Norton vin numbers

I have a Norton chopper I purchased from a sale, There is no numbers on the frame and the motor has 307312. What numbers am I missing to make a vin to get a reg in NYs? can any one help?


Thanks,

The motor number should be the same as the VIN.

The VIN is normally a plate, maybe 3" x 5", riveted to the headstock on the frame. The only numbers stamped on this plate would be the engine number and the month and year of production.

According to public sources, 1974 model year started with 307311, so you would have a '74 850, probably assembled in September-October of '73

Where can I find the date codes? My vin would be ---307321?

Nortman14830 said:

Where can I find the date codes? My vin would be ---307321?

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If you don't have the original VIN plate, you would have to contact the Norton Owners Club in England. I believe they have the old factory records, and should be able to tell you when the bike was built.

I do not have the factory vin plate. I guess what I'm asking in how many numbers or letters am I missing? The numbers I posted are all I have and they were on the motor. How many digits are in the vin.

Nortman14830 said:

I do not have the factory vin plate. I guess what I'm asking in how many numbers or letters am I missing? The numbers I posted are all I have and they were on the motor. How many digits are in the vin.

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Should be the same, I believe.

Nortman,

There are six digits to a VIN on a Commando. It's the same number as the one on the crankcase, if it's a numbers matching bike, which it may not be. Meaning, there may be a bike out there with 307312 for a VIN. If the process is anything like California, you would start by giving the number to your Motor Vehicle Department and see if it's clear. Then buy a plate and stamp that number on a plate that you can buy from Norton parts dealers. The plate you're looking for is right behind the headlight on the frame. There are Title companies out there for this sort of thing, but I've never used one. BTW, can you see a number stamped on top of the gearbox?

Thank you for the response There is a number on the gear box but it is not the same. I also Have a 71 Triumph and the VIN is longer with a letter or two in it so I figured I was missing stuff.

Nortman14830 said:

Thank you for the response There is a number on the gear box but it is not the same. I also Have a 71 Triumph and the VIN is longer with a letter or two in it so I figured I was missing stuff.

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Different company (well, mostly at that date) and different numbering schema.

The 850 Commando Frame # Mystery by Dave Comeau - Jan 2001 Updated 25 Feb 2007

See: http://www.inoanorton.com/Articles/index.html

Italian frames are Metric w the small frame tubes 25 mm and backbone 60 mm.

British frames are Imperial w small frame tubes 1 inch and backbone 2 1/4".

*Starting in May 1975, It appears the VIN was adopted to complete the frame#

1. VIN- the traditional Norton VIN number on the aluminum plate, engine and transmission # should be the same.

2. MFG date stamped on the plate.

3. Frame Batch Sequence number #850#F ........ #

4. Rear frame loop width, measured between the frame rail tubes 4" forward of the rear of the rear frame loop.

Normal 6 - 3/4" (will accept fastback tailsection) OR wide 7 - 3/8 inch

5. Letter size as stamped on the aluminum plate and frame batch sequence #
Small 5/32" or big 1/4"(like on engine).

6. Dash or No Dash in the frame part no. located on the front of the Left Front Tank mount, between the 06 and the 4140 (73), 5404 (74)
and 5632 (75E-Start) (Look on the braketet where coils are attached to frame)

7. The aluminum VIN plate is mounted more to the Left or Right side of the frame neck.

8. The coil bracket mount hole on the tank mount are Round or short "slots" with a rounded front and rear ends.