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Paint code in the Vin Number ???

  • tennacnightman
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09 Aug 2006 11:19 #68308 by tennacnightman
Paint code in the Vin Number ??? was created by tennacnightman
Is there a part of the vin number that indicates the original paint for my KZ? I looked the information up on zedders.com for my 77 and it indicated 2 colors and neither are black but didn't reference paint to any part of the vin. Any advice, Thanks.

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09 Aug 2006 11:37 #68314 by N0NB
Replied by N0NB on topic Paint code in the Vin Number ???
The pre-1981 VINs did not. They consist of the model and the sequential six digit serial number of that specific model series. If there really is a reference, number XXXXXX to XXXXXX was Candy Persimmon Red and XXXXXX to XXXXXX was Candy Emerald Green, etc., it's not information that Kawasaki has made publicly available. Most likely production records were kept, but haven't turned up.

Beginning with the ISO VINs in 1981 there is room to encode such information. However, I've yet to find a guide to Kawasaki's use of those VINs and what means what. Secondly, by the time the ISO VINs came into use, there wasn't nearly the variety of color available on the bikes as in the '70s. GPzs were pretty much red. ELRs were green and most everything else (the LTDs) were ebony or dark maroon.

Of course, having said that, here will come a list of models that prove me wrong. I'm basing my opinion on the Kawasaki ads of the time and the colors shown in them. I had no dealership to hang around in (and I was too strapped for cash to buy new anyway) to see the models not in the ads.

- Nate >>

Nate

Nates vintage bike axiom: Riding is the reward for time spent wrenching.
Murphys corollary: Wrenching is the result of time spent riding.

1979 KZ650 (Complete!)
1979 KZ650 SR (Sold!)
1979 KL250 (For sale)
1994 Bayou 400 (four wheel peel :D )

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09 Aug 2006 18:57 #68385 by RonKZ650
Replied by RonKZ650 on topic Paint code in the Vin Number ???
I don't know or care about the newer models, but for sure there was nothing in the vin # of a KZ that reflected the color. I really doubt even on the newer models there was. I really don't think even auto vins ever reflect the paint, at least any of my factory service manuals never suggested anything about it.

321,000 miles on KZ's that I can remember. Not going to see any more.

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