandy on April 26th, 2012

Hi,

Hope you can help. I tried to identify my Suzuki’s year model using your descriptions, but find myself at a loss. The VIN is GR7EA100135. Any advice? Thanks!

Johan on July 17th, 2012

Pre 1981,the 17 digit standard VIN wasn’t used. As your VIN is less than 17 digits, I’d say it is pre 1981 and don’t knowhow to decipher it. Sorry.

Steve on August 11th, 2012

I have a Suzuki 1300GSX-R engine in my racing car, so I don’t have a VIN. I am trying to find out the year of manufacture of the engine. The engine number is: X704129777. Can you help?

Gerry on February 14th, 2014

Sorry, can’t help Gerry.

Even with all the TLS and TLR engine numbers I’ve looked at, there was never a correlation to the year. The X704 probably means it’s a GSX1300R engine and that’s about it.

You might get a rough idea by looking at the engine numbers on bikes with a known DOB and work out roughly where yours fits into it all.

Steve on February 14th, 2014

Thanks for the tip about correlating my engine with known date engines. I’ve previously tried asking Suzuki Australia and Suzuki UK, neither said they can help me. Don’t know why it’s so difficult for them, so I’m looking at writing to Suzuki Japan. If they don’t know then nobody will know!

Gerry on February 16th, 2014

Hi there I wonder if youl could shed some light on my bike please the vin is js1gr78a000501585

Brian jarret on February 22nd, 2014

Hey i was wondering if the manufacture date is different than the model year of the bike. I would like to put a power commander on my 2001 gsxr 750 but from their website they say if the bike is a 2001 made after June then I need to buy the 2002 version of the power commander. If the bike is a 2001 but manufactured before June then i need to buy the 2001 version of the power commander. so although i know my bike is from 2001 and the says its a 2001 one i am unsure of how to find the manufacture day. vin JS1GR7HAX12104358 is there any way you can help?

Alb on April 30th, 2014

The date of manufacture is stamped on the compliance plate here in AU

Here’s a sample:

http://wotid.com/pictures/albums/userpics/10001/vin_plate_02_800.jpg

Steve on April 30th, 2014

Steve, I am pretty certain that the date on the VIN is the compliance date. Not the date of manufacture. I am also trying to find out how to get the actual date of manufacture of a GS500 without luck. A Suzuki web page I found suggests taking the VIN to a dealer parts department and they can get the info. Not sure about that though.

Ray on May 4th, 2014

On the TL it was the date of manufacture that stamped on the compliance plate. Model runs start in October. Mine was a 98 model built in January, but 98 models were built from October 97 through to September 98. (Then in October 98, they became 99 models etc). With the TL all the VIN info was collated http://wotid.com/tls/content/view/25/49/ pity I wasn’t a GS enthusiast 🙂

Steve on May 5th, 2014

I have a Suzuki motorcycle with the vin # JS1GL51L3F2100015. I know it’s an 85 but I’m not sure of the cylinder size any info would be great. Thanks in advance.

Shawn Conway on July 15th, 2014

A quick google search of the VIN points to it being an 85 GS450 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suzuki_GS450 a parallel twin.

Steve on July 15th, 2014

hi i am about to buy a new gsx650f and i want to make sure it is a L4 not a L2 or L3 as there are lot of them about but i am paying top wack for the bike so i want a L 4
thanks will

will kent on July 21st, 2014

Isirj18A000500616 can anyone tell me what year this Suzuki rm250 is

Jake Nicholls on January 4th, 2015

Hi Steve,

I have Suzuki GSX-R Engine with serial number N734 – 100639. Can you configure the year model and size of this engine?!

Many thanks,

Mo

Mo on January 26th, 2015

Hi Mo, unfortunately the engine number doesn’t say much at all 🙁

Steve on January 29th, 2015

Hi, ive bought a suzuki gs1000 from a friend but doesnt tell you the model on the V5, the frame number is 52765! and the engine number is 1448!!, any idea, thanks

DAVID on February 18th, 2015

PS, its a 1979 or 1980 bike

DAVID on February 18th, 2015

[…] scheme only started in 2001 with K1. Prior to that Suzuki model years used just a single letter. Suzuki Model Year Codes and VIN | Steve's Blog Since the Volusia/Boulevard was introduced in 2001 you'll only encounter the single letter codes […]

what does k7 stand for ? c50k7 - Suzuki Volusia Forums : Intruder Volusia and Boulevard Forum on March 17th, 2015

Hi Steve,

I have a Suzuki Katana I have owned for 20 years. I have just searched for a Vin number and have found the following on the frame : GS110X-101357. Does this mean it is an 81 model ?? Engine No# is GS110X-168760 . It is the Black motor which I believe came out in 83 ? Is it possible I have an 81 Bike with the 83 Motor?

Thanks for your help in advance.

Matt

Matt on July 1st, 2015

hin i have aq quad suzuki LT 125 D NEED VIN CODES AND A RECOIL STARTER OR HOW TO PUT SPRINGS BACK IN IT RECOIL UNIT…THE VIN SHOWjsatf41a7d2125835…need info need a recoil starter unit or how to repair

da. on November 14th, 2015

Hi my gsxr750 model on the vin says gsxr750II its says 10/97 is it a v or w?and why does it not say v or w it must be a w because its fuel injected right.

tony on November 29th, 2015

Hi can anybody tell me year of my rm125 F134 125237

jason haswell on December 30th, 2015

I have a 2 stroke Suzuki LT50.
Vin: KM4AA11AXX111069
Blue and yellow plastics.
Can someone please tell me the year?

Sami S on April 26th, 2016

Hi. Mine it´s a RM80, chassis number “RM80 -30046”. I can´t find the year on the internet. Anynone? Thanks!

Nicolas on May 28th, 2016

looking for a Suzuki 90 (1972) cycle key code tr3224 can you help .no one seems to have it or even can not get it.

Don on June 5th, 2016

The tenth digit of my vin is 0 what is the year of my ls650?

Savage rider on June 26th, 2016

Can anyone I’d Suzuki lm1rd16c791101132

can anyone I'd mine please on July 5th, 2016

Hi There

Just bought a Suzuki Savage LS650. It is registered in Western Australia as a 1987 model but was advertised as a 1988. It was imported from Japan by a local Suzuki dealer. I can’t seem to match my engine number or vin number to anything on here or the Suzuki Savage website. Can anyone help?

Engine No. P401 – 112537
Vin No. NP41A – 102450

Thanks

Lino on July 22nd, 2016

I have a t200 Suzuki invader I think
Vin #11847 how can I find the year to apply for a title
I can’t find anything on these early bikes. Any help would be greatly appertieated
Thank you

Shawn fetter on July 27th, 2016

H?
? have suzuki Bking , I wonder what year is this model.chases number is
JS1CR111100102197

Thank you

Selda on August 2nd, 2016

I have a suzuki supposed to be a 1980 gs1100 the numbers on the frame are
11 GS110X X7016 91 can anyone help me out I can’t find anything anywhere!

Aaron Lewis on August 21st, 2016

Js1BZ111100103761
what this model?

ashkan on October 6th, 2016

his can you identify year of my suzuki ltz 50
lm4aa723131109118
does this mean it is 2003

kayleigh on October 11th, 2016

I’ve got a Suzuki Grand Vitara (in Japan know as an Escoda)
In Australia my von strats with JSAJTD44v _ _ _etc.. looking into https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vehicle_identification_number#World_manufacturer_identifier I can figure out that the JS = Manufactured in Japan. and the js”A” = 2010. Guessing from the manual that the D = Diesel.