VIN Decoder

[Jim Cook]

Originally Posted by 10411

Thanks for your reply Jim.
How/where do I find out more info about the two updates you mention and determine if they have been done.
Appreciate you help.

Some of the early model FSE400 engines had an exhaust cam with a faulty decompression pin, which didn't reduce the compression enough for the starter to rotate fast enough for the bike to start. Mine, as it came from the factory, had to also be kicked over as I pushed the start button.

If it starts easily and well with the electric starter, the exhaust cam should be fine. The first FSE400 I set up for a customer was great. So great, in fact, that I got another for my self.
Mine was a problem. So much so that I finally carried it to the importer 750 miles away and had them supply me with an updated exhaust cam and reset my throttle position sensor. (It took me less than 20 minutes to change the exhaust cam and them only five minutes to reset the TPS.)

The starter gear upgrade consists of replacing the '02 intermediate starter gear with one which had some "give" in it's assembly, in case the engine backfired during the starting process. This protected the starter clutch assembly.
The new gear gave a better ratio to help the electric starter, and was made a little differently.

The easiest way to tell, if possible, would be to ask the previous owner(s). Other than that, a visual inspection would let you know, if you can get a photo of the part.
(I don't know how descriptive the drawing of the part is in the parts book, and I just found out that the GasGas web site doesn't have any parts books available for your engine. The link I gave you turned out to be for an owners' manual.)

I will try to locate an engine shop manual download for you, and also a download of parts book while i am looking. It may be a while, since most of my downloaded manuals were on a now defunct computer. (I saved the hard drives.)

I also have the part numbers for the starter gear upgrade pieces on a scan somewhere that i will try to locate for you.

It if starts and runs well, you are probably good already.

The Magnetti Marelli fuel injection and engine management system can be diagnosed by a Triumph, Moto Guzzi, or Harley dealer. (from what I've been told.) The cpu for the system is a P15 (if my memory serves me correctly.)

The only other issue I had with the bike, long term, was the starter. Being down low and in the front, it was subject to a lot of splash and an occasional submerging. I took mine apart and cleaned and greased the brushes; and replaced the rubber plug with a plug I made of "Quick Steel" (now sold as J&B Weld). Also, it is a Yamaha spec starter that has had the stud for the positive electric wire relocated. (that is the reason for the rubber plug.) This location will let the stud/bolt rotate when disconnecting/reconnecting the hot wire to the starter. Don't let it rotate, as it can break the wire inside the starter. (I restrained the bolt as I backed off the nut when disconnecting or reconnecting the wire.)
This was updated when they moved the starter for 2005.

The starter body uses a square configured o-ring, instead of a normal round bodied o-ring, for sealing the housing connection. I got spares from Stockers Starters in West Virginia.

That's pretty much all I think I know about the bike, right now.
After these upgrades, my '02 FSE400 was a fun and fast bike.

Good Luck, and Good Riding!
Jim


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[Azash]

Can some one decode this for me?
VTREC3000H0760077
Lives in sweden i was told ist ? 07 bit was not rally sure

[2012bluestreak]

Guys I am looking seriously at this bike 2010 EC 300

The fellow has the ownership from the MTO however the VIN does not come up on the insurance companies list

I have asked the owner to reconfirm the VIN

I live in Ontario

Can you guys help decode... just want to make sure

VIN VTRECH2C1AG400065

Thanks

[rvangeel]

I have a blue plated 05 ec250 and my insurance company doesn't recognize it as a motorcycle that they can insure either. (I live in Canada). The bike was previously registered in Canada by two previous owners even. I will probably just switch it to a green plate and then they will probably insure it. If that doesn't work I'll go to a different insurance company. I have a friend that insures a gas gas.


