What year is my bike?

[81 SPECIAL]

I just bought an XS1100SH the manufacture date on the bike is 5/80 but the previous owner say's it's an 1981, is there an easy way to tell which model year it is?

[egsols]

If its an SH it should be a 81 Special. E=78, F=79, G=80, H=81 S=special L=Midnight

Check the VIN against this

http://www.xs11.com/specifications/serialno.shtml

[John]

What are the first three characters in the VIN? 3J6 or 4R0? The first is an 80 Special or SG and the latter is the 81 Special or SH.

[81 SPECIAL]

the vin starts with 4R0, it looks like a 1981 model. Thanks for all your help.

[olebiker]

That seems like an early man. date to be an 81. I have seen quite a few that are in the last few months of the prior year but may seems early.

[egsols]

May does sound early, what are the last 5 numbers of the vin, they must be real close to 00101?

[81 SPECIAL]

last 5 digits of vin 01257.

[egsols]

Weird

That's a lot of bikes made by May of 80 for 81. Must have been a lot of orders in. My 79SF was manu'd in Sept 78 and has serial 00176.