Yamaha MT-01 MOT pass rate and common failures

Yamaha MT-01 motorcycles pass the MOT 92.01% of the time, measured across 288 tests in the DVSA record. A further 3.82% passed only after a defect was put right at the test station.

Better than average: 5.1 points above the 86.87% figure for all motorcycles tested.

Pass rate 92.01% 265 of 288

Fixed at the station 3.82% passed after an on-the-spot repair

Average mileage at test 20,472 miles

Average age at test 18.17 years old

Engine 1,693cc MOT class 2

For sale now 0 Yamaha MT-01 adverts

What to check before the MOT

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

Start with inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps - it accounts for 41.7% of failed tests on this model.
Then check missing and not working, the next two most common reasons.
The most common advisory is tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (5.2% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
Average recorded mileage at test is 20,472 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
11-15 years	93.75%		32
16+ years	91.8%		256

Why the Yamaha MT-01 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	Inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps	41.7%	5
2	Missing	33.3%	4
3	Not working	25%	3
4	Does not conform to the specified requirements	16.7%	2
5	Has insufficient reserve travel	16.7%	2
6	Lens slightly defective	16.7%	2
7	Light intensity obviously reduced	16.7%	2
8	Seriously damaged	16.7%	2
9	Too low	16.7%	2
10	Adversely affected by the operation of another lamp	8.3%	1

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	Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm	5.2%	15
2	Noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar motorcycle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition	4.9%	14
3	Has a serious fluid leak	2.8%	8
4	Less than 1.0 mm thick	2.4%	7
5	Excessively loose	1.7%	5
6	Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort	1.7%	5
7	Inscription illegible	1%	3
8	Tread not clearly visible	1%	3
9	Excessively stiff or notchy	0.7%	2
10	In such a condition that it is seriously weakened	0.7%	2

Yamaha MT-01 for sale

No Yamaha MT-01 in stock at the moment - 82 other Yamaha bikes are advertised.

Used Yamaha MT-01 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
BMW R1250 · 1,254cc	6,764	96.17%	17,373
Triumph BONNEVILLE 1200cc · 1196-1200cc	5,527	91.62%	8,342
Yamaha XJR1300 · 1,251cc	3,805	90.43%	26,274
BMW R 1250 GS ADVENTURE TE · 1,254cc	2,946	96.33%	12,375
BMW R 1250 GS TE · 1,254cc	2,512	96.46%	12,060
Suzuki GSX1400 · 1,402cc	2,352	91.54%	26,720

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

Yamaha MT-01 MOT questions

What is the MOT pass rate for the Yamaha MT-01?+

92.01% of Yamaha MT-01 MOT tests end in a pass, based on 288 tests in the DVSA dataset.

What is the most common MOT failure on a Yamaha MT-01?+

Inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps, which appears in 41.7% of failed tests on this model.

Does the Yamaha MT-01 get harder to pass as it ages?+

At 16+ years old the pass rate is 91.8%, against 93.75% for examples 11-15 years old.

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.