Yamaha R-1 MOT Pass Rate
Overall pass rate across all manufacture years, based on 160 real MOT test results. Failure rate: 23.1%.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
Yamaha R-1 MOT Reliability Overview
The Yamaha R-1 is a rare vehicle in the UK, with 160 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 1 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 76.9% and a failure rate of 23.1%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.
Based on this data, the Yamaha R-1 earns a "Excellent" reliability rating. The average Yamaha R-1 presents for MOT with approximately 24,757 miles on the clock. The 1998 manufacture year performs best with a 68.6% pass rate.
The most common MOT failure for the Yamaha R-1 is Motorcycle lighting and signalling, affecting 12.5% of all tests. Motorcycle lighting and signalling issues are a common cause of MOT failure. Regular inspection and maintenance of these components helps ensure your vehicle passes its MOT. The second most common issue is Motorcycle lamps and reflectors at 8.1%. Motorcycle brakes rounds out the top three at 6.9%. Together, these top 3 failure categories account for a significant portion of all MOT failures for this model.
Top failures across all manufacture years combined. Individual year pages may show different top failures.
What Fails Most
Pass Rate by Manufacture Year
* High Fail Rate badge indicates an MOT pass rate below 65% (failure rate above 35%).
What Fails on This Car?
Click a category to see specific failure items.
View as table
| Rank | Failure Category | Rate (%) | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Motorcycle Lighting And Signalling | 15.6% | 25 |
| 2 | Motorcycle Lamps And Reflectors | 8.1% | 13 |
| 3 | Motorcycle Brakes | 6.9% | 11 |
| 4 | Motorcycle Steering And Suspension | 5.6% | 9 |
| 5 | Motorcycle Reg Plates And Vin | 4.4% | 7 |
| 6 | Motorcycle Suspension | 3.1% | 5 |
| 7 | Motorcycle Tyres And Wheels | 3.1% | 5 |
| 8 | Motorcycle Tyres | 2.5% | 4 |
| 9 | Motorcycle Structure And Attachments | 2.5% | 4 |
| 10 | Motorcycle Body And Structure | 2.5% | 4 |
| 11 | Motorcycle Fuel And Exhaust | 1.3% | 2 |
| 12 | Identification Of The Vehicle | 1.3% | 2 |
| 13 | Motorcycle Drive System | 1.3% | 2 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 24,757 miFor every 10,000 miles driven, this shows what percentage of MOT tests fail for each category. This accounts for how far cars are actually driven, not just raw pass/fail counts.
View as table
| Category | Rate / 10K mi | Raw % | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Motorcycle lighting and signalling | 6.31 | 15.6% | 25 |
| Motorcycle lamps and reflectors | 3.28 | 8.1% | 13 |
| Motorcycle brakes | 2.78 | 6.9% | 11 |
| Motorcycle steering and suspension | 2.27 | 5.6% | 9 |
| Motorcycle reg plates and vin | 1.77 | 4.4% | 7 |
| Motorcycle suspension | 1.26 | 3.1% | 5 |
| Motorcycle tyres and wheels | 1.26 | 3.1% | 5 |
| Motorcycle tyres | 1.01 | 2.5% | 4 |
| Motorcycle structure and attachments | 1.01 | 2.5% | 4 |
| Motorcycle body and structure | 1.01 | 2.5% | 4 |
| Motorcycle fuel and exhaust | 0.50 | 1.3% | 2 |
| Identification of the vehicle | 0.50 | 1.3% | 2 |
| Motorcycle drive system | 0.50 | 1.3% | 2 |
🚗 Similar Cars to Consider
Mileage at MOT
The average Yamaha R-1 has 24,757 miles when tested for MOT.
📊 Mileage-Adjusted Failure Rate
How often this car fails MOT relative to how much it's driven — a fairer comparison than raw pass rate.
The Yamaha R-1 has a mileage-adjusted failure rate of 9.33% per 10,000 miles driven. The average across all makes is 5.38%, so this model is worse than average.
About Yamaha R-1 MOT Data
The Yamaha R-1 is a rare vehicle in the UK, with 160 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 1 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 76.9% and a failure rate of 23.1%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.
For Yamaha R-1 owners, these results suggest a reliable vehicle that generally passes its MOT without major issues. Focus your pre-MOT checks on motorcycle lighting and signalling and motorcycle lamps and reflectors for the best chance of a first-time pass. Use our detailed year-by-year breakdown and failure analysis below to understand how your specific R-1 is likely to perform.
Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 12.5% of failures
Motorcycle lighting and signalling issues account for 12.5% of MOT failures on the Yamaha R-1. Motorcycle lighting and signalling issues are a common cause of MOT failure. Regular inspection and maintenance of these components helps ensure your vehicle passes its MOT. Typical repair costs: £100–400. Pre-MOT check: Have this system checked during regular servicing. Look for warning signs like unusual noises, vibrations, or dashboard warning lights.
Motorcycle lamps and reflectors — 8.1% of failures
Motorcycle lamps and reflectors issues account for 8.1% of MOT failures on the Yamaha R-1. Lighting failures cover all external lights: headlights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, fog lights, and reflectors. A single blown bulb will cause an MOT fail. This is one of the most preventable failure categories. Typical repair costs: £5–50. Pre-MOT check: Walk around the car and check every light — headlights (dipped and main beam), side lights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, hazard lights, reverse light, rear fog light, and number plate lights. Replace any blown bulbs before the test.
Motorcycle brakes — 6.9% of failures
Motorcycle brakes issues account for 6.9% of MOT failures on the Yamaha R-1. Brake-related failures include worn brake pads, corroded brake discs, leaking brake lines, and faulty brake servos. These are safety-critical components — any brake deficiency will result in an MOT fail. Typical repair costs: £150–400. Pre-MOT check: Listen for squealing or grinding noises. Check brake pedal feel — if it feels spongy or goes to the floor, have the system inspected immediately. Look at brake pad thickness through the wheel spokes (minimum 3mm).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Yamaha R-1?
Based on 160 MOT tests in our database, the Yamaha R-1 has an overall pass rate of 76.9% (23.1% fail rate).
What are the most common MOT failures on a Yamaha R-1?
The top 3 reasons a Yamaha R-1 fails its MOT are: 1. Motorcycle lighting and signalling (12.5%), 2. Motorcycle lamps and reflectors (8.1%), 3. Motorcycle brakes (6.9%). Check these areas before booking your MOT.
Is the Yamaha R-1 reliable?
With a 23.1% MOT failure rate, the R-1 is more reliable than average compared to the UK average of ~40%.
What should I check before an MOT on my Yamaha R-1?
Based on failure data, focus on: Motorcycle lighting and signalling (12.5%); Motorcycle lamps and reflectors (8.1%); Motorcycle brakes (6.9%). These are the areas most likely to cause a fail. Also check all lights, tyres (minimum 1.6mm tread), and windscreen condition — these are quick wins that apply to all cars.
Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.