Engine number? Do I really have to take off a bunch of fairing?

[wotte]

Howdy folks - long time no post.

I just moved to Minnesota and took my bike to get title/registration taken care of.

It turns out that they require the engine number for new title applications. I haven't been able to find this on any of my documentation, and from what I've been led to believe searching on the Internets, it is located on the crank case by the alternator.

I haven't pulled my service manual off the backup from my old laptop yet, but I'm kinda afraid I'm going to have to spend half a day taking off a lot of fairing to get there - does anyone know of an easier method?

 

[justscootin]

Would the engine number be the same as the serial number?

 

[JaimeC]

I just checked my NYS Title and it looks like that information is not required; just the VIN number (which is stamped into the frame). If you have the bill of sale, that information is most likely recorded there. Otherwise, I'm afraid you have some plastic removal in your future...

 

[wotte]

Sadly, no - that was the first question I asked. The engine number is specifically different from the VIN/frame number.

 

[wotte]

Jamie, sadly it is required here in MN. I looked at the application form and it specifically says that for motorcycles > 125cc, both the VIN and the engine number are required.

I know what I'm doing this weekend.

 

[mjnorris]

Eng #

I would think that the dealership could look that up for you.

 

[exavid]

Amazing the stuff some states want to make life more difficult on residents. It's specially irritating in the case of a scooter like ours with basically a one piece engine and transmission that only fits a BMW scooter. I can see perhaps in autos where some hot rodder might use a stolen engine to hop up his car but scooter engines? C'mon, get real.

 

[wsteele]

Make one up I doubt they are going to check

 

[JaimeC]

Make one up I doubt they are going to check

I'm sure there's a "Check Digit" algorithm (similar to credit cards and VIN) that validate the number and it would be caught immediately.