Find your bike’s year from the 10th digit of the VIN

Year & model ID1980–2026All brands

The fastest way to date almost any dirt bike built since 1981 is the frame number.

• Count 10 characters into the 17-digit frame number (VIN). That character is the model year code, and it works the same on Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, Kawasaki, and KTM.
• The letters I, O, Q, U, and Z are never used, so you won’t confuse them with 1, 0, or 2.
• The code repeats every 30 years (A is 1980 and 2010), but the age and style of the bike make it obvious which one you have.
• Bikes built late in the year can carry the neighboring year’s code; the 1985 KX500 frame, for example, uses E.

1992–2003 Honda CR250R Cylinder ID Letter Code

Year & model ID1992–2003CR250R

Every 1992–2003 CR250R cylinder carries a year letter, so you can date a cylinder even off the bike.

• Where to look: the KZ3 code and circled year letter are cast on the right side of the intake (reed) tract, with the letter in a small circle just below “KZ3”.
• Honda runs the letters in order but skips letters that are easy to misread, like O, Q, and U, which is why 2000 is T and 2001 is V.

Honda 3-digit model codes and engine IDs

Year & model ID1992–2009CR125R, CR250R, CRF250R, CRF250X, CRF450R, CRF450X

• The 3-letter code is the middle of Honda part numbers (e.g. 11100-KZ3-…), so it tells you which bike a part came off.

Honda CR125R KZ4 year letter code

Year & model ID1999–2003CR125R

Honda CR500R Engine Serial Number ID

Year & model ID1981–2001CR500R, CR480R, CR450R

• Honda restarted the number sequence in 1991, so a few numbers repeat: PE02E-5100000 and 5200000 appear on both 1982–1983 CR480R and 1992–1993 CR500R engines. Check the frame number or case features to confirm.
• Every CR450R, CR480R, and CR500R engine uses the PE02E prefix.

Honda CRF250R engine serial number by year

Year & model ID2004–2008CRF250R

Honda CR125R ignition specs, 1998–2002

Stator & ignition1998–2002CR125R

Honda CR125R stator specs, 1989–1991

Stator & ignition1989–1991CR125R

Honda CR125R stator specs, 2005–2007

Stator & ignition2005–2007CR125R

Honda CR250R stator and ignition specs, 2002–2003

Stator & ignition2002–2003CR250R

Honda CR250R stator specs, 1992–1996

Stator & ignition1992–1996CR250R

Honda CR250R stator specs, 2000–2001

Stator & ignition2000–2001CR250R

Honda CR80R and CR125R electrical specs

Stator & ignition1989–1990sCR80R, CR125R

Honda CR85R ignition specs, 1995–2007

Stator & ignition1995–2007CR85R

Honda CR125R HPP cylinder and power valve differences

Engine & internals1993–1999CR125R

• 1998–1999 is the most sought-after cylinder and usually the most expensive.
• Cases and cylinders must match: the 46.61mm and 51.66mm transfer ports don’t line up with each other.

Honda CR500R clutch basket and ring gear

Engine & internals1984–2001CR500R

• The ring / starter gear is the same for all 1986–2001 CR500R.
• 1984–1989 used a 7-plate clutch basket casting. In 1990 Honda changed to a deeper 8-plate casting, with no change to the ring gear.
• 1984–1985 ring gears will not fit 1986–2001, because the later bikes use a smaller-diameter transmission main shaft.

Honda CRF Showa fork ID by ring color

Suspension & chassis2004–2009CRF250R, CRF250X, CRF450R, CRF450X

• The colored compression ring sits on top of the fork cap.
• If the lower fork tubes measure 47mm, a CRF250R fork is from 2004–2009.

Honda linkage stamp markings

Suspension & chassis2002–2017CR125R, CRF250R, CRF250X, CRF450R, CRF450X

Honda CR125R carburetor standard settings

Carb settings2000–2002+CR125R

• Baseline for 32:1 premix, sea level, and 68°F (20°C). Adjust for your altitude and temperature.

How to read a Yamaha part number

Year & model IDAll Yamaha

• Hardware (bolts, nuts, seals, bearings) uses a different format that starts with 9, like 90105-08xxx-00. The second digit is the type: 90 various (90105 washer-head bolts, 90116 studs, 90401 union bolts), 91 bolts and cotter pins, 92 screws and nuts, 93 oil seals, O-rings, and bearings, 94 spark plugs, 95 bolts and nuts, 96 ISO bolts, 97 ISO screws and nuts.
• In hardware numbers, the 6th and 7th digits give the diameter (08 = M8) and the last digits give the length.
• A part number starting with 99999 has been replaced by a kit.

Yamaha 3-digit model codes by year

Year & model ID1990–2005YZ125, YZ250, YZ250F, YZ450F

Yamaha part numbers start with a 3-digit code that points to the model and first year the part was used.

• The code shows the first year a part was used. Parts often carried over, so the code doesn’t always match the exact year of the bike.

Yamaha Banshee engine serial number by year

Year & model ID1987–1999Banshee YFZ350

Yamaha YZ125 crankcase ID, 1998–2002

Year & model ID1998–2002YZ125

• The crankcases are stamped with the end of the part number for their year. Match that stamp to the part number to confirm the year of a case.

Yamaha YZ250F model code and engine serial by year

Year & model ID2001–2017YZ250F

• Several years share an engine prefix (CG27C covers 2007–2009, CG33C covers 2010–2013), so use the serial number range, not just the prefix, to narrow down the year.

