Noob Question: how do I know what year my bike is?

[Forcerouge]

Hi guys,

Might sound like a stupid question, but I since I don't have the paperwork that goes with the bike I actually don't know what year it has been produced.
The chassis serial number is still visible but I don't see an obvious number that would indicated the year.

Anyone knows?
Thanks in advance,

[Talon]

Chassis number will tell you.
JH2RC31XXJ = 1988
K = 1989
L = 1990

[bitzz]

The 10th digit of the vin is the build date
Year-to-VIN-chart.png

[Forcerouge]

Well... it seems like nothing is ever easy with my bike.

I can't find the VIN number anywhere on the chassis. According to the service manual it is supposed to be attached to the down tube of the frame, but there's nothing on mine.
I do have a number on the frame on the steering tube, but that's the chassis number and there is no letter, the format is just NC25-1234567

Weird

[ParcNHawk]

The VIN should be 17 digits long, start with JH ... for Japan and Honda, respectively. The last 7 are the serial number... and the one just before the last 7 would be the model year.

It would appear only on the steering head and would not be related to the number stamped on the engine case.

The left side down tube normally holds a sticker that has both the VIN and the month/year production date.

[69Falcon]

Here are some images of what Parc is describing

[Forcerouge]

Thanks for the explanations and pictures guys,
Unfortunately what I tried to say was that I don't have any of these. The sticker is long gone and the numbers on the steering column are completely different as you can see:

IMG_20230409_202808.jpg

[69Falcon]

I’ve seen dozens of Hawks in my time, and I’ve never seen that before!

[bitzz]

Maybe a JDM bike?

[Ziggy]

The 17 digit VIN is a US NHTSA requirement since 1981.
NC25 was not intended to be sold or imported to the US and uses a different VIN format.

[Talon]

Looks like an 89.

[Talon]

IMG_20230409_202808.jpg

Grey market 400cc Bros from 1989. See my post above.

[tian647]

Good sleuthing but grey market to whom? IIRC, OP isn't from the USA.

[69Falcon]

OP is in China I believe.

[Talon]

Good sleuthing but grey market to whom? IIRC, OP isn't from the USA.

The market outside of Japan. OP is in China.