Which Yamaha Motor pieces hold their value
- The MT and XSR ranges, which are the road bikes with the broadest current demand and the most active second-hand market
- WaveRunner watercraft that have been flushed after salt use, which is what decides whether one has a long life or a short one
- Outboard motors with documented servicing, which are a serious purchase new and sell readily when the history is there
- Standard bikes with the original exhaust, since aftermarket systems rarely suit the next owner and the originals are often lost
And what pulls the price down
- Track-used YZF-R models, which have usually been crashed at some point and rarely carry the history to prove otherwise
- Salt corrosion inside outboards and watercraft, which attacks cooling passages where no photograph will show it
- High engine hours on watercraft and outboards, which is the real measure of wear and which buyers will ask for directly
- Corroded fasteners and downpipes on winter-ridden road bikes, which look worse than they are but colour the whole inspection
Identifying and dating yours
These are the checks that decide which end of the range a piece sits in, and they are the facts a serious buyer will ask for:
- The frame VIN is on the headstock, the hull number on a watercraft and the engine number on an outboard — all should match the paperwork
- Quote engine hours rather than age on anything marine, since that is what buyers actually use to value it
- Note whether the machine has been used in salt or fresh water, because it changes what a careful buyer expects to find
WishThrift does not authenticate or inspect anything. Condition and origin are described by the seller against five grades — what each one means — so photograph the markings above rather than asserting them.
What Yamaha Motor items are worth
The most-searched Yamaha Motor items on the site, with the band the label typically commands against the generic range for the same item:
| Item | Yamaha Motor range | Any brand |
|---|---|---|
| Motorbike | £575–£5,750 | £500–£5,000 (~$766–$7,660) |
| Motor Scooter | £345–£2,875 | £300–£2,500 (~$460–$3,830) |
| Moped | £345–£2,300 | £300–£2,000 (~$460–$3,064) |
| Boat | £1,150–£17,250 | £1,000–£15,000 (~$1,532–$22,979) |
| Jet Ski | £1,725–£10,350 | £1,500–£9,000 (~$2,298–$13,787) |
| Quad Bike | £690–£4,600 | £600–£4,000 (~$919–$6,128) |
| Generator | £92–£575 | £80–£500 (~$123–$766) |
Sterling guide ranges with an approximate US dollar equivalent at £1 ≈ $1.33 (July 2026). Sellers set their own asking price.
Every Yamaha Motor value guide
Selling Yamaha Motor on WishThrift
Listing is free and there is no commission on either side — the price you agree with the buyer is the amount you keep, whatever the label is worth. Create a free account, or read the selling guides for what to photograph and how to price.
Frequently asked questions
Is used Yamaha Motor worth buying?
It depends far more on the line than the label. Yamaha Motor is a separate company from the instrument maker, and it sells across road bikes, watercraft, outboards and generators. What they share on resale is that hours and salt exposure matter more than age. Each guide below says which Yamaha Motor lines hold their value for that item and which have almost none, so you are comparing like for like rather than paying for the name alone.
How do I check a piece is genuine Yamaha Motor?
The frame VIN is on the headstock, the hull number on a watercraft and the engine number on an outboard — all should match the paperwork. WishThrift does not authenticate, inspect or grade anything — condition and origin are described by the seller, so ask directly and expect an answer. A seller who has the item will send a photograph of the marking in minutes.
What is used Yamaha Motor worth?
Across the 7 guides here, from about £92 to £17,250 (roughly $123 to $22,979) depending on the item and its condition. Grades run New with Tags, Like New, Good, Fair and For Parts.
See also: value guides by brand · all value guides · buying guides · selling guides · condition grades.