BIKERELIABILITY Reg check
League table/ YAMAHA/TY250
Model report · 2005–2025

Data as of: DVSA MOT results to 2025

YAMAHA TY250

249cc Petrol Class 2
#1884 of 5428 overall #83 of 409 YAMAHAs #1138 of 2788 other bikes
87.1%
first-time pass rate
4.9%
failed outright
2,086
median miles at test
535
MOT tests, 2005–2025
+1.1pp
vs expected · age & mileage

The pass rate is the MOT first-time pass: a roadworthiness check of the items an MOT covers (brakes, lights, tyres, steering, structure, emissions), not a full mechanical inspection of engine or gearbox internals. It is a reliability signal, not a complete measure of mechanical reliability. What this measures.

“vs expected” adjusts for age, mileage and test class, so a cherished classic and a hard-used commuter are compared fairly. How this works.

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2006–2017

The TY250's first-time pass rate has risen 1.6 points since 2006, 89.6% to 91.2%.

78%87%96%2006: 89.6% pass (48 tests)2007: 85.3% pass (34 tests)2008: 86.4% pass (44 tests)2009: 82.5% pass (40 tests)2010: 84.6% pass (39 tests)2011: 92.7% pass (41 tests)2012: 80.6% pass (36 tests)2013: 88.6% pass (35 tests)2014: 86.5% pass (37 tests)2015: 85.7% pass (42 tests)2017: 91.2% pass (34 tests)20062017

What fails on a TY250

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded
Component group Share of defects Defects % of defects vs all bikes
lighting and signalling
29 29.3 0.8×
tyres and wheels
20 20.2 1.1×
brakes
18 18.2 0.4×
steering and suspension
16 16.2 0.7×
reg plates and vin
11 11.1 2.3×
drive system
1 1 0.3×
Items Not Tested
1 1 2.0×
steering
1 1 0.4×
body and structure
1 1 0.4×
suspension
1 1 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 TY250 beats 4 of its 4 closest rivals (YAMAHA YP250, YAMAHA WR250F, HONDA XR250).

YAMAHA YP250 82.5% pass · 12.4k tests Compare head-to-head →
YAMAHA WR250F 78.0% pass · 10.5k tests Compare head-to-head →
HONDA XR250 78.8% pass · 9,277 tests Compare head-to-head →
HONDA CBF250 84.9% pass · 7,536 tests Compare head-to-head →

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 TY250.

Compare with any bike

rival not listed above? pick any model to see it head-to-head with the TY250

More YAMAHA models

other YAMAHA bikes ranked by MOT pass rate
YAMAHA YZF-R1 84.1% pass · 232k tests
YAMAHA YZF-R6 79.0% pass · 155k tests
YAMAHA FZS600 82.6% pass · 137k tests
YAMAHA YBR 125 71.0% pass · 125k tests
YAMAHA XJR1300 87.4% pass · 95.1k tests
YAMAHA FZ6 85.2% pass · 67.1k tests

See all YAMAHA models →

Pass rate by registration year

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

Highest pass rate: 1986 (89.1%). Lowest: 1978 (77.9%). Every TY250 year compared →

76%84%91%1978: 77.9% pass (104 tests)1985: 88.2% pass (51 tests)1986: 89.1% pass (55 tests)197819851986

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 TY250 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the YAMAHA TY250 reliable?

The YAMAHA TY250 is more reliable than average for its class: 87.1% of its 535 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #1884 of 5428 models.

What does a TY250 fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling: 29% of all defects recorded against failed TY250 tests.

What is the best year of TY250 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1986-registered examples do best (89.1%) and 1978 worst (77.9%). Condition and history still trump the year.

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