YAMAHA TZR250

249cc Petrol Class 2

#2306 of 5426 overall #116 of 409 YAMAHAs #1441 of 2787 other bikes

85.7%

first-time pass rate

7.1%

failed outright

20,296

median miles at test

3,337

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2005–2025

The TZR250's first-time pass rate has risen 26.6 points since 2005, 65.5% to 92.1%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the TZR250's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage TZR250 passes first time 89.3% of the time; by 50k that's 82.0%.

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 TZR250

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	174	29.4	0.7×
steering and suspension	119	20.1	0.9×
brakes	110	18.6	0.5×
tyres and wheels	42	7.1	0.5×
lamps and reflectors	34	5.8	0.3×
reg plates and vin	31	5.2	1.4×
drive system	27	4.6	0.8×
body and structure	23	3.9	1.1×
fuel and exhaust	16	2.7	0.6×
tyres	15	2.5	0.4×

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 TZR250 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 TZR250.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1993 (92.9% pass). Weakest: 1990 (82.7%).

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 TZR250 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the YAMAHA TZR250 reliable?

The YAMAHA TZR250 is about average for its class: 85.7% of its 3,337 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #2306 of 5426 models.

What does a TZR250 fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 29% of all defects recorded against failed TZR250 tests.

What is the best year of TZR250 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1993-registered examples do best (92.9%) and 1990 worst (82.7%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a TZR250 last?

The median TZR250 shows 20,296 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 82.0% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.