YAMAHA YZ250
Pass rate over time
The YZ250's first-time pass rate has risen 6.2 points since 2008, 77.1% to 83.3%.
What fails on a YZ250
| Component group | Share of defects | Defects | % of defects | vs all bikes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| lighting and signalling |
|
61 | 25.7 | 1.2× |
| steering and suspension |
|
58 | 24.5 | 1.8× |
| tyres and wheels |
|
38 | 16 | 1.7× |
| brakes |
|
33 | 13.9 | 0.8× |
| reg plates and vin |
|
18 | 7.6 | 3.4× |
| fuel and exhaust |
|
8 | 3.4 | 1.1× |
| suspension |
|
8 | 3.4 | 0.9× |
| body and structure |
|
5 | 2.1 | 1.2× |
| tyres |
|
4 | 1.7 | 0.6× |
| drive system |
|
4 | 1.7 | 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
On first-time pass rate the YZ250 beats 2 of its 4 closest rivals (YAMAHA YP250, YAMAHA WR250F, HONDA XR250).
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 YZ250.
Pass rate by registration year
Best year to buy used: 2006 (83.8% pass). Weakest: 2004 (80.0%).
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 YZ250 FAQ
Is the YAMAHA YZ250 reliable?
The YAMAHA YZ250 is less reliable than average for its class: 81.4% of its 721 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #3291 of 5426 models.
What does a YZ250 fail its MOT on most?
lighting and signalling — 26% of all defects recorded against failed YZ250 tests.
What is the best year of YZ250 to buy used?
By first-time pass rate, 2006-registered examples do best (83.8%) and 2004 worst (80.0%). Condition and history still trump the year.