Engine number decode ZDM is the WMI (World Manufacturer Identifier) for Ducati’s produced in Italy Z = Italy DM = Ducati Motor Holding. (Some people have decoded the M as Motorcycle- this is incorrect) The WMI code for Ducati Motor Thailand is MLO for example. Next comes Engine capacity eg 998 Then Cooling type eg W = water cooled Then Number of valves (if present) = 4 The final code before the production number has been described elsewhere as the fuelling type eg C=Carburettor. I’m not so sure about this. Looking at the service manual for the 959 all of this is explained - and according to that C would denote a France/Belgium version engine and B an EC/Australia version engine. Take a look at the attached and see how you interpret it.
So part 2 is deffo the engine type eg 748W4B but that would seem to indicate the B denotes an engine destined for EC/Australia but then, as an example 748s sold in the EC had W4* whereas 748Rs had W4B. Likewise 998Ss have W4B but 998s have W4* afaik, and I’m presuming 996s have W4* but the 996R will have W4B - can anyone with either of those confirm/deny that please? Then, I have no direct knowledge of 749/999s nonR and R - can anyone confirm for those?
Bearing in mind pre 2002 the way VIN numbers were encoded was different so the engine codes may have meant something different then too.
Could very well be something like that, would be useful to get to the bottom of it though. My 998S is 2002 and has a N in it. Who’s got a 749R? @RickyX ?
Next observation. Looking at your 749R engine number Ricky and looking at @LiveFast...... ‘s post #21 above it would seem to indicate W4C was an engine that was destined for Belgium/France, did yours come from there ? Or was it a UK supplied bike?
