Yamaha YZF R6 MOT pass rate and common failures
Yamaha YZF R6 motorcycles pass the MOT 84.02% of the time, measured across 2,459 tests in the DVSA record. A further 6.95% passed only after a defect was put right at the test station.
What to check before the MOT
Built from this model's own failure record, not general advice.
- Start with missing - it accounts for 38.3% 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 (12.4% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
- Average recorded mileage at test is 21,675 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 | 86.57% | 67 | |
| 11-15 years | 89.46% | 351 | |
| 16+ years | 83.01% | 2,037 |
Why the Yamaha YZF 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 | Missing | 38.3% | 85 | |
| 2 | Not working | 33.8% | 75 | |
| 3 | Does not conform to the specified requirements | 24.3% | 54 | |
| 4 | Flashing more than 120 times a minute | 14.9% | 33 | |
| 5 | Has a serious fluid leak | 14.4% | 32 | |
| 6 | Inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps | 11.7% | 26 | |
| 7 | Does not illuminate simultaneously with the position lamp(s) | 11.3% | 25 | |
| 8 | Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm | 9.9% | 22 | |
| 9 | Obviously incorrectly positioned | 9.5% | 21 | |
| 10 | Too high | 9% | 20 |
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 | 12.4% | 305 | |
| 2 | Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm | 6.7% | 165 | |
| 3 | Has a serious fluid leak | 3.6% | 89 | |
| 4 | Excessively loose | 2.9% | 72 | |
| 5 | Less than 1.0 mm thick | 2.7% | 66 | |
| 6 | Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort | 2.3% | 56 | |
| 7 | Has an excessively worn bush | 1.7% | 41 | |
| 8 | Tread not clearly visible | 1.4% | 35 | |
| 9 | Pin or bush excessively worn | 1.4% | 34 | |
| 10 | Excessively binding | 1.3% | 33 |
Yamaha YZF R6 for sale
No Yamaha YZF R6 in stock at the moment - 84 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 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