Suzuki and Yamaha assign a year letter code to the end of each model name. Perhaps you’ve noticed this letter designation in your Suzuki or Yamaha
repair manual or
owners manual but weren’t sure what it meant.
Well here’s how it works: If you own a 1999 Suzuki GSX-R600X the X at the end tells us it was sold as a 1999 model year. Likewise, if you own a 2000 Yamaha YZ125M the M at the end of the model name indicates it was sold as a 2000 model. Please note that the year of manufacture, (stamped into the frame or printed on a sticker affixed to your vehicle), does not necessarily denote the model year. It is not uncommon for a motorcycle to be manufactured the year prior to the year it is sold and marketed as. So you 2009 RMZ250 may very well have been manufactured in November of 2008 for example.
In descending order, the Suzuki and Yamaha year code letter designations are as follows:
| Year | Yamaha | Suzuki |
| 2011 | A | L1 |
| 2010 | Z | L0 |
| 2009 | Y | K9 |
| 2008 | X | K8 |
| 2007 | W | K7 |
| 2006 | V | K6 |
| 2005 | T | K5 |
| 2004 | S | K4 |
| 2003 | R | K3 |
| 2002 | P | K2 |
| 2001 | N | K1 |
| 2000 | M | Y |
| 1999 | L | X |
| 1998 | K | W |
| 1997 | J | V |
| 1996 | H | T |
| 1995 | G | S |
| 1994 | F | R |
| 1993 | E | P |
| 1992 | D | N |
| 1991 | B | M |
| 1990 | A | L |
| 1989 | W | K |
| 1988 | U | J |
| 1987 | T | H |
| 1986 | S | G |
| 1985 | N | F |
| 1984 | L | E |
| 1983 | K | D |
| 1982 | J | Z |
| 1981 | H | X |
| 1980 | G | T |
| 1979 | F | N |
| 1978 | E | C |
| 1977 | D | B |
| 1976 | C | A |
| 1975 | B | M |
| 1974 | A | L |
| 1973 | | K |
| 1972 | | J |
| 1971 | | R |
