YAMAHA XT 225 S

223cc Petrol Class 2

#1180 of 5426 overall #46 of 409 YAMAHAs #723 of 2787 other bikes

89.3%

first-time pass rate

5.1%

failed outright

14,480

median miles at test

532

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2008–2017

The XT 225 S's first-time pass rate has held steady since 2008 (93.9% → 93.8%).

Pass rate by mileage

how the XT 225 S's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage XT 225 S passes first time 90.1% of the time; by 30k that's 94.7%.

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 XT 225 S

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
steering and suspension	15	22.4	0.7×
tyres and wheels	13	19.4	0.8×
lighting and signalling	11	16.4	0.3×
brakes	10	14.9	0.4×
drive system	5	7.5	0.8×
fuel and exhaust	4	6	0.7×
lamps and reflectors	3	4.5	0.4×
wheels	2	3	3.1×
driving controls	2	3	1.6×
reg plates and vin	2	3	0.7×

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 XT 225 S beats 4 of its 4 closest rivals (YAMAHA YP250, YAMAHA WR250F, HONDA XR250).

YAMAHA YP250 82.5% pass · 12.4k tests YAMAHA WR250F 78.0% pass · 10.5k tests HONDA XR250 78.8% pass · 9,277 tests HONDA CBF250 84.9% pass · 7,536 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 XT 225 S.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1995 (96.1% pass). Weakest: 1990 (84.9%).

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 XT 225 S FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the YAMAHA XT 225 S reliable?

The YAMAHA XT 225 S is more reliable than average for its class: 89.3% of its 532 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #1180 of 5426 models.

What does a XT 225 S fail its MOT on most?

steering and suspension — 22% of all defects recorded against failed XT 225 S tests.

What is the best year of XT 225 S to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1995-registered examples do best (96.1%) and 1990 worst (84.9%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a XT 225 S last?

The median XT 225 S shows 14,480 miles at test, and examples around 30k miles still pass 94.7% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.