Aprilia RS 250 vs Yamaha WR250F

The Aprilia RS 250 passes its MOT first time more often than the Yamaha WR250F: 86.4% vs 78.0%, a 8.4-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

first-time pass rate, outright fail rate and tests analysed · 2005–2025

Metric	Aprilia RS 250	Yamaha WR250F
First-time pass rate	86.4%	78.0%
Outright fail rate	8.2%	12.8%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted)	+0.2 pts	-10.7 pts
Engine size	249cc	249cc
Rank among all models	#2091 of 5428	#3913 of 5428
Median miles at test	10,400	3,018
MOT tests analysed	6,067	10,465
Most common failure	lighting and signalling	lighting and signalling

First-time outcomes on normal tests, 2005–2025. "Most common failure" is the component group with the most recorded defects on failed tests. Read pass rates against test counts: a smaller sample is noisier. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT results.

"Vs comparable bikes" is the first-time pass rate minus the rate expected for each bike's own mix of age, mileage and test class, in percentage points: positive means better than comparable bikes. How this works.

What fails, side by side

share of each bike's MOT tests that failed on the component · lower is better

Component	Aprilia RS 250	Yamaha WR250F
Lights & signalling	4.8%	8.2%
Steering & suspension	2.6%	5.1%
Brakes	2.2%	2.2%
Tyres & wheels	0.8%	3.0%
Structure & body	0.9%	0.5%
Drive system	0.4%	0.7%
Fuel & exhaust	0.4%	0.4%

A test that fails on two components counts once in each. Component links go to the bikes most likely to fail on it.

Pass rate by test year

first-time MOT pass rate in each calendar year both bikes were tested

Test year	Aprilia RS 250	Yamaha WR250F
2018	90.1%	79.2%
2019	91.8%	77.2%
2020	91.8%	82.5%
2021	90.5%	80.4%
2022	88.7%	76.2%
2023	90.9%	82.1%
2024	89.6%	80.2%
2025	94.5%	81.6%

Each year mixes bikes of different ages, so a fleet that is getting older tends to slip.

Pass rate by mileage

first-time MOT pass rate by miles on the clock at test

Mileage	Aprilia RS 250	Yamaha WR250F
0k-10k miles	89.0%	78.1%
10k-20k miles	83.9%	77.3%
20k-30k miles	84.1%	67.9%

Bands with fewer than 30 tests for either bike are left out.

Aprilia RS 250 vs Yamaha WR250F FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Which is more reliable, the Aprilia RS 250 or the Yamaha WR250F?

The Aprilia RS 250 passes its MOT first time more often than the Yamaha WR250F: 86.4% vs 78.0%, a 8.4-point lead. Adjusted for age, mileage and test class, the Aprilia RS 250 still comes out ahead: +0.2 points vs comparable bikes for the Aprilia RS 250, -10.7 for the Yamaha WR250F. An MOT checks roadworthiness items, not engine or gearbox internals.

What does the Aprilia RS 250 fail its MOT on most?

Lights & signalling: 4.8% of Aprilia RS 250 MOT tests failed on it, then steering & suspension (2.6%).

What does the Yamaha WR250F fail its MOT on most?

Lights & signalling: 8.2% of Yamaha WR250F MOT tests failed on it, then steering & suspension (5.1%).

Which holds up better at high mileage, the Aprilia RS 250 or the Yamaha WR250F?

At 20k-30k miles the Aprilia RS 250 passes first time more often: 84.1% for the Aprilia RS 250 vs 67.9% for the Yamaha WR250F.

APRILIA RS 250 86.4% pass · 6,067 tests YAMAHA WR250F 78.0% pass · 10.5k tests

See each bike's full report (trend, mileage curve, failure breakdown and rivals) on its own page.