BIKERELIABILITY Reg check
League table/ Yamaha RXS100/vs Honda C90
Head-to-head · 2005–2025

Data as of: DVSA MOT results to 2025

Yamaha RXS100 vs Honda C90

The Honda C90 passes its MOT first time more often than the Yamaha RXS100: 79.3% vs 68.0%, a 11.3-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

first-time pass rate, outright fail rate and tests analysed · 2005–2025
Metric Yamaha RXS100 Honda C90
First-time pass rate 68.0% 79.3%
Outright fail rate 21.4% 12.6%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted) -5.5 pts +5.6 pts
Engine size 98cc 85cc
Rank among all models #4853 of 5428 #3721 of 5428
Median miles at test 22,180 17,744
MOT tests analysed 6,955 92,772
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 Yamaha RXS100 Honda C90
Lights & signalling 16.3% 6.4%
Steering & suspension 8.9% 5.2%
Tyres & wheels 5.8% 4.7%
Brakes 5.5% 3.6%
Drive system 3.7% 1.4%
Structure & body 2.1% 1.6%
Fuel & exhaust 1.4% 0.8%

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 Yamaha RXS100 Honda C90
2018 78.0% 84.4%
2019 74.0% 84.9%
2020 78.9% 84.5%
2021 82.0% 85.8%
2022 78.7% 87.4%
2023 79.3% 87.4%
2024 79.2% 88.3%
2025 73.7% 88.4%

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 Yamaha RXS100 Honda C90
0k-10k miles 77.8% 85.7%
10k-20k miles 69.4% 80.8%
20k-30k miles 65.5% 76.5%
30k-40k miles 61.8% 73.3%
40k-50k miles 65.4% 72.4%
50k-60k miles 75.0% 71.2%

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

Yamaha RXS100 vs Honda C90 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Which is more reliable, the Yamaha RXS100 or the Honda C90?

The Honda C90 passes its MOT first time more often than the Yamaha RXS100: 79.3% vs 68.0%, a 11.3-point lead. Adjusted for age, mileage and test class, the Honda C90 still comes out ahead: -5.5 points vs comparable bikes for the Yamaha RXS100, +5.6 for the Honda C90. An MOT checks roadworthiness items, not engine or gearbox internals.

What does the Yamaha RXS100 fail its MOT on most?

Lights & signalling: 16.3% of Yamaha RXS100 MOT tests failed on it, then steering & suspension (8.9%).

What does the Honda C90 fail its MOT on most?

Lights & signalling: 6.4% of Honda C90 MOT tests failed on it, then steering & suspension (5.2%).

Which holds up better at high mileage, the Yamaha RXS100 or the Honda C90?

At 50k-60k miles the Yamaha RXS100 passes first time more often: 75.0% for the Yamaha RXS100 vs 71.2% for the Honda C90.

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