Yamaha MT-10
Yamaha's hyper-naked flagship — the YZF-R1's crossplane inline-four (CP4) repackaged in upright streetfighter clothing. The 2022+ third-generation brought a sharper chassis, TFT dash, and improved electronics. UK riders pick it as the all-rounder of the litre-naked class: less aggressive than a Triumph Speed Triple, more sophisticated than a Kawasaki Z900, and with the unmistakable musical-bass throb of the CP4. The trade-off is theft risk in London postcodes (the MT-10 is a regular target) and modest fuel economy if you're keeping pace with its performance.
- Engine
- 998 cc
- Power
- 165 PS
- Weight
- 212 kg
- Seat height
- 835 mm
- A2 licence
- —
Inline four-cylinder, liquid-cooled, crossplane (CP4)
wet
The short version
Forecourt score
Value 83 · Insurance 6 · Theft 35
The Yamaha MT-10 holds its value strongly for a bike (around 18% lost over three years, against the 25-32% bike norm) and is expensive to insure (group 16). Theft risk is high.
A bike-specific blend of value retention, insurance and theft risk (weighted 40/35/25). Bikes carry no MOT reliability data, so reliability isn't scored. Higher is better.
Variant: MT-10
Engine
Petrol · 998cc
Power
165 ps
Torque
112 Nm
Weight
212 kg
Seat
835 mm
Transmission
6-speed manual
Economy
42 mpg
Tell us about the one you're looking at
Tidy and well looked-after for its age — the typical clean bike.
Estimated market value
£10,999
Range £9,899 – £12,099
HIGH CONFIDENCE
Holding value
Bikes hold value far better than cars — typical motorcycle 3-year depreciation is 25–32%, against cars' 40–50%. Some bikes (Hayabusa, Gold Wing, classic Z1000) actually appreciate in the 7–15 year zone as cult demand outstrips supply.
New
£14,200
At 5 years
—
At 10 years
—
Value loss by phase
Each band shows the share of original value lost during that window — not cumulative. Appreciation (green, marked +X% gained) is real for bikes that develop cult status.
UK new price by year
How we estimate this
Phase depreciation derived from observed UK used-bike pricing — classified ads, dealer asking prices, and end-of-auction figures. Bike residuals depend heavily on theft history, service-stamp count, and crash-damage signatures. The figures here are indicative for clean, fully-stamped examples.
What it costs to own
Indicative running costs at 8,000 miles a year — the UK rider average. Chain-drive bikes carry a chain/sprocket consumable line; tax (typically £25–£100/yr) and depreciation are excluded — see the section above for value retention.
3-year total
£5,247
Per year
£1,749
Per mile
£0.22
Service costs assume independent specialist labour and OE parts. Tyre intervals reflect typical UK road riding — track-day usage burns through rear tyres in <2,000 miles. Fuel uses the variant MPG at £1.45/L. Lower-mileage riders see proportionally lower totals; higher-mileage commuters pay roughly linearly more.
Estimated insurance
Group 16 of 17 (very high — superbike/cult) · Comprehensive · 5 yr NCB
Indicative annual comprehensive premiums for this bike. Bike insurance is far more sensitive to licence tier and rider age than cars — pick the combination closest to your circumstances.
Licence
Age
No-claims bonus
5 yearsRisk profile
Estimated annual premium · typical, age 30-39
£1,600/ year
Roughly £133 per month
Typical
Suburban postcode, 3+ years NCB, standard security (Thatcham chain + disc lock), no recent claims.| Age band | Lower risk | Typical | Higher risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age 17-21 | £2,640 | £3,520 | £4,928 |
| Age 22-29 | £1,620 | £2,160 | £3,024 |
| Age 30-39Selected | £1,200 | £1,600 | £2,240 |
| Age 40-49 | £1,056 | £1,408 | £1,971 |
| Age 50+ | £960 | £1,280 | £1,792 |
How we estimate this
Premiums combine licence tier, rider age, no-claims bonus and a risk-profile multiplier on top of a bike-specific baseline. Bike insurance is materially more sensitive to licence tier (CBT / A1 / A2 / A) than car insurance, and young riders pay considerably more than older riders even on the same machine. Always get individual quotes before buying.
Theft risk
Bike-specific · Met Police + insurance reporting
UK bike theft rates are an order of magnitude higher than car theft. Nakeds and supersports lose more to professional gangs; large adventure bikes and tourers are statistically much safer.
Theft risk score · 1 to 4
3/4High risk
High risk
Frequent theft target — appears regularly on UK police hot-lists, especially in London. Expect insurers to demand Thatcham chain + ground anchor + disc lock; tracker can knock 10–15% off premium.Theft hotspot postcodes
Postcode prefixes only; full London hot zone runs across E, N, NW, SE, SW, W boroughs depending on the model.
How we set this band
Bands derived from Met Police bike-theft reporting (most-stolen lists) cross-referenced with insurance industry underwriting data. Model + postcode are the two biggest factors in motorcycle theft risk in the UK, materially more than vehicle value.
What goes wrong
5 known issues · sorted by severity
Documented failure modes from UK owner forums, dealer service bulletins, and aggregated mechanic feedback. Mileages are approximate — different riders see different intervals depending on use and maintenance. Always address "high"-severity items before resale.
High severity
0
Medium
2
Low / cosmetic
3
| Severity | Part / issue | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| medium | Cam chain tensioner 20k-30k mi | £200 |
| medium | Regulator/rectifier 25k-35k mi | £200 |
| low | Front fork springs Any (preference) | £280 |
| low | Quickshifter calibration 10k-15k mi | £80 dealer |
| low | Front tyre wear Every 7k mi | £180 |
How we score severity
High — strands the bike or causes consequential damage if left. Medium — service item that affects ride quality or risks failure. Low — cosmetic or minor inconvenience. Costs are independent-specialist UK rates for parts and labour together; main dealer prices typically run 30–50% higher.
Safety recalls
Manufacturers occasionally issue safety recalls to fix a fault free of charge. You can check whether the Yamaha MT-10, or your exact vehicle, has any outstanding recalls on the official DVSA service.
Check on GOV.UKOpens the Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency recall checker. Choose the make, model and year of manufacture — no registration needed.
Variant comparison
The default — sole variant. The 2022+ third-gen is the one to buy; pre-2022 lacks the TFT dash and refined electronics.
Known issues
- Cam chain tensioner rattle ~25k mi
- Regulator/rectifier overheat ~25-35k mi (Yamaha CP4 pattern)
- Front fork dive — aftermarket springs common fix
Strengths
- +YZF-R1-derived CP4 inline-four — one of the great litre engines
- +Upright riding position friendlier than any equivalent supersport
- +2022+ TFT dash and rider modes match premium European rivals
- +Quickshifter standard from MT-10 SP / equivalent on later trims
- +Stronger residuals than Japanese rivals (Z H2, GSX-S1000)
Watch-outs
- −Very high theft risk in London/Manchester/Birmingham
- −Front fork dive on hard braking — firmer aftermarket springs popular
- −Fuel economy drops to high-30s mpg if ridden enthusiastically
- −Not A2-restrictable (over 95 PS limit)
- −Modest wind protection from stock screen