Last updated: 13 October 2026
These API Terms sit alongside our Website Terms & Privacy Policy, not in place of it. Browsing the public MotorcycleDB website stays covered by that page. Paid or keyed use of the API - the endpoints under /api/v1 - is governed by the terms below, which take priority over the site terms for anything API-related.
These API Terms are between you (the person or organisation using the API) and MotorcycleDB (“we”, “us”). They apply to access to https://www.motorcycledb.com/api/ and all /api/v1 endpoints. The public website remains covered by the site Terms & Privacy at /terms.php. If the two conflict for API use, these API Terms win.
By requesting a key, using a key, or calling the API, you agree to these terms. If you use the API for an organisation, you confirm you can bind that organisation.
The API is read-only REST access, in JSON, to MotorcycleDB catalogue data. Current capabilities include bike search and spec sheets, manufacturer/model lists, editorial rider/character profiles, US NHTSA safety-recall lookup, and US-market VIN decode against locally held NHTSA vPIC data. Features, fields, limits and URLs may change.
Access requires a bearer token we issue. You must keep the key secret, use it only for your organisation, and not embed it in public client-side code, mobile binaries, or public repos. You are responsible for all calls made with your key. Tell us promptly if a key is leaked; we may revoke and replace it. We may refuse, rate-limit, suspend or revoke keys if we reasonably believe these terms are being broken, the service is at risk, or the use is unlawful.
Subject to these terms and any plan limits:
This licence is not the CC BY-NC 4.0 licence that applies to casual reuse of the public website. A paid key is the commercial permission the public licence withholds.
You do not receive ownership of the database, schema, editorial profiles, scoring model, documentation, or trademarks. Manufacturer names and model names remain those parties’ marks.
You may cache responses to reduce traffic, for up to 24 hours for catalogue/spec data and up to 7 days for VIN decodes that have not changed, unless your plan says otherwise. Recall data should be refreshed at least daily if you surface “open recall” warnings. You must not build a local substitute catalogue that you offer to third parties as a motorcycle specifications database.
You must not:
429High-risk use (safety-critical systems, automated underwriting as the sole decision, type approval, or anything where a wrong spec could cause physical harm) is not licensed unless we agree in writing.
Unless your plan waives it, products that display our data to end users must include a reasonably visible credit such as: “Motorcycle specifications by MotorcycleDB” with a link to https://www.motorcycledb.com/ where practical. You may not imply we endorse your product.
Plans bought at the “with credit” price require the credit “Motorcycle specifications by MotorcycleDB”, with a working, followed link to https://www.motorcycledb.com/, shown directly below the specifications wherever our data is displayed. In mobile apps it may instead appear on a credits screen reachable from the screen showing our data. If the credit is missing we will email you; if it isn’t restored within 14 days, we may move you to the “without credit” price from your next billing date. Plans bought at the “without credit” price waive this requirement.
VIN decode and recall records are derived from public NHTSA sources and our matching layer. Coverage is US-market and not complete. A VIN may decode and still have match: null against the catalogue. NHTSA and vehicle manufacturers are not parties to these terms and owe you no duty through us.
Data is compiled from manufacturer materials, published sources, contributor submissions and public datasets. Editorial “how it rides” scores and fit-for-use text are estimates from the spec sheet, using the same model for every bike; they are not lab tested. We do not warrant that any field is accurate, complete or current. Always confirm safety, licensing, recall and purchase-critical figures with the manufacturer or an official source. The API is not insurance advice, legal advice, or a substitute for official recall notices.
Fees, quotas and features are as stated when you buy or as we later confirm in writing. Unpaid invoices, chargebacks or abuse may cause suspension. We may change prices or plans with notice to the email on the account; continued use after the notice period is acceptance. Trial keys may be withdrawn at any time.
We aim for continuous availability but do not guarantee uninterrupted service. Planned maintenance, force majeure, upstream NHTSA or hosting failure, and abuse mitigation can cause downtime. Unless an enterprise order form says otherwise, the API is provided “as is” and “as available”.
We process account data, request metadata (timestamp, endpoint, key id, IP, user-agent) and the contents of access-request forms to run, bill, secure and improve the API. Details are in the Privacy Policy on /terms.php. Do not send us special-category personal data or full customer financial data through API support tickets.
You may stop using the API at any time and request key deletion. We may suspend or end access immediately for breach, legal risk, or non-payment. On termination, the licence ends. You must delete cached API data within 30 days except for copies you are legally required to keep, and except for data that has been permanently transformed into your own records (for example a VIN you already stored as a customer’s vehicle). Sections 6, 8, 9, 13–16 survive.
To the fullest extent permitted by UK law we exclude liability for indirect, incidental, special, consequential or pure economic loss, including lost profits, lost data, or cost of substitute data. Our total liability arising out of the API in any 12-month period is limited to the fees you paid us for the API in that period, or £100 if you are on a free trial. Nothing in these terms limits liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, fraud, or any liability that cannot be limited by law.
You will indemnify MotorcycleDB against claims, damages and reasonable legal costs arising from your product’s use of the API, your breach of these terms, or your presentation of our data as guaranteed, official or lab-tested.
These terms are governed by the laws of England and Wales. The courts of England and Wales have exclusive jurisdiction, except that we may seek injunctive relief in any jurisdiction to protect the database or keys. If you are a consumer resident in the UK or EEA, mandatory local consumer rights still apply.
We may update these API Terms by posting a new version and updating the date above. Material changes will be flagged by email or on /api/ where we have an address for you. Continued use after the effective date is acceptance.
API access and legal notices: use the contact form.
Website terms and privacy: /terms.php.