YAMAHA WR426
Pass rate over time
The WR426's first-time pass rate has fallen 16.5 points since 2006, 84.2% to 67.7%.
What fails on a WR426
| Component group | Share of defects | Defects | % of defects | vs all bikes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| lighting and signalling |
|
110 | 31.3 | 1.8× |
| steering and suspension |
|
63 | 17.9 | 1.6× |
| tyres and wheels |
|
62 | 17.7 | 2.1× |
| brakes |
|
42 | 12 | 0.9× |
| reg plates and vin |
|
28 | 8 | 4.0× |
| lamps and reflectors |
|
14 | 4 | 0.4× |
| fuel and exhaust |
|
12 | 3.4 | 1.7× |
| structure and attachments |
|
10 | 2.8 | 1.0× |
| suspension |
|
5 | 1.4 | 0.6× |
| audible warning (Horn) |
|
5 | 1.4 | 3.1× |
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 WR426 beats 2 of its 4 closest rivals (KAWASAKI ER5, YAMAHA XV535, SUZUKI GS500).
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 WR426.
Pass rate by registration year
Best year to buy used: 2001 (79.9% pass). Weakest: 2003 (74.6%).
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 WR426 FAQ
Is the YAMAHA WR426 reliable?
The YAMAHA WR426 is less reliable than average for its class: 78.1% of its 876 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #3896 of 5426 models.
What does a WR426 fail its MOT on most?
lighting and signalling — 31% of all defects recorded against failed WR426 tests.
What is the best year of WR426 to buy used?
By first-time pass rate, 2001-registered examples do best (79.9%) and 2003 worst (74.6%). Condition and history still trump the year.