YAMAHA RD350LC

347cc Petrol Class 2

#2467 of 5426 overall #135 of 409 YAMAHAs #1543 of 2787 other bikes

85.1%

first-time pass rate

6.6%

failed outright

23,600

median miles at test

2,096

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2006–2023

The RD350LC's first-time pass rate has risen 12.1 points since 2006, 80.6% to 92.7%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the RD350LC's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage RD350LC passes first time 83.7% of the time; by 50k that's 79.5%.

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 RD350LC

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	142	37.4	0.9×
steering and suspension	69	18.2	0.7×
brakes	62	16.3	0.6×
tyres and wheels	33	8.7	0.6×
lamps and reflectors	20	5.3	0.3×
drive system	16	4.2	0.9×
body and structure	16	4.2	1.3×
reg plates and vin	9	2.4	0.7×
fuel and exhaust	8	2.1	0.4×
suspension	5	1.3	0.3×

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 RD350LC beats 2 of its 4 closest rivals (SUZUKI AN400, SUZUKI DR-Z400S, YAMAHA RD350).

SUZUKI AN400 86.2% pass · 27.1k tests SUZUKI DR-Z400S 80.4% pass · 26.8k tests YAMAHA RD350 86.3% pass · 19.6k tests KAWASAKI ZXR400 73.1% pass · 14.2k 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 RD350LC.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1983 (90.0% pass). Weakest: 1985 (80.0%).

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 RD350LC FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the YAMAHA RD350LC reliable?

The YAMAHA RD350LC is about average for its class: 85.1% of its 2,096 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #2467 of 5426 models.

What does a RD350LC fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 37% of all defects recorded against failed RD350LC tests.

What is the best year of RD350LC to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1983-registered examples do best (90.0%) and 1985 worst (80.0%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a RD350LC last?

The median RD350LC shows 23,600 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 79.5% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.