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[2012bluestreak]

It looks like green plate as they found the model under off road only vs street I was hoping to keep it blue plated

[monte34]

Hi, I'm a new member of this forum and have been trying to find out more about the MC 250 models for my Australian market. I have what I was told is a 2005 MC 250 with the following VIN VTREC2500F0945029.
It is definitely a 250cc bike but has a 4 speed gearbox, black USD forks with black 50mm tubes, no apparent lighting wiring, only a kill switch and 12/48 original sprockets.
I bought it from the 2nd owner who acquired it not long after it was first purchased and raced. He only ever used it as a trail bike and used it once or twice a year so it was as new when I got it just a bit knocked around. I can't see any evidence of it being modified from it's original purpose.
It has red plastics, GG on the top rear of the all black seat and no steering lock. 18" rear wheel Ohlins rear shock. The engine number starts with the EC prefix but I think all the EC and MC models were like this. Can anyone give me any further information about this model. All of the tech data I can find refer to the EC models, I'd like to find more about the MC if possible.
Cheers, Rob

[Jim Cook]

Originally Posted by monte34

Hi, I'm a new member of this forum and have been trying to find out more about the MC 250 models for my Australian market. I have what I was told is a 2005 MC 250 with the following VIN VTREC2500F0945029.
It is definitely a 250cc bike but has a 4 speed gearbox, black USD forks with black 50mm tubes, no apparent lighting wiring, only a kill switch and 12/48 original sprockets.
I bought it from the 2nd owner who acquired it not long after it was first purchased and raced. He only ever used it as a trail bike and used it once or twice a year so it was as new when I got it just a bit knocked around. I can't see any evidence of it being modified from it's original purpose.
It has red plastics, GG on the top rear of the all black seat and no steering lock. 18" rear wheel Ohlins rear shock. The engine number starts with the EC prefix but I think all the EC and MC models were like this. Can anyone give me any further information about this model. All of the tech data I can find refer to the EC models, I'd like to find more about the MC if possible.
Cheers, Rob

The black 'Zoke 50mm forks were standard on the 2005 MC250. The VIN
number seems right. If it is indeed a 2005 engine, the cases and ignition cover will have a "flat" area above and behind the flywheel area, instead of the "rounded" area in that place as on the 2004 & earlier models.

The only real difference between the EC and MC (except for the MC having a shock with both high and low speed compression damping, the 50mm 'Zoke Shiver forks, heavier rate springs for the forks and shock, 4-speed transmission, and lack of a steering lock), was the crankshaft assembly's weight.
To explain: On the MC engines, the right side of the crankshaft came with a light weight aluminum spacer where the older ECs had the drive gear for the counterbalancer and the newer EC models have an 8oz balancing "cut" weight to offset the "throw" of the crank. (1999 & 2000 EC models had a fully round 10oz weight, that looked like the earlier counterbalancer drive gear with no teeth on it.)

The "early build" 2005 off-road bikes came with one CDI for the EC models and another CDI for the MC models. (My sometimes faulty memory tells me it was the more aggressive "black wire" CDI for the 200 that was used.)
The "later build" 2005 bikes, EC, DE, and MC, all came with the CDI compatible with the "rainy/sunny" (EC/MX) switch, but no switch came with the bikes until the 2006 models. If it has the switchable programming CDI, it will have two extra wires which will plug into each other (bullet plug ends on the wires) or go to the switch.

I didn't see any MC models imported with a 19" rear wheel after the 1999 year.
Also, you might like the 13/49 sprocket combination, or if you ride in the mountain single track, a 13/52. With the Messico pipe, the original '99 CDI, and 13/52 sprocket combination, my son Gabriel's 4-speed 1999 MC250 was measured by his enduro computer at '93 mph in the hay field section of the Red River Enduro in 2000. He was racing his brother Joshua, on his 1999 6-speed MC250, with the 13/49 sprocket set, across the hay field. Josh finished 1/2 bike length ahead of Gabe. We never got the bikes equipped with the FMF exhaust pipes and newer EC spec CDI to run that fast.

Anything I can help you with, just let me know.

Good Riding!
Jim

[Andi73]

I have just bought a Gasgas EC300 and I am struggeling to figure out the model year from the VIN code: VTRFS30A0P0520014

I was told that this is a 2013 model, but I am not sure. Can anyone help me out with decoding this?

/Anders

[CDN Rick]

Originally Posted by Andi73

I have just bought a Gasgas EC300 and I am struggeling to figure out the model year from the VIN code: VTRFS30A0P0520014

I was told that this is a 2013 model, but I am not sure. Can anyone help me out with decoding this?

/Anders

I still struggle with getting these codes right.. But is the rear shock Ohlins or Reiger?

[Andi73]

The rear shock is ?hlins