![](/uploads/1/2/6/6/126629689/878106247.jpg)
HondaPCNsHonda Motorcycle Model Names, Model Numbers, Model Years and Product CodesIt is often very useful, in referring to specific Honda motorcycle models and parts, to understand the various systems and conventions Honda has historically used to refer to such things. There is clearly a rationale behind each official designation, although absent direct input from Honda, it is impossible to achieve an absolutely complete understanding. This page contains as much reliable information as was known and publicly available as of the date this page was written. Note that certain sources (e.g., ) are apparently not very concerned with Honda practices outside of their particular region, so information attributable to them may relate only to their own practices, and not necessarily to those of on a worldwide basis.On this page (and throughout VSource.org), the terms 'Model Name', 'Model Number', 'Model Year' and 'Product Code' (or 'PCN') are used as defined below.Model NamesThe Model Name is also known as the 'Model Designation'; it is the official Honda name for a particular model. Model Names usually contain some reference to engine displacement, but not always (and not always an accurate one, e.g., the VFR800Fi has always had a 781cc engine). Many of Honda's early motorcycle Model Names began with 'CB', which has been theorised to refer to 'City Bike', and it is almost obvious that 'VF' refers to 'Vee Four', but the fact is that Honda has generally never conistently explained the nomenclature it uses for its motorcycles.Honda also generally includes Model Year codes (see below) when referring to particular motorcycle models by Model Name. This is also the standard way of referring to Model Yearsoutside of the USA, where people usually mention the calendar year corresponding to the Model Year, e.g., '1990 VFR750F', as opposed to 'VFR750FL'.
SPG builds D'Angelico's Standard Series/Excel Series, introduced in 2005. For help dating, see Serial Numbers.
![Street Street](/uploads/1/2/6/6/126629689/144807292.jpg)
![Numbers Numbers](http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/f162/skyway2277/Fils3skyways.jpg)
Another American Honda anomaly is their way of referring to California-spec models. Even though there has always been a different PCN for the California models (as opposed to the '49-state' models), they also add an 'L' to the Model Name of the California-spec bikes, e.g., 'VFR750RL' becomes 'VFR750RLL'. (This affectation is ignored in the table below.) An example of the standard Honda usage can be found on the front cover of the Honda Parts Catalogue for the 1992 NR (aka 'NR750'):In addition to the Model Name, some Honda motorcycles also have a trademarked name or marketing name, some examples of which being 'Interceptor®', 'Hurricane®' and 'Gold Wing®'.
Model Names are generally consistent throughout the world, but marketing names do vary quite a bit between markets (or planets, in American Honda's case.), which means that the same motorcycle model sold in different markets will have a single Model Name, but can have more than one different marketing names (or none at all). For example, VFRs have also been known as 'Interceptors', but only in the USA, and not during all Model Years; VTR1000Fs are marketed as 'SuperHawks' in the USA, but as 'FireStorms' in Europe; and finally, the ST1300 has no separate marketing name in the USA, but is called the 'Pan-European' in Europe.Model NumbersHonda motorcycles also feature Model Numbers, which are essentially the 'VDS' section of the, less the last digit (which refers to the market for which a particular model was manufactured). Model Numbers generally coincide with major re-designs of motorcycle models, but more minor revisions tend to retain the same Model Number but get a new PCN (see below). Accordingly, there can be more than one PCN associated with a particular Model Number, but not during the same Model Year, and the models with the different PCNs (but the same Model Number) will usually be noticeably different in appearance.
A good example of how this works is provided by the ':fifth-generation' and 'sixth-generation' VFR800 RC46: Both the 'Fi' and the 'VTEC' versions have the Model Number 'RC46', but the earlier version is associated with the 'MBG' PCN and the later version is associated with a different one ('MCW'). In addition to the 'generation' concept, which was developed by American VFR enthusuasts and is not an official Honda concept, another common but unofficial way to differentiate between two versions sharing the same Model Number is to call the first one, for example, 'RC36-I' and the second one 'RC36-II'. There is more about Honda motorcycle Model Numbers.Model YearsAccording to the 1959-98 American Honda Motorcycle Identification Guide, effective September 1973, American Honda adopted an official 'model year' policy, which means that, regardless of the actual date of manufacture, all 1974 and later models sold by American Honda are represented by specific model years. For 1974 and 1975 models, model designations continued to include 'model change' numbers (e.g., K1, S2, M1, etc.).
All 1976 and later models included the year in the model designation, as well as '19XX MODEL' printed on the vehicle's serial number plate, which is usually found on the steering head part of the motorcycle's frame. Commencing with the 1979 model year, Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (including its U.S. Distributor, American Honda Motor Co., Inc.) adopted the U.S. Department of Transportation's alpha designation system to indicate the model year of each vehicle.
![](/uploads/1/2/6/6/126629689/878106247.jpg)