Yamaha FZR1000 MOT pass rate and common failures

Yamaha FZR1000 motorcycles pass the MOT 86.4% of the time, measured across 228 tests in the DVSA record. A further 7.02% passed only after a defect was put right at the test station.

About average - within 0.5 points of the 86.87% figure for all motorcycles tested.

Pass rate 86.4% 197 of 228

Fixed at the station 7.02% passed after an on-the-spot repair

Average mileage at test 31,695 miles

Average age at test 32.83 years old

Engine 994cc MOT class 2

For sale now 0 Yamaha FZR1000 adverts

What to check before the MOT

Built from this model's own failure record, not general advice.

Start with not working - it accounts for 46.7% of failed tests on this model.
Then check missing and fractured, the next two most common reasons.
The most common advisory is has a serious fluid leak (6.1% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
Average recorded mileage at test is 31,695 miles, which is the number to compare any advert against.

Pass rate by age

A single pass rate hides the most useful thing in this data: how the same model behaves at three years old and at fifteen.

Age at test	Pass rate		Tests
16+ years	86.22%		225

Why the Yamaha FZR1000 fails

Share of failed tests on this model where the item was recorded. One test can fail on several items, so the column does not add up to 100%.

#	Item	Of failures	Tests
1	Not working	46.7%	7
2	Missing	40%	6
3	Fractured	20%	3
4	Has a serious fluid leak	20%	3
5	Insecure	20%	3
6	Light intensity obviously reduced	20%	3
7	Contaminated	13.3%	2
8	Does not conform to the specified requirements	13.3%	2
9	Grip insecure to handlebar	13.3%	2
10	Too high	13.3%	2

Most common advisories

Not a failure and not a legal requirement to fix - but an advisory that repeats year after year is money the next owner spends.

#	Item	Of all tests	Tests
1	Has a serious fluid leak	6.1%	14
2	Noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar motorcycle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition	6.1%	14
3	Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort	5.3%	12
4	Excessively binding	3.1%	7
5	Has a major leak of exhaust gases	3.1%	7
6	Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm	2.6%	6
7	Excessively loose	2.2%	5
8	Worn to excess	2.2%	5
9	Has an excessively worn bush	1.8%	4
10	Insecure	1.8%	4

Yamaha FZR1000 for sale

No Yamaha FZR1000 in stock at the moment - 84 other Yamaha bikes are advertised.

Used Yamaha FZR1000 Used Yamaha All Yamaha Yamaha MOT statistics

Similar bikes compared

Models of comparable capacity, so the comparison means something.

Model	Tests	Pass rate	Avg mileage
Triumph TIGER · 969cc	16,144	91.27%	22,934
Triumph BONNEVILLE 642-904cc · 642-904cc	12,456	90.8%	12,824
BMW R SERIES · 1,152cc	9,796	91.92%	40,594
BMW R1200 · 1,170cc	9,521	94.43%	28,830
BMW S 1000 · 999cc	8,445	91.96%	15,282
BMW R1250 · 1,254cc	6,764	96.17%	17,373

Source: DVSA MOT testing data, 2025 · updated Aug 2026 · licence and method

Yamaha FZR1000 MOT questions

What is the MOT pass rate for the Yamaha FZR1000?+

86.4% of Yamaha FZR1000 MOT tests end in a pass, based on 228 tests in the DVSA dataset.

What is the most common MOT failure on a Yamaha FZR1000?+

Not working, which appears in 46.7% of failed tests on this model.

Where does this data come from?+

From the DVSA anonymised MOT testing dataset, which records every MOT carried out in England, Scotland and Wales. It is published under the Open Government Licence and covers 2025.

Does a high pass rate mean the bike is reliable?+

Not by itself. The MOT checks safety items - brakes, tyres, lights, structure - and says nothing about engines, gearboxes or electrics. Read it as a maintenance signal, not a reliability score.