Yamaha RD400 vs Kawasaki ER5

The Yamaha RD400 passes its MOT first time more often than the Kawasaki ER5: 88.6% vs 77.4%, a 11.2-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

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

Metric	Yamaha RD400	Kawasaki ER5
First-time pass rate	88.6%	77.4%
Outright fail rate	5.6%	14.2%
Median miles at test	19,686	21,259
MOT tests analysed	3,477	53,115
Most common failure	lighting and signalling	brakes

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.

YAMAHA RD400 88.6% pass · 3,477 tests KAWASAKI ER5 77.4% pass · 53.1k tests

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