BIKERELIABILITY Reg check
League table/ YAMAHA/WR450
Model report · 2005–2025

Data as of: DVSA MOT results to 2025

YAMAHA WR450

450cc Petrol Class 2
#4033 of 5428 overall #288 of 409 YAMAHAs #2552 of 2788 other bikes
77.2%
first-time pass rate
9.9%
failed outright
2,561
median miles at test
838
MOT tests, 2005–2025
-11.4pp
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 · 2007–2023

The WR450's first-time pass rate has fallen 23.3 points since 2007, 95.1% to 71.8%.

55%77%100%2007: 95.1% pass (41 tests)2008: 79.5% pass (44 tests)2009: 62.8% pass (43 tests)2010: 79.2% pass (48 tests)2011: 69.2% pass (52 tests)2012: 76.0% pass (50 tests)2013: 86.3% pass (51 tests)2014: 73.8% pass (65 tests)2015: 77.0% pass (61 tests)2016: 82.4% pass (51 tests)2017: 77.1% pass (48 tests)2018: 76.5% pass (34 tests)2019: 69.7% pass (33 tests)2020: 75.8% pass (33 tests)2021: 77.5% pass (40 tests)2022: 78.1% pass (32 tests)2023: 71.8% pass (39 tests)20072023

What fails on a WR450

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded
Component group Share of defects Defects % of defects vs all bikes
lighting and signalling
69 30.1 1.1×
lamps and reflectors
36 15.7 1.3×
steering and suspension
27 11.8 0.9×
tyres and wheels
22 9.6 0.9×
brakes
22 9.6 0.4×
suspension
17 7.4 1.8×
reg plates and vin
15 6.6 2.7×
Identification of the vehicle
8 3.5 3.6×
drive system
7 3.1 1.0×
audible warning (Horn)
6 2.6 3.9×

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 WR450 beats 1 of its 4 closest rivals (KAWASAKI ER5, YAMAHA XV535, SUZUKI GS500).

KAWASAKI ER5 77.4% pass · 53.1k tests Compare head-to-head →
YAMAHA XV535 82.7% pass · 48.1k 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 →

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 WR450.

Compare with any bike

rival not listed above? pick any model to see it head-to-head with the WR450

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: 2005 (89.8%). Lowest: 2007 (74.6%). Every WR450 year compared →

72%82%93%2003: 76.4% pass (254 tests)2004: 79.6% pass (206 tests)2005: 89.8% pass (59 tests)2007: 74.6% pass (59 tests)2008: 79.5% pass (88 tests)200320052008

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 WR450 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the YAMAHA WR450 reliable?

The YAMAHA WR450 is less reliable than average for its class: 77.2% of its 838 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #4033 of 5428 models.

What does a WR450 fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling: 30% of all defects recorded against failed WR450 tests.

What is the best year of WR450 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2005-registered examples do best (89.8%) and 2007 worst (74.6%). Condition and history still trump the year.

Embed this bike

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