1965 Production Numbers

[terry01]

Any idea how many FL's and FLH's were made in 1965?

[36 knuck man]

Official HD publication, the Legend Begins, says 2130 FL's and 4800 FLH's , thanks, Larry

[terry01]

How do I tell when the bike was made? Is it early or late or mid for that? I just acquired a '65 FLH and have started my research. Thanks.

[upsrod]

What is the VIN? Mine was built on 8-11-64 and is 65FLH1655.

[vph-d]

The factory production figures are approximates, due to the way they were collected, calendar year instead of production year. The MO-CO will research early 60s and newer serial numbers for you, if you ask them. 65 models seem to have a lot quirks.
VPH-D

[terry01]

Any specific department? Just call the 800 number?

[vph-d]

I'll look tonight, the number's at home...
VPH-D

[terry01]

Thanks. I tried last night and got lost on the round and round automated prompts. If I remember correctly, there was a formula in the Vin number back then too??

[vph-d]

The number is 414-343-4056, you want Customer Care. They'll give you a Service Request Number for your VIN search, which takes about 2 weeks. Not much info is available on 65s.
VPH-D

[upsrod]

If you list your Vin, belly, frame, trans and lower fork anti-theft, they will answer yes if the numbers you give are original to your bike....will NOT tell you what they were/should be. Should give you the build date per VIN. number. They don't know the original dealer, color or options.

[vph-d]

I received an e-mail from the factory yesterday, about my 65. Serial 65FLH51** was built October 27,1964. No info on color or option groups.
This took 5 weeks, and 2 phone calls to obtain, they had my e-mail address wrong. They had some verbal info for me on my 73FX, [build date and color] when I talked to them two weeks ago. They're trying to find info on my wife's 69XLH from an April request. It's nice the Mo-Co provides this service.
VPH-D

[terry01]

Anybody specific I should ask for? Customer care gave me a request number, but the guy said that no information was available other than the "Legend Book". He said that the VIN numbers were random. No specific order at all. "Should we put 4 or 5 digits today boys????" I found my notes from years ago at HDU and they said "If the model year is an odd number, the VIN should start with an odd number", any comments on that?

[upsrod]

The main and best guy is/was Pete Simet. I think he may have retired.

[vph-d]

If they gave you a Service Request Number, someone is doing research on your VIN. 65 serial numbers start with odd numbers 1,3,5 etc, which is why the serial numbers run so high on relatively low production years.
VPH-D

[Chris Haynes]

I found my notes from years ago at HDU and they said "If the model year is an odd number, the VIN should start with an odd number", any comments on that?

If it is a four digit number the first number will be Odd or Even. If it is a five digit number it is the first two numbers that make it odd or even.