Yamaha WR 398-500cc MOT pass rate and common failures
Yamaha WR 398-500cc motorcycles pass the MOT 87.72% of the time, measured across 334 tests in the DVSA record. A further 7.49% passed only after a defect was put right at the test station.
Calculated from DVSA records for Yamaha WR, 398-500cc.
What to check before the MOT
Built from this model's own failure record, not general advice.
- Start with missing - it accounts for 100% of failed tests on this model.
- Then check not working 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 (5.7% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
- Average recorded mileage at test is 2,999 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3-5 years | 83.97% | 156 | |
| 6-10 years | 90.44% | 136 |
Why the Yamaha WR 398-500cc 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 | Missing | 100% | 17 | |
| 2 | Not working | 62.5% | 10 | |
| 3 | Does not conform to the specified requirements | 37.5% | 6 | |
| 4 | Has excessive play | 12.5% | 2 | |
| 5 | Has no recorded effort at a wheel | 12.5% | 2 | |
| 6 | Incorrect | 12.5% | 2 | |
| 7 | Is unsuitable | 12.5% | 2 | |
| 8 | Missing in the case of a single lamp or all lamps | 12.5% | 2 | |
| 9 | Not fitted in accordance with side wall instructions | 12.5% | 2 | |
| 10 | Too high | 12.5% | 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 | Noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar motorcycle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition | 5.7% | 19 | |
| 2 | Has excessive play | 3% | 10 | |
| 3 | Worn to excess | 3% | 10 | |
| 4 | Has a serious fluid leak | 2.7% | 9 | |
| 5 | Chain guard missing | 1.5% | 5 | |
| 6 | Excessively stiff or notchy | 1.5% | 5 | |
| 7 | Less than 1.0 mm thick | 1.5% | 5 | |
| 8 | Significantly and obviously worn | 1.5% | 5 | |
| 9 | Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm | 1.5% | 5 | |
| 10 | Sprocket worn to excess | 0.9% | 3 |
Yamaha WR 398-500cc for sale
No Yamaha WR 398-500cc in stock at the moment - 86 other Yamaha bikes are advertised.
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 CBR 471-650cc · 471-650cc | 3,603 | 86.48% | 17,329 | |
| Royal Enfield HIMALAYAN · 411cc | 2,371 | 88.49% | 8,163 | |
| Royal Enfield METEOR 350 · 349cc | 2,133 | 93.95% | 4,543 | |
| Honda CB500 · 497cc | 1,300 | 84.08% | 34,941 | |
| Yamaha XV535 · 535cc | 1,279 | 84.28% | 20,034 |
Source: DVSA MOT testing data, 2025 · updated Aug 2026 · licence and method