What year model is it?

[Steve Minor]

Does frame #5440472870 indicate 1974 April?

If not, what does this frame # indicate?

Thanks
Steve

 

[Larry Perkins]

That frame was made in April of 1974 and was intended for a 250 motor or sometimes a 400.  The 54 means 250 and the 4 for 1974 and the 04 for April. The rest of the numbers are actually the serial numbers.  The 54 is usually off to the side of the other numbers.  

This brings up something that comes up from time to time.  This number set up was when things were made and not always the year.  An example is a bike with 54  411... is in all likelyhood a 1975 year bike not a 1974.  It was made too late in the year to make the sales year.  Titles bring another year ID problem into play.  In the day in some states leftover dirtbikes were often sold as the current year on the bill of sale and thyen the title.  I owned a 67 Husky that was titled as 68 originally here in Missouri.

Hope this helps on more than the original question.  I know alot of the guys know this stuff but these are things that continue to come up as we grow.