Yamaha R6 MOT pass rate and common failures

Yamaha R6 motorcycles pass the MOT 82.62% of the time, measured across 1,099 tests in the DVSA record. A further 6.55% passed only after a defect was put right at the test station.

Worse than average: 4.3 points below the 86.87% figure for all motorcycles tested.

Pass rate 82.62% 908 of 1,099

Fixed at the station 6.55% passed after an on-the-spot repair

Average mileage at test 24,747 miles

Average age at test 23.5 years old

Engine 599cc MOT class 2

For sale now 1 Yamaha R6 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 34.5% of failed tests on this model.
Then check missing and has a serious fluid leak, 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 (12.8% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
Average recorded mileage at test is 24,747 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	82.84%		1,084

Why the Yamaha R6 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	34.5%	41
2	Missing	31.9%	38
3	Has a serious fluid leak	23.5%	28
4	Does not conform to the specified requirements	19.3%	23
5	Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm	18.5%	22
6	Insecure	17.6%	21
7	Flashing more than 120 times a minute	16%	19
8	Less than 1.0 mm thick	10.9%	13
9	Excessively binding	9.2%	11
10	Missing in the case of a single lamp or all lamps	8.4%	10

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	12.8%	141
2	Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm	5.7%	63
3	Has a serious fluid leak	5.6%	62
4	Excessively binding	3.6%	40
5	Excessively loose	3.6%	40
6	Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort	3.6%	40
7	In such a condition that it is seriously weakened	2.9%	32
8	Less than 1.0 mm thick	2.9%	32
9	Pin or bush excessively worn	2.4%	26
10	Has excessive wear or free play	1.9%	21

Yamaha R6 for sale

1 Yamaha R6 adverts on MotoDealers UK right now, 83 Yamaha in total.

Used Yamaha R6 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
Honda CB 397-750cc · 397-750cc	5,400	89.76%	19,444
Honda NC · 741cc	5,311	89.53%	22,765
Suzuki GSF600 · 600cc	4,890	80%	29,308
Honda CBR600F · 599cc	4,710	85.56%	30,651
Kawasaki ZX-6R · 599-636cc	4,510	81.62%	26,019
Suzuki SV650 · 646cc	3,834	80.99%	27,644

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

Yamaha R6 MOT questions

What is the MOT pass rate for the Yamaha R6?+

82.62% of Yamaha R6 MOT tests end in a pass, based on 1,099 tests in the DVSA dataset.

What is the most common MOT failure on a Yamaha R6?+

Not working, which appears in 34.5% 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.