YAMAHA R1

998cc Petrol Class 2

#2593 of 5426 overall #144 of 409 YAMAHAs #1632 of 2787 other bikes

84.6%

first-time pass rate

7.2%

failed outright

17,906

median miles at test

6,744

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

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

The R1's first-time pass rate has risen 8.7 points since 2005, 76.7% to 85.4%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the R1's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage R1 passes first time 87.4% of the time; by 50k that's 80.0%.

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 R1

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	389	38.2	0.8×
brakes	134	13.2	0.4×
lamps and reflectors	124	12.2	0.7×
reg plates and vin	105	10.3	2.2×
tyres and wheels	89	8.8	0.6×
steering and suspension	71	7	0.3×
fuel and exhaust	34	3.3	0.6×
drive system	25	2.5	0.4×
structure and attachments	24	2.4	0.4×
tyres	22	2.2	0.4×

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 R1 beats 1 of its 4 closest rivals (BMW R1200, BMW R1150, TRIUMPH SPRINT).

BMW R1200 92.9% pass · 299k tests BMW R1150 88.5% pass · 171k tests TRIUMPH SPRINT 85.6% pass · 133k tests SUZUKI GSF1200 82.4% pass · 97.6k 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 R1.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2006 (89.5% pass). Weakest: 2000 (82.1%).

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 R1 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the YAMAHA R1 reliable?

The YAMAHA R1 is about average for its class: 84.6% of its 6,744 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #2593 of 5426 models.

What does a R1 fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 38% of all defects recorded against failed R1 tests.

What is the best year of R1 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2006-registered examples do best (89.5%) and 2000 worst (82.1%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a R1 last?

The median R1 shows 17,906 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 80.0% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.