81/82 Heritage Special

[chubbybehemoth]

Hey guys!

I'm looking at a project bike and the seller is unaware of the exact year or the model. He sent me the vin# but I'm having trouble decoding it. The VIN is as follows: JYA14V000CA003576

I know that the first 3 markings are made in Japan, a Yamaha, and from plant A. The next 8 characters should be the model, right? I found some older posts about decoding vin#'s but none of them seem to identify this bike? Any help would be appreciated!

 

[Jim]

The original Yamaha vin's back in that era were 9 (10?) digit codes. First three digits are the model. For instance, the 81-82 models mostly started with 5V4 or 5V5. When the US went to a standardizes 17 or 18 digit code, Cali made up their own and restamped the VIN's.
There's a CA in your VIN. Tells me that's most likely a Cali VIN.

My guess is you'll need to contact a Cali DMV and inquire with them.

Here's a listing of XS650 model years and the corresponding VIN's Good luck.

 

[Jim]

You can also put some detailed pics in a comment and we'll most likely be able to tell you what year is it. We're kinda weird that way.

 

[chubbybehemoth]

 

[chubbybehemoth]

View attachment 332724View attachment 332725

These are the only 2 posted in his listing lmao

 

[Jim]

That's an XS 360 or 400. Not an XS650.

 

[chubbybehemoth]

The original Yamaha vin's back in that era were 9 (10?) digit codes. First three digits are the model. For instance, the 81-82 models mostly started with 5V4 or 5V5. When the US went to a standardizes 17 or 18 digit code, Cali made up their own and restamped the VIN's.
There's a CA in your VIN. Tells me that's most likely a Cali VIN.

My guess is you'll need to contact a Cali DMV and inquire with them.

Here's a listing of XS650 model years and the corresponding VIN's Good luck.


View attachment 332722

View attachment 332723

I'm sure the CA RMV will be thrilled to hear from a New Englender lmao. Thank you for the information! That was the picture I was using to try and decode it but nothing was matching up. I'll see what I can dig up and return here with the update

 

[chubbybehemoth]

That's an XS 360 or 400. Not an XS650.

Aah, I thought it might have been a 400. I appreciate the help!

 

[Jim]

What's the askin' price on a well used XS400 these days?

 

[nj1639]

Considering the '82 Heritage Special xs650 was the only Year for the blacked out look, I'd venture a guess that yours is an '82 too.

 

[chubbybehemoth]

What's the askin' price on a well used XS400 these days?

Seller was asking for $750, but it's been sitting for 20 years so I was hoping I could talk him down to $500-$600

 

[chubbybehemoth]

Considering the '82 Heritage Special xs650 was the only Year for the blacked out look, I'd venture a guess that yours is an '82 too.

You guys are literally xs sleuths lmao

 

[Jim]

Seller was asking for $750, but it's been sitting for 20 years so I was hoping I could talk him down to $500-$600

Owned a couple XS400's. They're actually pretty good bikes, long as you use 'em as intended... urban transport. They're a hoot runnin' around town. light, nimble and good enough power for that environment. Out on the highway... not so much. They'll keep up with the traffic on an interstate. Jus' don't ask 'em to do it for more than 5 or 10 miles at a stretch. The buzz in the bars and pegs makes your extremities numb after a bit.

 

[chubbybehemoth]

Owned a couple XS400's. They're actually pretty good bikes, long as you use 'em as intended... urban transport. They're a hoot runnin' around town. Out on the highway... not so much. They'll keep up with the traffic on an interstate. Jus' don't ask 'em to do it for more than 5 or 10 miles at a stretch. The buzz in the bars and pegs makes your extremities numb after a bit.

Ultimately I'm probably going to hold out for a 650, I'm looking for something that will be able to handle cruising at 65-70 a bit better. There's a 74 tx650 I'm looking at as well, but I might fall back on that 400 if it doesn't come through!

 

[chubbybehemoth]

Ultimately I'm probably going to hold out for a 650, I'm looking for something that will be able to handle cruising at 65-70 a bit better. There's a 74 tx650 I'm looking at as well, but I might fall back on that 400 if it doesn't come through!

Guy's asking 1100 for the 74

 

[650Skull]

Go to the top link in the "Tech menu" is the ID chart for XS/TX650's. 74TXA is often confused with the 73TX. 2 completely different bikes. The ID thread has pics and descriptions on the differences and when the change happened

 

[chubbybehemoth]

Go to the top link in the "Tech menu" is the ID chart for XS/TX650's. 74TXA is often confused with the 73TX. 2 completely different bikes. The ID thread has pics and descriptions on the differences and when the change happened

Thank you! I will absolutely check that out

 

[chubbybehemoth]

After checking the frame it does appear to be a 74txa. It has that welded metal loop for the rear foot peg that was outlined in tech menu ID post. The wheels however are spoked and not alloy but that could have been an owner swap

 

[jetmechmarty]

The wheels however are spoked and not alloy but that could have been an owner swap

The ‘74 TX650A only came with spoked wheels. AFAIK, it’s the first year with the “rain catcher” rims, an alloy I-beam pulled into a hoop.

 

[ssjody]

Starting in 1981 in the US 17 digit VINs were mandated by the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for basically anything manufactured with a VIN. In 1981, even though it was mandated there were still a few "Late Bloomers" adhering to that new standard. Truck/Automobile manufacturing did pretty well but others like Trailers / Boats / Motorcycles were a little sluggish. You can find examples where some 81 XS's had 17 digits listed on the VIN tag and others that don't. I own two 81's where one is listed with the 17 digit VIN and the other isn't.
Also the check digit (position 9 in a 17 digit VIN) in your example is a zero. That demonstrates that Yamaha wasn't yet supplying the correct check digits. They have a zero listed as the check digit and considering the math in the algorithm, zero would never be a valid check digit. By 1982 adhering to the standard started to get better but wasn't completely perfect yet.

From a VIN number stand point that VIN you listed is a legitimate VIN number with proven data in the field that validates its legitimacy. Here's how your example VIN JYA14V000CA003576 breaks down:
J = Country of Origin
Y = Make/Division (Yamaha)
A = Vehicle Type (Motorcycle)
14V = Series (XS400 S) / 12R = (Series XS400) / 16M = Series (XS400 R)
00 = Fillers (no meaning)
0 = Check Digit (algorithm to validate the rest of the VIN)
C = Year (1982) / A=80, B=81, C=82, D=83 etc...
A = Plant (Iwata - I need to validate this but I think that's were all the XS400's were made. correct me if I'm wrong)
003576 = Serial Number