I don't know if I'll do this, but if I can, then I probably will as part of the resto. Does anyone know if you can purchase a replacement VIN sticker for the frame for my Fifth Gen?
Most places the answer would be no. Most places it is illegal to tamper in any way with a VIN tag. I believe that is almost universal. If for any reason your VIN became obliterated or removed, or in the case of a complete home built bike or car, you have to go down to your DMV and get a new VIN registered to this vehicle. VIN's used to have no rhyme or reason to them in the past. But back in the 60's sometime I believe, all automobile manufacturers got on the ban wagon and began issuing VIN's following an established protocol. The VIN will tell you just about everything you may want to know about the bike including the colour, year and where it was built. A side note. Early in my previous career, I was conducting a search of a residence and ran the serial number on a stereo receiver. I was in Nanaimo BC which is on Vancouver Island off the west coast here. Came back stolen out of Winnipeg Manitoba over a thousand miles away. The property owner where I was searching was very convincing when explaining he did in fact purchase this receiver at a nearby store. But I seized the receiver. This guy's convincing manner worked its magic on me. I dug very deep. Phoned the Winnipeg Police, spoke with the investigator who said it was an apartment B&E a couple years prior. Found out that Lloyds stuff was made my Panasonic in Japan. Made contact with the factory. Surprised I found someone who spoke fluent English. But every receiver of that build style, be they Panasonic, or one of their other branded products, on that particular day, came off the line with the same serial number. I returned the stereo to the person I seized it from. Fortunately, with vehicles, we no longer deal with that crap. The VIN will be recorded somewhere and it can be traced to some degree if someone is eager enough. BTW. There is also a hidden VIN on all cars and trucks. Don't know about bikes. Most police officers do not know where to find this and call in Auto Theft specialists to confirm what they see on a VIN tag is actually the proper VIN of the vehicle. Even the rivets holding a VIN tag on a vehicle is specific to the auto manufacturer.
