Big Uh-Oh

Rickyisms
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5/14/2020 10:29pm Edited Date/Time 5/15/2020 10:58am
Got my frame back from PC a while ago and I’m finally starting to put the triple clamps on tonight when I realize my VIN is no longer legible. You can see brief outlines/indentations of the VIN but can’t make it out. What’s the best course of action here? I only have a bill of sale for the bike.

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beamer
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5/14/2020 10:34pm
My RM 250 is the same ..............dont know!
avidchimp
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5/14/2020 10:42pm
If you can make the letters out, you could basically lightly hand 'chisel' out the numbers, or acid etch that area somehow (I don't know how).
1
Motoxdoc
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5/14/2020 11:30pm
Seems to me that the obvious best course of action would be to put it together and race it!
1
5/14/2020 11:39pm

Make sure you black tape and they'll never know
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1

The Shop

5/14/2020 11:50pm
If for whatever reason you need the vin to be visible (selling, etc) just sand the paint back and the letters will be visible. Don't worry about it for now unless you need it, it's still there.
9
duckdog77
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5/15/2020 2:17am
Tape off a square around the vin. Sand the material down, then take some sort of pick tool to clean the paint out of the vin. After your vin is visible again apply a thin coat or two of black spray paint.
7
1
EngIceDave
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5/15/2020 4:39am
Off-road bike?
In Florida?

Don't sweat it, I have never registered a dirt bike in Florida in my life (been here entire life)

Just keep bill of sale you have, when you sell it, make another bill of sale to buyer and give them your present one as well

You don't have to title dirt bikes in FL
4
UGOTBIT
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5/15/2020 6:15am
This is more of a problem than everyone realizes, because there is no way to prove the bike is NOT stolen at this point.

Technically the VIN has been altered/defaced.

You can try sanding/scraping it off, but it may damage the VIN if it's a light stamping and will look like shit. (ask me how I know) If you decide to sand it go easy.

There may be some chemical out there that will remove it, I heard gasket remover? but have not verified. Tape a box around the VIN and strip it and put some clear nail polish or something over it to protect it.
2
1
5/15/2020 6:29am
A wire wheel should take it down to the point where you can read the number. I have had this same problem getting a few frames powdercoated in the past. you can also use the motor number to help identify the bike. i bought an RM250 from the Motoworldracing.com Suzujki team in 03 that had a new frame and no VIN. we just used the motor number on the paperwork with no stress at all. later i engraved the motor number into the frame and used that to sell the bike through the dealership i worked at.
resetjet
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5/15/2020 6:33am
Call the pc guy. I am sure he has a way to remove the paint.
2
5/15/2020 6:56am Edited Date/Time 5/15/2020 7:01am
I just had the same thing happen.

I reminded myself I no longer live in California.

I ended up deciding to not give two shits.

9
ti473
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5/15/2020 7:31am
If the PC guy didn't have enough common sense to mask the VIN, he did a shit job in my opinion.
3
1
Supermega1
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5/15/2020 7:39am
You can use a chemical stripper. Sanding will probably damage the VIN.

Google "How to remove powder coat" and some articles will come up with some chemical stripper recommendations.
1
500guy
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5/15/2020 7:59am
Am I the only one that thought we were talking about Pro Circuit and Not Powder Coating?

is it really that hard to type the name?
4
FWYT
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5/15/2020 8:13am
Supermega1 wrote:
You can use a chemical stripper. Sanding will probably damage the VIN. Google "How to remove powder coat" and some articles will come up with some...
You can use a chemical stripper. Sanding will probably damage the VIN.

Google "How to remove powder coat" and some articles will come up with some chemical stripper recommendations.
Yep.
JeremyK
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5/15/2020 8:16am
If you sand through powder coat to reveal the vin and you go to far and remove the vin number, you are officially not qualified to use sandpaper ,as silly as that may sound.
4
mattyhamz2
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5/15/2020 8:27am
500guy wrote:
Am I the only one that thought we were talking about Pro Circuit and Not Powder Coating?

is it really that hard to type the name?
I read it as Pro Circuit at first. Took me a second to think Powder Coating
3
duckdog77
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5/15/2020 8:29am Edited Date/Time 5/15/2020 8:36am
JeremyK wrote:
If you sand through powder coat to reveal the vin and you go to far and remove the vin number, you are officially not qualified to...
If you sand through powder coat to reveal the vin and you go to far and remove the vin number, you are officially not qualified to use sandpaper ,as silly as that may sound.
Agreed. I paint cars for a living. If you take an engraved vin number off via sand paper By hand you’ve done one hell of a job!

Use something in the 400 grit range by hand and you should be good. Could initially cut it with something a little more coarse like a 240. Backing off as you get close to the metal to the 400 grit. I wouldn’t go any more coarse than that as those grits could start to scratch into the metal. Yes any sort of grinding will take the vin off. But some light grit sand paper by hand should not remove the vin.

I’d be careful with any sort of stripper as it could bleed through the tape edge and mess up a bigger area of the powder coating than warranted.
6
EngIceDave
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5/15/2020 8:56am
THIS WHOLE THING IS SILLY, EVEN FOR FLORIDA
2
Dirtydeeds
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5/15/2020 9:01am
500guy wrote:
Am I the only one that thought we were talking about Pro Circuit and Not Powder Coating?

is it really that hard to type the name?
mattyhamz2 wrote:
I read it as Pro Circuit at first. Took me a second to think Powder Coating
well with the time he saved, He was able to tape a square around the vin, widdle the paint out of said vin, have a smoke and a nap.
3
mattyhamz2
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5/15/2020 9:04am
500guy wrote:
Am I the only one that thought we were talking about Pro Circuit and Not Powder Coating?

is it really that hard to type the name?
mattyhamz2 wrote:
I read it as Pro Circuit at first. Took me a second to think Powder Coating
Dirtydeeds wrote:
well with the time he saved, He was able to tape a square around the vin, widdle the paint out of said vin, have a smoke...
well with the time he saved, He was able to tape a square around the vin, widdle the paint out of said vin, have a smoke and a nap.
Hope he ordered a pizza too. Doesn't really matter
3
Rickyisms
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5/15/2020 10:49am
EngIceDave wrote:
Off-road bike? In Florida? Don't sweat it, I have never registered a dirt bike in Florida in my life (been here entire life) Just keep bill...
Off-road bike?
In Florida?

Don't sweat it, I have never registered a dirt bike in Florida in my life (been here entire life)

Just keep bill of sale you have, when you sell it, make another bill of sale to buyer and give them your present one as well

You don't have to title dirt bikes in FL
I need the vin to determine if a recall was done on the bike.
EngIceDave
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5/15/2020 10:51am
You already have a title, yes?

Or do you not have a title?
Have a bill of sale?

VIN is on those already

You didn't powder coat a frame from an out of the crate never-sold unit, did you?
garagedog
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5/15/2020 10:53am
I used a small brush on a dremel tool. I didn't have to take off all the PC either. Just buffed off some and the VIN numbers showed up. Easily readable too.

SEEMEFIRST
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5/15/2020 10:58am
JeremyK wrote:
If you sand through powder coat to reveal the vin and you go to far and remove the vin number, you are officially not qualified to...
If you sand through powder coat to reveal the vin and you go to far and remove the vin number, you are officially not qualified to use sandpaper ,as silly as that may sound.
My thoughts exactly.
2
tprice07
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Fort Dodge, IA US
5/15/2020 11:45am
Mask it off nicely and sand it down around that area.

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