Yamaha YZF R1 MOT pass rate and common failures

Yamaha YZF R1 motorcycles pass the MOT 88.01% of the time, measured across 6,022 tests in the DVSA record. A further 5.48% passed only after a defect was put right at the test station.

About average - within 1.1 points of the 86.87% figure for all motorcycles tested.

Pass rate 88.01% 5,300 of 6,022

Fixed at the station 5.48% passed after an on-the-spot repair

Average mileage at test 23,152 miles

Average age at test 19.85 years old

Engine 998cc MOT class 1 and 2

For sale now 1 Yamaha YZF R1 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 43.1% 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 (12.2% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
Average recorded mileage at test is 23,152 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	89.08%	513
11-15 years	88.73%	816
16+ years	87.75%	4,684

Why the Yamaha YZF R1 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	43.1%	169
2	Missing	41.8%	164
3	Does not conform to the specified requirements	24%	94
4	Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm	13%	51
5	Obviously incorrectly positioned	12.8%	50
6	Flashing more than 120 times a minute	12.5%	49
7	Insecure	9.4%	37
8	Does not illuminate by the operation of both brake controls	8.7%	34
9	Does not illuminate simultaneously with the position lamp(s)	8.4%	33
10	Inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps	8.4%	33

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	12.2%	737
2	Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm	5.7%	341
3	Excessively loose	2.1%	126
4	Less than 1.0 mm thick	1.9%	114
5	Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort	1.9%	112
6	Has a serious fluid leak	1.8%	106
7	Tread not clearly visible	1.4%	84
8	Component pin or bush excessively worn	1.3%	77
9	Pin or bush excessively worn	1%	63
10	Has excessive wear or free play	0.7%	42

Yamaha YZF R1 for sale

1 Yamaha YZF R1 adverts on MotoDealers UK right now, 84 Yamaha in total.

Used Yamaha YZF R1 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 YZF R1 MOT questions

What is the MOT pass rate for the Yamaha YZF R1?+

88.01% of Yamaha YZF R1 MOT tests end in a pass, based on 6,022 tests in the DVSA dataset.

What is the most common MOT failure on a Yamaha YZF R1?+

Not working, which appears in 43.1% of failed tests on this model.

Does the Yamaha YZF R1 get harder to pass as it ages?+

At 16+ years old the pass rate is 87.75%, against 89.08% for examples 6-10 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.