YAMAHA ROAD STAR
Pass rate over time
The ROAD STAR's first-time pass rate has fallen 3.3 points since 2011, 96.8% to 93.5%.
Pass rate by mileage
A low-mileage ROAD STAR passes first time 91.0% of the time; by 30k that's 90.1%.
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 ROAD STAR
| Component group | Share of defects | Defects | % of defects | vs all bikes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| lighting and signalling |
|
10 | 16.9 | 0.3× |
| brakes |
|
9 | 15.3 | 0.4× |
| tyres and wheels |
|
9 | 15.3 | 0.8× |
| fuel and exhaust |
|
8 | 13.6 | 1.8× |
| lamps and reflectors |
|
7 | 11.9 | 0.5× |
| Identification of the vehicle |
|
5 | 8.5 | 3.3× |
| steering and suspension |
|
3 | 5.1 | 0.2× |
| suspension |
|
3 | 5.1 | 0.5× |
| tyres |
|
3 | 5.1 | 0.6× |
| reg plates and vin |
|
2 | 3.4 | 0.7× |
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
On first-time pass rate the ROAD STAR beats 2 of its 4 closest rivals (BMW R1200, BMW R1150, SUZUKI GSF1200).
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 ROAD STAR.
Pass rate by registration year
Best year to buy used: 1999 (90.7% pass). Weakest: 2006 (86.5%).
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 ROAD STAR FAQ
Is the YAMAHA ROAD STAR reliable?
The YAMAHA ROAD STAR is more reliable than average for its class: 88.4% of its 519 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #1478 of 5426 models.
What does a ROAD STAR fail its MOT on most?
lighting and signalling — 17% of all defects recorded against failed ROAD STAR tests.
What is the best year of ROAD STAR to buy used?
By first-time pass rate, 1999-registered examples do best (90.7%) and 2006 worst (86.5%). Condition and history still trump the year.
How many miles will a ROAD STAR last?
The median ROAD STAR shows 15,778 miles at test, and examples around 30k miles still pass 90.1% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.