Originally Posted by klx678

Year model and manufacture dates are not always the same. The date of manufacture is frequently the year before the model year since they have to be built ahead of time. Since it takes months to get the bikes built and in the "pipeline" for sale. I sold a whole lot of bikes that were made in October-December of the year before the model year. I.e. a 2014 may have a date of manufacture of November 2013.

The truly important date is the model year, not the year of manufacture. Other than that the next important number would be the serial number if there is a change of parts mid-run.