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Can you tell the package on a GL1800 by VIN number?

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6.2K views 6 replies 5 participants last post by  jettawreck  
#1 ·
Can you tell the package on a GL1800 by VIN number?
Audio Comfort
  • Audio Comfort, Navigation/XM
  • Audio Comfort, Navigation/XM, ABS
  • Audio Comfort, Navigation/XM, ABS and Airbag
 
#2 ·
Yes. That's how insurance companies determine the model and accessories package. You're able to look it up also...

 
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Reactions: Gnarly
#4 ·
It seems complicated but it isn't really. The 8th character in the VIN is represented by an 'alpha' character (H, J, K, L) depending on the model year. This letter will correspond to the model name that Honda uses to designate which model the bike is. Usually the lower model name represented by an IV or 4 will be the basic audio comfort model and the higher the roman numeral or number will indicate more features such as NAV, XM, ABS or AIRBAG. The Factory Service Manual lists all the types of models for the model year covered by the manual. For instance, my Factory Service Manual covers 2012 and 2013 year models. The table on page 1-3 lists all the model types and what feature(s) are included on that model type.
IV or 4 is the Audio Comfort model
V or 5 is the NAV XM model
VII or 7 is the NAV XM ABS model
VIII or 8 is the NAV XM ABS AIRBAG
THere is also a suffix, either an 'A' or 'CM' following the number which indicates the destination of the bike.
A = USA
CM = Canada

The higher model code includes all the features of the lower code(s).

Any Honda dealer should be able to decipher by the VIN number which model you have. Some online parts sources such as hondadirectline.com will list the various models by year broken down by VIN number which correlates to the particular model of the GL1800. The parts diagrams and the service procedures in the FSM refer to the model by IV-A, IV-CM, V-A, V-CM, VII-A, VII-CM or VIII-A or VIII-CM

Confused yet?
.
Hope this helps.
 
#6 ·
Thanks Ridgerunner55 I went to Honda Direct Line and checked the VIN with the options they show. This VIN is for a 2006.
I then searched for a couple of things.
First, Since they all have the premium audio, to see if it is a higher model, there should be a screen that says heated grips. That would tell me it has the Audio/Comfort Package. So I see by that it is at least a level 2 so far in my search. Then I look at the Meter panel. It shows it has cut outs for the heated grips and heated seat. that would confirm a level 2.
Next, there is the Shelter screen. It does show a Nav control unit (#7) that would go on the right side of the shelter, but #7 is not listed on the list of parts which tells me they use the same picture but that part is not available for this model so it is not a nav model. I would also believe that it would not be an ABS bike since this year those all have Nav on them.
So this did help me figure out what the bike was without seeing the bike, a Level 2 Audio/Comfort package.
We are looking at getting this bike, but the owner doesn't know much about the bike and we only had the VIN to determine what it was.
Thanks for the help. :)
 
#7 ·
All I could ever find to decipher option level on older Goldwings is whether it was an ABS model or not (and that should be rather obvious and easy to determine w/o the VIN) and the production year and number. (GL1800 number 104 produced, very low number).
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