vin and engine numbers...

[whichwitch]

Hello, I just picked up what I think to be a 1981 Honda cb750. There are just a few things which I think to be strange, though I'm pretty new to motorcycles, so maybe they're normal. On the title, it has the Vin number as "JH2RC0105BM208228" and the engine number as "RC01E2236872." On the bike, the vin is the same except it is missing the JH2 at the beginning. However, the engine number on the bike is "RCO1E-2110705." What's going on? Was the engine just switched out without changing the title/registration?

[Re-run]

Naw, frame and engine numbers never matched on those bikes.

[whichwitch]

Okay... Well those numbers are for a 1981 honda cb750 though right? That is the correct model and year?

[Re-run]

I don't have the serial years but I will see if I can find them.

[LukeM]

From the Haynes manual for DOHC CB750s, page 160:

Your engine number RC01E-2236872 is a 1981 US model CB750K.
Your engine number RC01E-2110705 is a 1980 US model CB750K.
Your frame number RC010BM208228 is a 1981 US model CB750K.

It's possible that the engine was swapped from a 1980 model year bike into your 1981 frame. As far as updating the title to reflect this, I would imagine it's up to your local municipality.

Handy little book, this Haynes manual.

Luke M

[Truck]

Most DMV's just worry about title/reg matching the frame.

Not sure but is it possible this was an early '81 model and they have an '80 block installed at the factory? I've seen this in boats, but not sure when Honda stamps the blocks.