BIKERELIABILITY Reg check
League table/ YAMAHA/WR400
Model report · 2005–2025

Data as of: DVSA MOT results to 2025

YAMAHA WR400

400cc Petrol Class 2
#4173 of 5428 overall #307 of 409 YAMAHAs #2607 of 2788 other bikes
76.1%
first-time pass rate
16.0%
failed outright
2,738
median miles at test
1,763
MOT tests, 2005–2025
-11.1pp
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 · 2005–2025

The WR400's first-time pass rate has risen 9.1 points since 2005, 78.0% to 87.1%.

58%78%99%2005: 78.0% pass (50 tests)2006: 75.3% pass (186 tests)2007: 78.5% pass (149 tests)2008: 76.1% pass (134 tests)2009: 77.8% pass (117 tests)2010: 64.7% pass (102 tests)2011: 78.9% pass (114 tests)2012: 76.0% pass (104 tests)2013: 75.5% pass (94 tests)2014: 71.0% pass (100 tests)2015: 67.0% pass (97 tests)2016: 81.8% pass (88 tests)2017: 77.1% pass (70 tests)2018: 73.1% pass (52 tests)2019: 77.1% pass (35 tests)2020: 92.2% pass (51 tests)2021: 74.6% pass (63 tests)2022: 78.0% pass (50 tests)2023: 76.2% pass (42 tests)2024: 82.4% pass (34 tests)2025: 87.1% pass (31 tests)20052025

What fails on a WR400

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded
Component group Share of defects Defects % of defects vs all bikes
lighting and signalling
312 35.7 2.2×
steering and suspension
179 20.5 2.3×
tyres and wheels
100 11.4 2.1×
brakes
88 10.1 0.8×
reg plates and vin
57 6.5 4.6×
lamps and reflectors
37 4.2 0.6×
drive system
36 4.1 1.8×
fuel and exhaust
33 3.8 2.2×
suspension
19 2.2 1.2×
structure and attachments
14 1.6 0.8×

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 WR400 beats 0 of its 4 closest rivals (KAWASAKI ER5, SUZUKI GS500, SUZUKI AN400).

KAWASAKI ER5 77.4% pass · 53.1k tests Compare head-to-head →
SUZUKI GS500 76.4% pass · 44.9k tests Compare head-to-head →
SUZUKI AN400 86.2% pass · 27.1k tests Compare head-to-head →
SUZUKI DR-Z400S 80.4% pass · 26.8k 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 WR400.

Compare with any bike

rival not listed above? pick any model to see it head-to-head with the WR400

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: 2002 (78.1%). Lowest: 1999 (74.0%). Every WR400 year compared →

73%76%79%1998: 75.9% pass (137 tests)1999: 74.0% pass (477 tests)2000: 76.6% pass (645 tests)2001: 75.3% pass (283 tests)2002: 78.1% pass (146 tests)199820002002

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 WR400 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the YAMAHA WR400 reliable?

The YAMAHA WR400 is less reliable than average for its class: 76.1% of its 1,763 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #4173 of 5428 models.

What does a WR400 fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling: 36% of all defects recorded against failed WR400 tests.

What is the best year of WR400 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2002-registered examples do best (78.1%) and 1999 worst (74.0%). Condition and history still trump the year.

Embed this bike

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