Yamaha MT-09 TRACER MOT pass rate and common failures

Yamaha MT-09 TRACER motorcycles pass the MOT 93.53% of the time, measured across 665 tests in the DVSA record. A further 3.91% passed only after a defect was put right at the test station.

Better than average: 6.7 points above the 86.87% figure for all motorcycles tested.
Pass rate 93.53% 622 of 665
Fixed at the station 3.91% passed after an on-the-spot repair
Average mileage at test 18,101 miles
Average age at test 7.74 years old
Engine 847cc MOT class 1 and 2
For sale now 1 Yamaha MT-09 TRACER 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 52.9% of failed tests on this model.
  • Then check missing and does not conform to the specified requirements, the next two most common reasons.
  • The most common advisory is noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar motorcycle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition (5.3% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
  • Average recorded mileage at test is 18,101 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
6-10 years 93.5% 662

Why the Yamaha MT-09 TRACER 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 52.9% 9
2 Missing 47.1% 8
3 Does not conform to the specified requirements 23.5% 4
4 Too high 23.5% 4
5 Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 23.5% 4
6 Does not illuminate simultaneously with the position lamp(s) 17.6% 3
7 Excessively loose 11.8% 2
8 Grip insecure to handlebar 11.8% 2
9 Has a serious fluid leak 11.8% 2
10 Flashing more than 120 times a minute 5.9% 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 Noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar motorcycle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition 5.3% 35
2 Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 3.6% 24
3 Excessively loose 2.9% 19
4 Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort 2.4% 16
5 Less than 1.0 mm thick 2.1% 14
6 Component pin or bush excessively worn 1.7% 11
7 Excessively stiff or notchy 1.5% 10
8 Pin or bush excessively worn 1.2% 8
9 Worn to excess 1.2% 8
10 Tread not clearly visible 1.1% 7

Yamaha MT-09 TRACER for sale

1 Yamaha MT-09 TRACER adverts on MotoDealers UK right now, 84 Yamaha in total.

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 S 1000 · 999cc 8,445 91.96% 15,282
Yamaha YZF R1 · 998cc 6,022 88.01% 23,152
Yamaha MT 800-1000cc · 800-1000cc 5,720 90.98% 16,130
Honda NC · 741cc 5,311 89.53% 22,765

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

Yamaha MT-09 TRACER MOT questions

What is the MOT pass rate for the Yamaha MT-09 TRACER?+
93.53% of Yamaha MT-09 TRACER MOT tests end in a pass, based on 665 tests in the DVSA dataset.
What is the most common MOT failure on a Yamaha MT-09 TRACER?+
Inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps, which appears in 52.9% 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.
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