YAMAHA WR250F

249cc Petrol Class 2

#3914 of 5426 overall #273 of 409 YAMAHAs #2477 of 2787 other bikes

78.0%

first-time pass rate

12.8%

failed outright

3,018

median miles at test

10.5k

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2006–2025

The WR250F's first-time pass rate has risen 4.9 points since 2006, 76.7% to 81.6%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the WR250F's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage WR250F passes first time 78.1% of the time; by 20k that's 67.9%.

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 WR250F

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	1,205	32.8	1.5×
steering and suspension	561	15.3	1.2×
lamps and reflectors	473	12.9	1.5×
tyres and wheels	360	9.8	1.2×
reg plates and vin	305	8.3	4.0×
brakes	296	8.1	0.5×
suspension	193	5.3	1.8×
drive system	96	2.6	1.0×
Identification of the vehicle	94	2.6	3.6×
audible warning (Horn)	91	2.5	4.8×

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 WR250F beats 0 of its 4 closest rivals (YAMAHA YP250, HONDA XR250, HONDA CBF250).

YAMAHA YP250 82.5% pass · 12.4k tests HONDA XR250 78.8% pass · 9,277 tests HONDA CBF250 84.9% pass · 7,536 tests YAMAHA RD250 85.8% pass · 7,314 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 WR250F.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2020 (86.1% pass). Weakest: 2003 (74.0%).

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 WR250F FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the YAMAHA WR250F reliable?

The YAMAHA WR250F is less reliable than average for its class: 78.0% of its 10,465 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #3914 of 5426 models.

What does a WR250F fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 33% of all defects recorded against failed WR250F tests.

What is the best year of WR250F to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2020-registered examples do best (86.1%) and 2003 worst (74.0%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a WR250F last?

The median WR250F shows 3,018 miles at test, and examples around 20k miles still pass 67.9% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.