YAMAHA SR500

499cc Petrol Class 2

#3291 of 5426 overall #206 of 409 YAMAHAs #2095 of 2787 other bikes

81.4%

first-time pass rate

9.4%

failed outright

26,907

median miles at test

2,505

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2005–2023

The SR500's first-time pass rate has risen 8.9 points since 2005, 72.2% to 81.1%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the SR500's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage SR500 passes first time 79.7% of the time; by 50k that's 86.3%.

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 SR500

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	232	35.5	1.2×
steering and suspension	127	19.4	1.2×
brakes	87	13.3	0.6×
lamps and reflectors	45	6.9	0.5×
tyres and wheels	43	6.6	0.7×
reg plates and vin	32	4.9	1.8×
fuel and exhaust	32	4.9	1.4×
drive system	29	4.4	1.4×
structure and attachments	15	2.3	0.5×
driving controls	11	1.7	1.9×

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 SR500 beats 3 of its 4 closest rivals (KAWASAKI ZX-6R, SUZUKI GSF600, YAMAHA FZS600).

KAWASAKI ZX-6R 78.1% pass · 174k tests SUZUKI GSF600 77.3% pass · 143k tests YAMAHA FZS600 82.6% pass · 137k tests SUZUKI SV650S 80.6% pass · 84.6k 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 SR500.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1998 (87.0% pass). Weakest: 1983 (77.8%).

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 SR500 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the YAMAHA SR500 reliable?

The YAMAHA SR500 is less reliable than average for its class: 81.4% of its 2,505 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #3291 of 5426 models.

What does a SR500 fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 36% of all defects recorded against failed SR500 tests.

What is the best year of SR500 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1998-registered examples do best (87.0%) and 1983 worst (77.8%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a SR500 last?

The median SR500 shows 26,907 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 86.3% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.