YAMAHA RD250LC

247cc Petrol Class 2

#1575 of 5426 overall #65 of 409 YAMAHAs #959 of 2787 other bikes

88.1%

first-time pass rate

4.2%

failed outright

25,337

median miles at test

690

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2009–2021

The RD250LC's first-time pass rate has risen 3.0 points since 2009, 87.5% to 90.5%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the RD250LC's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage RD250LC passes first time 87.5% of the time; by 40k that's 77.2%.

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 RD250LC

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	22	40	0.4×
steering and suspension	7	12.7	0.3×
lamps and reflectors	6	10.9	0.5×
brakes	5	9.1	0.2×
reg plates and vin	4	7.3	1.0×
fuel and exhaust	3	5.5	0.4×
tyres and wheels	2	3.6	0.1×
structure and attachments	2	3.6	0.4×
tyres	2	3.6	0.4×
audible warning (Horn)	2	3.6	1.6×

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 RD250LC beats 4 of its 4 closest rivals (YAMAHA YP250, YAMAHA WR250F, HONDA XR250).

YAMAHA YP250 82.5% pass · 12.4k tests YAMAHA WR250F 78.0% pass · 10.5k tests HONDA XR250 78.8% pass · 9,277 tests HONDA CBF250 84.9% pass · 7,536 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 RD250LC.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1981 (89.1% pass). Weakest: 1982 (84.6%).

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 RD250LC FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the YAMAHA RD250LC reliable?

The YAMAHA RD250LC is more reliable than average for its class: 88.1% of its 690 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #1575 of 5426 models.

What does a RD250LC fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 40% of all defects recorded against failed RD250LC tests.

What is the best year of RD250LC to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1981-registered examples do best (89.1%) and 1982 worst (84.6%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a RD250LC last?

The median RD250LC shows 25,337 miles at test, and examples around 40k miles still pass 77.2% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.