I don't know why there is so much discussion on the web about VIN codes. These codes are created by following a set of rules laid down by the ISO (International Standards Organisation) and agreed by all countries that are in it. The 17 digit codes started around the millenium and I believe that they became mandatory for new motorcycles in 2004. Contrary to what many people have published in books and on the web, ZDM is not: Z = Italy / D = Ducati / M = Motorcycle. Rubbish!
The first character is the continent: A-C = Africa / 1-5 = N. America / 8-9 = S.America / J-R = Asia / S-Z = Europe / 6 = Oceania. And so Z = Europe.
The secaond character is the country, and D= Italy.
The third charcater is allocated to an organisation. In our case M=Ducati.
So ZDM = Europe / Italy /Ducati.
If you want to check all this out go lok for 'VIN based Interface IDs' (I think that's about right) or search under ISO for vehicle identification codes, i seem to recall ISO 3779 as being relevant. And if you study the mass of stuff you find in it you should be able to decode pretty well any VIN since 2000.
Before 2000 or so many countries did their own thing and that is why you will find VINs with 13, 15, 10 or any othe amount of digits.
And in case anybody doesn't know, the markings starting with IGM or DGM followed by 4 or 5 numbers and then OM are homologation codes, and refer to specifications for complete machines that have been submitted to the authorities in Italy and approved for production. The OM is omologato which is homologation in Italian. These codes were IGM up to the late 60s and then became DGM. They are stil there on modern Ducatis but now mean a lot more and start with 'e'.They have nothing to do with VINs. In some countries there are Type Approvals, which mean the same.
Right, that should give you all something to do whilst the virus keeps us indoors. Ciao.
