YAMAHA TZR250
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
The TZR250's first-time pass rate has risen 26.6 points since 2005, 65.5% to 92.1%.
Pass rate by mileage
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
| Component group | Share of defects | 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
On first-time pass rate the TZR250 beats 4 of its 4 closest rivals (YAMAHA YP250, YAMAHA WR250F, HONDA XR250).
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.
Compare with any bike
More YAMAHA models
Pass rate by registration year
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
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 #2308 of 5428 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.
Embed this bike
Free to embed on your site, blog or forum — a live Yamaha TZR250 reliability card that stays up to date and links back here. More on the free API page.