Yamaha bike insurance

Compare Yamaha bike insurance quotes with Confused.com

Reviewed 01 September 2021

The information on this page was last reviewed on 01 September 2021

Yamaha motorbike insurance

Yamaha is one of the most popular motorcycle brands in the UK, and the company produces a wide range of motorbikes to suit all needs and tastes.

The amount you’ll pay for Yamaha motorbike insurance will depend on a number of factors ranging from the price and age of the motorbike to how powerful its engine is, as well as your personal details such as your age, address, occupation and claims history.

Yamaha history and facts

Yamaha motorbikes have been around for almost 70 years. The Yamaha company was in fact set up at the end of the 19th century in Japan as a producer of pianos – a role the Yamaha Corporation still plays today.

After the Second World War, however, Yamaha redesigned some of the production processes it had developed during wartime to manufacture motorcycles. The first model rolled off the production line in 1954.

A year later, Yamaha Motor Co Ltd was spun out of its parent company and started life as a new, independent entity headed up by Genichi Kawakami. Its headquarters are in the city of Iwata in Shizuoka prefecture, roughly 150 miles south-west of the Japanese capital, Tokyo.

Yamaha’s first motorbike was the YA-1, a 125cc single-cylinder motorcycle. The early success of this model in motorbike races in Japan as well as elsewhere in the world set the template for Yamaha’s subsequent involvement in the motorcycle racing arena. Among many notable achievements over the years, the Yamaha XT500 claimed first place in the inaugural Paris-Dakar Rally in 1979.

During the 1980s, the motorcycle industry – led by Yamaha as well as its Japanese competitors Suzuki, Honda and Kawasaki – rapidly broadened the range of motorbikes they produced. The Yamaha FZ750, a high-performance street bike, was launched in 1985, following on from the success of 1981’s XV750 cruiser-style motorcycle.

In the past three decades, Yamaha has expanded into a number of new areas of motor manufacturing while retaining its focus on the motorcycle sector. Indeed, in 2020 it was reported to be the world’s second largest motorbike manufacturer by value, behind its rival Honda.

In 1989 Yamaha launched a Formula One team which ran until 1997 and which employed drivers including Damon Hill and Martin Brundle. The company has become one of the world’s biggest producers of snowmobiles and has also developed boats and other watercraft, golf carts, off-road vehicles and electrical generators, among many other products.

The leading Yamaha motorbikes

Yamaha is currently the second-biggest selling motorbike brand in the UK.

But which models have helped to fuel this popularity?

Yamaha NMAX 125

Ideal for urban life, the NMAX 125 scooter is nippy, manoeuvrable and economical to run.

According to the manufacturer it can cover nearly 200 miles on a single tank of fuel, and the latest models have loads of connectivity options such as Bluetooth smartphone pairing.

Yamaha Ténéré 700

Launched in 2016, this classy adventure bike has excellent handling, visibility and presence: everything you’d want in a motorcycle designed for long-distance journeys.

Manufactured in Japan, the Ténéré 700’s motor is based on the one used in the MT-07 (see below), a leading motorbike in the hyper-naked class.

Yamaha XSR 125

This is one of the more recent iterations of the 125cc motorbike pioneered by Yamaha way back in the 1950s.

As you’d expect of a motorbike in this class it’s affordable and fun to ride.

If you’re looking for a 125cc motorcycle, Yamaha definitely has you covered: there’s also the YZF-R125 and the new model MT-125.

Yamaha MT-07

This roadster has been one of the top-selling motorbikes in the 651-1000cc category for a number of years now thanks to its performance, accessibility and affordability.

On top of that, it offers a comfortable ride and can be forgiving for novices looking for their first taste of what a roadster can offer.

Yamaha MT-09

Launched in 2014, the MT-09 shook the rule book up and was designed to 'bring real excitement and pure emotion' back into riding, according to Yamaha.

In 2021 a new version was launched which is compliant with new EU regulations and has a 890cc engine. As it's a high-performing bike, the Yamaha MT 09 insurance group means it's going to cost more than other bikes on the market when it comes to insurance costs.

Yamaha R1

The Yamaha R1 has been around since the late 1990s but has had many updates since then. The latest R1 is one of the most advanced bikes on offer with a 998cc 4-cylinder engine and many smart electronic devices attached.

It's also one of the most expensive bikes, with prices starting at £18,200. This means Yamaha R1 insurance is also going to be high, so you'll need to factor this into the budget of buying one of these bikes.

How much will my Yamaha cost to insure?

The cost of buying annual motorbike insurance for your Yamaha will depend on a wide range of factors – and a lot of these are not directly related to the motorcycle itself.

For example, your age, where you live and your occupation will have a significant bearing on the size of your premiums. Younger bikers tend to pay more for cover as insurance companies have found that this group overall tends to take more risks on the road. If you live in an area where motorbike thefts are higher than average, this can push up the cost of cover as well.

In terms of the motorbike itself, the class of motorcycle will have an influence on Yamaha motorbike insurance policy costs. Typically, the less powerful your engine, the less you’ll pay for cover – other things being equal. Also, any modifications you make to the motorbike that result in it being faster or having a more powerful engine, or which make it more attractive to potential thieves, will normally increase costs.

When you’re shopping around for a Yamaha motorbike insurance quote, make sure you let potential insurers know about any modifications. Failure to disclose substantial changes can in some circumstances result in claims being turned down.

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