Engine number decoding

craig mac · Post by **craig mac** » Sat Jun 04, 2011 4:27 pm

Can anyone recommend a website that will allow me to decode my engine number? or do you know the general breakdown of the numbers and what they mean?
I'm specifically after the year of the engine and which model it belongs too. Hope this makes sense. cheers

MrWasabi · Post by **MrWasabi** » Sat Jun 04, 2011 4:54 pm

i dont know if this helps but check this out

http://tewarehouse.net/archives/557

craig mac · Post by **craig mac** » Sat Jun 04, 2011 5:29 pm

No luck with that one. thanks anyway.

Gosling1 · Post by **Gosling1** » Tue Jun 07, 2011 5:31 pm

what exactly are you trying to *decode* mate ? Its just a production number. Kawasaki used to use a certain range of numbers within certain model years, but your compliance plate should have that info on it......

If you just have a bare motor.....guessing that is the case here ? then take the number down to your local kawasaki dealer, they should be able to pinpoint the model and year pretty easily.......

If it was an old Z9 kwakka, I could tell you the year and model no worries

craig mac · Post by **craig mac** » Tue Jun 07, 2011 7:26 pm

Gosling1 wrote:what exactly are you trying to *decode* mate ? Its just a production number. Kawasaki used to use a certain range of numbers within certain model years, but your compliance plate should have that info on it......

If you just have a bare motor.....guessing that is the case here ? then take the number down to your local kawasaki dealer, they should be able to pinpoint the model and year pretty easily.......

If it was an old Z9 kwakka, I could tell you the year and model no worries

I've recently stripped down my ZX9R B4 and noticed what looks to be the number 'B1' hand written in blue paint or something on the back face of the engine block.
I know the bike is a legitimate B4 as the VIN number reflects this on the kawasaki VIN calculator. I wanted to find out if this 'B1' number meant it was for a B1 model or if it was just a generic code that did not reflect model. I'm pretty sure there was an increase in horsepower from the earlier B model's to the later one's.
Keen to make sure the engine I've got is the one meant for the B4. I'll call kawasaki with the engine number as you suggested.
thanks for your help.

Gosling1 · Post by **Gosling1** » Wed Jun 08, 2011 7:11 pm

hmm OK - sounds a bit odd, but you should get some answers from Kawasaki.

Good luck

MAXUMIS · Post by **MAXUMIS** » Wed Jun 08, 2011 7:20 pm

maybe you should go to or ring a kawa dealer and give them your VIN number and they will be able to tell you the engine number

Jonno · Post by **Jonno** » Wed Jun 08, 2011 8:01 pm

Maybe B1 denotes the engine used through the whole B range?

craig mac · Post by **craig mac** » Mon Jun 13, 2011 8:43 pm

I spoke with a couple of kwaka dealers ( one had no idea and no interest ). the helpful guy whose been around kawasaki for a while assured me that the engine numbers were just a sequencial thing and meant nothing, and as Jonno said was a number pertaining to all B models. Still not convinced.

Disco · Post by **Disco** » Mon Jun 13, 2011 8:50 pm

My ZX6 has the same thing on the backside of the motor I noticed it when they had the engine out for warranty reason's....Is like a paint pen on the inlet side of the motor yeah????.....I didn't take much notice of the number's but next time I have the bike apart will let you know...I thought at the time it was just a QC thing....

Post by **Wattie** » Mon Jun 13, 2011 9:25 pm

Disco wrote:My ZX6 has the same thing on the backside of the motor I noticed it when they had the engine out for warranty reason's....Is like a paint pen on the inlet side of the motor yeah????.....I didn't take much notice of the number's but next time I have the bike apart will let you know...I thought at the time it was just a QC thing....

Nah disco, the engine number is stamped on the back of the engine. You look in the back near the rear shock, should see it stamped on the block.

Disco · Post by **Disco** » Mon Jun 13, 2011 9:29 pm

Yeah I know where the engine number is but was referring to the texta/paint pen writing on the back of the engine.....

Disco · Post by **Disco** » Mon Jun 13, 2011 9:40 pm

craig mac wrote: I've recently stripped down my ZX9R B4 and noticed what looks to be the number 'B1' hand written in blue paint or something on the back face of the engine block.

This is what I was referring too....Here is a pic of an 07-08 ZX6R engine with the mark's I was talking about....

Post by **Wattie** » Mon Jun 13, 2011 9:50 pm

Disco wrote:
craig mac wrote: I've recently stripped down my ZX9R B4 and noticed what looks to be the number 'B1' hand written in blue paint or something on the back face of the engine block.
This is what I was referring too....Here is a pic of an 07-08 ZX6R engine with the mark's I was talking about....

yeah that is just QC crap...

craig mac · Post by **craig mac** » Thu Jun 16, 2011 7:53 pm

Disco wrote:I thought at the time it was just a QC thing....
Wattie wrote:yeah that is just QC crap...

happy to go with that. makes sense.
thanks for your help.

Kawasaki Sportsbike Riders Club - Australia - Online Forum