Check and Decode Any Yamaha Motorcycle VIN Before Buying
Yamaha is one of the top motorcycle brands in the United States. With a market share of 21.40 percent, it is second to the top-ranking Harley-Davidson. Although, the reliability of Yamaha motorcycles is very impressive, it is still a good practice to run a Yamaha motorcycle VIN check if you are buying a used one. According to Consumer Reports, Yamaha has a mechanical failure rate of 11 percent. Over the years, the brand has been known for some of the best motorcycles and sports bikes in the industry.
Finding the right Yamaha motorcycle is easy with so many options to choose from.
However, even a top branded bike can get a beating over a few years of use. You want to put some effort to rule out any past issues due to poor upkeep or other possible problems like recalls and theft.
Where to find the VIN? You can find the Yamaha motorcycle VIN on the right side of the steering head or the metal tag located on the left side of the frame above the motor.
Interesting Facts About Yamaha
Yamaha Motor Co., USA is a subsidiary for building, selling and marketing motorbikes in the United States. It was established in 1977 by Japan-based Yamaha Motor Co. Ltd., a majority-owned company by Yamaha Corporation. Known for its sport and off-road motorcycles, Yamaha manufactures a variety of motorcycle styles including standards, cruisers, touring motorcycles, and scooters.
- In 1968, Yamaha introduced the first trail bike with the launch of DT-1 Enduro, an on- and off-road bike which made a massive impact on motorcycling in the US.
- The first Yamaha motorcycles (YD1 and MF-1) were sold by independent US distributor Cooper Motors in 1958 before the US subsidiary was established.
- Since Yamaha joined competitive motor events in 1956, it has won 39 world championships because of the outstanding performance of their bikes and motorcycle racing drivers.
- The Yamaha brand is also on other products such as snowmobiles, go-kart engines, golf carts, recreational off-road vehicles, boats and other watercraft, outboard motors, electrical generators, water pumps, industrial-use unmanned helicopters, and electrical power units for wheelchairs.
- The Yamaha brand logo’s consistent feature, the tuning fork, represents Yamaha Corporation’s history as a manufacturer of musical instruments.
Other Sources for Yamaha Motorcycle Owners
- Official Yamaha Website (US)
- Yamaha Owner’s Service Manuals
- Yamaha Dealer Locator
- My Yamaha (Owner’s membership page)
Yamaha Motorcycle Recalls
One of the Yamaha recalls issued recently involved the Yamaha FJR1300 build from December 9, 2015 to February 2, 2020. The second gear of these vehicles may not be strong enough to operate with high-speed loads. Repeated operation of the gear shift can result in cracks which, in due course, may cause the gear to break. Yamaha advises owners not to drive their motorcycles until the recall is resolved. The target date for the recall is January 13, 2021.
Owners will be notified about taking their vehicles to a dealership for inspection and reprogramming of the ECU as well as replacement of the main axle and drive axle assemblies if necessary.
Stay Informed About Your Yamaha Motorcycle: Discover If It’s Affected by Recalls, Past or Present!
Visit the Yamaha website
Run a Yamaha Recall Check
Other contact points on Kawasaki motorcycle recalls:
| Yamaha Customer Service | 1-800-962-7926 |
| NHTSA Hotline | 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153) |
| SaferCar.gov (run by NHTSA) | www.safercar.gov |
Why should I run a Yamaha VIN check?
Look up any Yamaha motorcycle for information on vehicle specifications, sales records and recalls. Each VIN check also includes official NMVTIS data:
 Theft Records |
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| In 2023, Yamaha ranked as the second most stolen motorcycle brand in the US, with a total of 7,200 bikes stolen during the year. To ensure you are buying a used Yamaha motorcycle with no theft record in any state, it’s essential to perform a detailed vehicle history check. Look up any historical or active reports of theft and theft recoveries from data captured by the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) and other industry sources. | |
| Accident Records |
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| From 2012 to 2021, a total of 108,000 injuries and 5,579 fatalities were reported across the U.S. involving motorcycles. In 2022 alone, motorcyclists were approximately 22 times more likely than passenger vehicle occupants to die in a motor vehicle crash and four times more likely to be injured, reflecting the high risk associated with motorcycle riding. The fatality rate for motorcyclists per 100 million vehicle miles traveled was 26.16 in 2022 (Injury Facts) (NHTSA). When considering the purchase of a used Yamaha motorcycle, it is crucial to check if the bike has been involved in any accidents. This helps ensure the safety and performance of the motorcycle. | |
| Salvage Auction Records |
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| Some Yamaha bikes that have been stolen or damaged due to accidents or other reasons may end up being sold through salvage auctions. In many cases, the bike has been damaged so severely that the insurer has deemed it a total loss and sold it at auctions. Find out if a motorcycle is included in historical salvage auction listings. | |
VinCheck.info Yamaha VIN check also provides these valuable tools:
| Market Value |
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| Check the retail value of a Yamaha motorcycle based on the price of vehicles with the same model and make in recent months. The VinCheck.info market value tool covers both private party sales and dealer sales across all 50 states in the US. | |
| Ownership Cost |
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| There is more than just the cash price to consider when buying a Yamaha motorcycle. As a potential owner, you want to know the actual cost of owning the bike. Essentially, the VinCheck.info tool takes into consideration the depreciation over 5 years of ownership, plus all the additional expenses. | |