I'm gonna go with something is fishy with either the title or vin. You may just want to leave it alone

 

I agree, it seems like a lot of work for something not many people would do (split seat to banana conversion + 06 bodywork), but people have done stranger things to bikes before. My bike is a white 2002 f4i, and my title says that. Honda never made a white f4i in 2002, but at some point my bike changed colors and that made it's way onto my title.

Also, what you're saying is that someone was able to obtain a frame stamp with matching title and for some reason slapped it on an 06. I think that would be difficult as well. People build bikes from the frame up, change frame colors (polish, powedercoat), they can also swap frames to give a totalled bike a clear title (higher resale), that's where I'm coming from.

 

Mike, everything about the bike says it's an 06 except the title and vin plate. So what's more likely?

• The previous owner created an 06 on an 03 vin?
• Someone used a clear vin / title to disguise an 06?

The bike is already in his possession so its too late now. I just wouldn't suggest running the engine serial # thru any databases.

My guess is it's a stolen 06 and someone used a clean title to hide that fact. Nobody at the dmv would catch the facts pointed out here

 

So is there a way to check the engine serial and know if its original to the frame or not? I have opened a can of worms that I cant seem to close.

 

does the VIN on the left-side frame sticker match the VIN on the right-side of the steering head? (it's stamped vertically on right side of frame under handlebars)...and does that match the title?

i don't think that blue/black color scheme was offered in 03 or 04, right? yours looks exactly like an 06. something is very fishy with your title if it says 03. let us know what you find out.

 

Blue black is only 06. Never offered any other year.

it's the frame that makes me suspicious. 04 and up Honda intentionally made the frames silver to differentiate the F4i from the 600rr. No silver frame would have an 03 vin. And it doesn't make sense to strip the bike and replace the frame just to replicate an 06. Too much work for something only a Honda enthusiast would pick up

 

Honestly I wouldn't wanna dig too far if I was you. I'm with kuro on that this could be a stolen bike and someone bought a frame off ebay for an 03 then used the title and removed the vin from it, put them onto your bike, to make the stolen bike legal.

You could find out you have a stolen bike and loose bike+money you have in it, and also end up in court for receiving stolen property. Even though you bought it legally to best of your knowledge you can still be charged

But then again make sure all three of the vin numbers on the frame are the same. If not a cop may someday pull you over then you are in a world of mess if he happens to look them up

 

i'd sell the bike on craigslist and buy a clean one. something's not right.

 

Interesting thread... Any new word on if the VINs matched up on the steering head?

 

Swapped vin sticker?!?

Basically the bike is at it should be. The year is not correct on the sticker. Check the steering head and let us know. That will clear all.