Yamaha YZ125 stator specs, 2002–2004

Stator & ignition2002–2004YZ125

Yamaha YZ250 stator specs, 1999–2001

Stator & ignition1999–2001YZ250

Yamaha YZ250F / YZ426F / YZ450F stator specs

Stator & ignitionYZ250F, YZ450F, YZ426F

Yamaha YZ80 stator specs, 1997–2001

Stator & ignition1997–2001YZ80

Yamaha YZ250 crankshaft ID by flywheel thread

Engine & internals1999–2003+YZ250

Yamaha YZ fork type: AOSS vs SSS

Suspension & chassis2005YZ125, YZ250

• 2005 YZ models use AOSS forks. Compare against the SSS forks used on other years before swapping parts between them.

Suzuki RM250 cylinder ID, 1998–2002

Year & model ID1998–2002RM250

• Markings are on the cylinder near the reed block or inside the left power valve cover.

Suzuki model year codes (and why parts diagrams mislead)

Year & model ID1996–2009RM125, RM250

• Suzuki parts diagrams cover every year of a generation at once, so many sellers and auto-fitment tools list a part as fitting all of them. Look for the model code next to each part number on the diagram: the cylinder for a model V can be a different part than the one for a model W.
• Not sure which model you have? Send us your VIN and we’ll confirm the model code and the right part before you buy.

Suzuki DR-Z125 stator and ignition specs

Stator & ignitionDR-Z125

Suzuki RM250 stator resistance, 1996–2002

Stator & ignition1996–2002RM250

Suzuki RM85 stator specs, 2002–2023

Stator & ignition2002–2023RM85

Suzuki RM250 crankshaft ID

Engine & internals1996–2003+RM250

• Useful when the crank has an aftermarket rod and no original markings.

Suzuki RM250 cylinder interchange, 1996–2000

Engine & internals1996–2000RM250

• 1996–1999 cylinders generally interchange, as long as you use the power valve assembly that matches the cylinder.
• The case studs at the rear of the cylinder got longer in 1998, so check stud length when swapping a cylinder onto earlier cases.

Suzuki RM250 water pump cover, 2001–2002 vs 2003–2008

Engine & internals2001–2008RM250

• 2001–2002 used a plastic water pump gear; 2003 on uses metal.
• The 2001–2002 outer cover is shallower to fit the flat-face plastic gear.
• The inner clutch cover changed in 2003 to take a thicker water pump seal.

Suzuki RM80 crankshaft ID

Engine & internals1986–2001RM80

• Connecting rods interchange across 1991–2001.

Suzuki RM125 / RM250 linkage and swingarm, 2001–2006

Suspension & chassis2001–2006RM125, RM250

• The linkage and swingarm changed together, so 2001–2003 and 2004+ parts don’t mix.

Kawasaki KX250 cylinder ID, 1991–1993

Year & model ID1991–1993KX250

• 1992 and 1993 (the J1 and J2) share the same chassis.

Kawasaki KX500 Engine & Frame Serial Number ID

Year & model ID1985–2001KX500

• The 10th character of the frame number is the year code: G = 1986, H = 1987, J = 1988, and so on.
• Engine numbers carried over for some years (1991–1993 all start at 013001), so use the frame number to pin down the exact year.

Kawasaki KX125 stator specs, 1999–2002

Stator & ignition1999–2002KX125

• Pickup coil: 180–380 Ω.

Kawasaki KX250 stator specs by year

Stator & ignition1988–2002KX250

Kawasaki changed KX250 stators often, so match the year before comparing readings.

• Pickup coil: 180–380 Ω on most years; 180–280 Ω on the 2002 KX250-L4.

Kawasaki KX250F stator specs, 2007

Stator & ignition2007KX250F

Kawasaki KX80 stator specs, 1985

Stator & ignition1985KX80

Kawasaki KX85 / KX100 ignition specs, 2014–2022

Stator & ignition2014–2022KX85, KX100

Kawasaki KX125 cylinder and engine case fitment, 1999–2002

Engine & internals1999–2002KX125

• 2001 has reshaped transfer ports. Even if you could bolt a 2000 cylinder on, the port mismatch would cost power.

Kawasaki KX250 clutch basket, 1994–1998 vs 1999–2002

Engine & internals1994–2002KX250

• The ring gear has a different tooth count and a different cutout between the two ranges, so the baskets don’t interchange.

Kawasaki KX250 kickstart shaft diameter

Engine & internals1996–2002+KX250

Kawasaki KX250 power valve drum size

Engine & internals1993–2004KX250

• Sources differ on the change year (1998 or 1999), so measure the drum before ordering.

Kawasaki KX125 / KX250 triple clamp and fork sizes

Suspension & chassis1999–2002KX125, KX250

• 1999–2001 clamps won’t fit 2002 forks, and the other way around.

Kawasaki KX125 / KX250 year differences, 1999–2002

Suspension & chassis1999–2005KX125, KX250

• The 1999–2002 KX125s are nearly identical apart from these changes.
• The cylinder has its year code printed on the side, and the number on the airbox boot matches the end of its part number.
• KX250 clutch basket gear: 55/17 teeth on 1999–2001, 63/17 teeth on 2003–2005.

KTM 125 / 144 / 150 engine case numbers

Year & model ID1987–2012125 SX, 125 EXC, 144 SX, 150 SX, 150 XC

• The case number is cast into the case; a year stamp (like “99”) is the production year, so a 99-stamped case can be on a 2000 model bike.
• Sources disagree on some 2000–2001 125 SX cases (512, 503, or 523), so confirm by the number cast into your case.

KTM 125 SX stator specs, 1998–2002

Stator & ignition1998–2002125 SX

KTM 250 two-stroke stator specs by stator type

Stator & ignition250 SX, 250 EXC

• All values ±15%. Identify the stator type before comparing readings.