BIKERELIABILITY Reg check
League table/ YAMAHA/FZR750R
Model report · 2005–2025

Data as of: DVSA MOT results to 2025

YAMAHA FZR750R

749cc Petrol Class 2
#3516 of 5428 overall #230 of 409 YAMAHAs #2238 of 2788 other bikes
80.3%
first-time pass rate
12.1%
failed outright
21,699
median miles at test
512
MOT tests, 2005–2025
-2.0pp
vs expected · age & mileage

The pass rate is the MOT first-time pass: a roadworthiness check of the items an MOT covers (brakes, lights, tyres, steering, structure, emissions), not a full mechanical inspection of engine or gearbox internals. It is a reliability signal, not a complete measure of mechanical reliability. What this measures.

“vs expected” adjusts for age, mileage and test class, so a cherished classic and a hard-used commuter are compared fairly. How this works.

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2006–2009

The FZR750R's first-time pass rate has fallen 11.4 points since 2006, 82.1% to 70.7%.

66%76%85%2006: 82.1% pass (56 tests)2007: 73.2% pass (41 tests)2008: 69.4% pass (36 tests)2009: 70.7% pass (41 tests)20062009

Pass rate by mileage

how the FZR750R's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage FZR750R passes first time 90.9% of the time; by 40k that's 72.9%.

60%78%96%0k: 90.9% pass (88 tests)10k: 87.4% pass (143 tests)20k: 76.6% pass (77 tests)30k: 65.0% pass (80 tests)40k: 72.9% pass (59 tests)0k20k40k

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 FZR750R

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded
Component group Share of defects Defects % of defects vs all bikes
lighting and signalling
67 37.4 1.7×
brakes
35 19.6 1.2×
steering and suspension
33 18.4 1.6×
reg plates and vin
10 5.6 1.7×
fuel and exhaust
10 5.6 2.6×
tyres and wheels
9 5 0.9×
body and structure
5 2.8 2.0×
lamps and reflectors
4 2.2 0.5×
structure and attachments
3 1.7 0.6×
suspension
3 1.7 0.8×

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 FZR750R beats 2 of its 4 closest rivals (KAWASAKI ZX-6R, SUZUKI GSF600, YAMAHA FZS600).

KAWASAKI ZX-6R 78.1% pass · 174k tests Compare head-to-head →
SUZUKI GSF600 77.3% pass · 143k tests Compare head-to-head →
YAMAHA FZS600 82.6% pass · 137k tests Compare head-to-head →
TRIUMPH SPRINT 85.6% pass · 133k tests Compare head-to-head →

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 FZR750R.

Compare with any bike

rival not listed above? pick any model to see it head-to-head with the FZR750R

More YAMAHA models

other YAMAHA bikes ranked by MOT pass rate
YAMAHA YZF-R1 84.1% pass · 232k tests
YAMAHA YZF-R6 79.0% pass · 155k tests
YAMAHA FZS600 82.6% pass · 137k tests
YAMAHA YBR 125 71.0% pass · 125k tests
YAMAHA XJR1300 87.4% pass · 95.1k tests
YAMAHA FZ6 85.2% pass · 67.1k tests

See all YAMAHA models →

Pass rate by registration year

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

Highest pass rate: 1990 (92.2%). Lowest: 1987 (70.7%). Every FZR750R year compared →

66%81%97%1987: 70.7% pass (75 tests)1988: 89.8% pass (59 tests)1989: 86.6% pass (112 tests)1990: 92.2% pass (51 tests)198719891990

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 FZR750R FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the YAMAHA FZR750R reliable?

The YAMAHA FZR750R is less reliable than average for its class: 80.3% of its 512 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #3516 of 5428 models.

What does a FZR750R fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling: 37% of all defects recorded against failed FZR750R tests.

What is the best year of FZR750R to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1990-registered examples do best (92.2%) and 1987 worst (70.7%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a FZR750R last?

The median FZR750R shows 21,699 miles at test, and examples around 40k miles still pass 72.9% of the time, so mileage alone rarely decides the result.

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