Yamaha YZF R7 (YZF690) MOT pass rate and common failures

Yamaha YZF R7 (YZF690) motorcycles pass the MOT 85.5% of the time, measured across 338 tests in the DVSA record. A further 6.8% passed only after a defect was put right at the test station.

About average - within 1.4 points of the 86.87% figure for all motorcycles tested.
Pass rate 85.5% 289 of 338
Fixed at the station 6.8% passed after an on-the-spot repair
Average mileage at test 6,077 miles
Average age at test 3.07 years old
Engine 689cc MOT class 1 and 2
For sale now 0 Yamaha YZF R7 (YZF690) adverts

What to check before the MOT

Built from this model's own failure record, not general advice.

  • Start with missing - it accounts for 92.3% of failed tests on this model.
  • Then check does not conform to the specified requirements and tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm, 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 (15.1% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
  • Average recorded mileage at test is 6,077 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 85.5% 338

Why the Yamaha YZF R7 (YZF690) 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 92.3% 24
2 Does not conform to the specified requirements 26.9% 7
3 Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 23.1% 6
4 Not working 19.2% 5
5 Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort 15.4% 4
6 Missing in the case of a single lamp or all lamps 15.4% 4
7 Noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar motorcycle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition 15.4% 4
8 Obviously incorrectly positioned 15.4% 4
9 Too low 15.4% 4
10 Worn to excess 11.5% 3

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 15.1% 51
2 Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 7.7% 26
3 Excessively loose 2.4% 8
4 Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort 2.1% 7
5 Tread not clearly visible 2.1% 7
6 Is bent and the brake cannot be readily applied 1.2% 4
7 Worn to excess 0.9% 3
8 Excessively deformed 0.6% 2
9 Excessively stiff or notchy 0.6% 2
10 Incorrect which adversely affects the handling 0.6% 2

Yamaha YZF R7 (YZF690) for sale

No Yamaha YZF R7 (YZF690) 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
Triumph BONNEVILLE 642-904cc · 642-904cc 12,456 90.8% 12,824
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

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

Yamaha YZF R7 (YZF690) MOT questions

What is the MOT pass rate for the Yamaha YZF R7 (YZF690)?+
85.5% of Yamaha YZF R7 (YZF690) MOT tests end in a pass, based on 338 tests in the DVSA dataset.
What is the most common MOT failure on a Yamaha YZF R7 (YZF690)?+
Missing, which appears in 92.3% 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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