YAMAHA FZR

600cc Petrol Class 2

#4321 of 5426 overall #323 of 409 YAMAHAs #2667 of 2787 other bikes

74.8%

first-time pass rate

17.3%

failed outright

29,611

median miles at test

4,319

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2005–2025

The FZR's first-time pass rate has risen 17.1 points since 2005, 71.6% to 88.7%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the FZR's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage FZR passes first time 74.1% of the time; by 50k that's 73.0%.

First-time pass rate by odometer reading at test, 10,000-mile bands for this model. Mileage is the strongest reliability signal. See the full curve.

What fails on a FZR

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	599	29.7	2.0×
steering and suspension	462	22.9	2.5×
brakes	455	22.5	1.8×
tyres and wheels	132	6.5	1.4×
drive system	83	4.1	2.1×
reg plates and vin	80	4	2.5×
fuel and exhaust	79	3.9	2.2×
body and structure	56	2.8	2.4×
lamps and reflectors	51	2.5	0.5×
suspension	21	1	0.5×

Defects recorded against failed normal tests, 2005–2025, grouped by DVSA inspection section. One test can record multiple defects. "vs all bikes" is how often this model's tests record a defect in the group, as a multiple of the all-bike rate.

How rivals compare

same type, similar capacity, high test volume

On first-time pass rate the FZR beats 0 of its 4 closest rivals (KAWASAKI ZX-6R, SUZUKI GSF600, YAMAHA FZS600).

KAWASAKI ZX-6R 78.1% pass · 174k tests SUZUKI GSF600 77.3% pass · 143k tests YAMAHA FZS600 82.6% pass · 137k tests SUZUKI SV650S 80.6% pass · 84.6k tests

Rivals share this bike's type and sit within ±30% of its engine capacity, ≥ 5,000 tests. Card colour = better/worse first-time pass rate than the FZR.

Pass rate by registration year

how each model-year cohort fares · registration year from first use date

Best year to buy used: 1997 (80.6% pass). Weakest: 1986 (52.0%).

First-time pass rate by the year each bike was first registered (cohorts with ≥ 50 tests). Older cohorts are survivors: the worst examples have already left the road, which tends to lift the earliest years.

YAMAHA FZR FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the YAMAHA FZR reliable?

The YAMAHA FZR is less reliable than average for its class: 74.8% of its 4,319 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #4321 of 5426 models.

What does a FZR fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 30% of all defects recorded against failed FZR tests.

What is the best year of FZR to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1997-registered examples do best (80.6%) and 1986 worst (52.0%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a FZR last?

The median FZR shows 29,611 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 73.0% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.