Photo: AVMOTO, CC BY-SA 4.0
Yamaha
Yzf R1
9,506 MOT tests analysed. sits above the UK fleet average — here's where Yzf R1s pass, fail, and end up on the retest sheet.
That's 9.9 points above the UK fleet average across our 1,984 tracked models — a confident result.
Pass
87.5%
Pass-after-fix
6.1%
Fail
6.1%
Avg miles
22,673
Pass + Pass-after-fix + Fail = 100%
This model's production run straddles the January 2006 Euro 4 cutoff. Individual cars vary — check your registration plate on the government's ULEZ checker. Daily charges if driven in the zone: London £12.50 · Birmingham £8.00 .
The picture
Yzf-R1: a strong MOT record by UK norms
Across 729 MOT tests, the Yzf-R1 returns 89.4% first-time pass — comfortably ahead of the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is a non-conforming number plate. Direction indicator lamp missing and a missing rear reflector round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 26,756, which is the lens to read those failure rankings through. If you own one and the next test is close, the ranked list below is a sensible pre-test checklist.
Top ten reasons for rejection.
Filter failures:
Hide categories
Tick a category to hide it from rankings sitewide. Saved in this browser only.
- 01
Reflector missing or reflecting white to the rear
77 occurrences · 0.8% of tests
- 02
Number plate does not conform to the specified requirements
76 occurrences · 0.8% of tests
- 03
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
75 occurrences · 0.8% of tests
- 04
Rate of flashing not between 60 and 120 times per minute
56 occurrences · 0.6% of tests
- 05
A direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
49 occurrences · 0.5% of tests
- 06
Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements
45 occurrences · 0.5% of tests
- 07
A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps
37 occurrences · 0.4% of tests
- 08
A shock absorber not functioning or leaking severely
35 occurrences · 0.4% of tests
- 09
Reflector colour or position not in accordance with the requirements
33 occurrences · 0.3% of tests
- 10
Brake lining or pad worn below 1.0mm
27 occurrences · 0.3% of tests
Counts cover Major and Dangerous defects logged at test. Advisory items excluded so this shows why a car was rejected, not just what the tester flagged in passing.
Worst-case fix budget · top 2 failures
£75–£130
If every one of this Yzf R1's most-logged Major fails hit at the same MOT, that's the real-world UK garage range. Reality is usually one or two items, not all of them. Open the estimator →
Try the calculator
Build your own retest budget.
Tools that pre-empt a retest.
Picked against this car's top failure patterns. Affiliate links to Amazon UK — we earn a small cut at no cost to you. Disclosed up-front, doesn't shape the data.
Item 01 · Amazon UK
MOT-spec replacement number plate
Faded or non-standard plates fail outright. Replacements take ten minutes online with V5C details.
Search Amazon UK
Item 02 · Amazon UK
Digital tyre-tread depth gauge
Five quid for a gauge beats £150 for a retest. UK MOT minimum is 1.6mm — most testers fail anything below 2mm to be safe.
Search Amazon UK
My Motor World · affiliate
Parts & supplies for this fix
Affiliate links — small commission, no extra cost to you.
Click Mechanic · affiliate
Book a mobile mechanic
Affiliate links — small commission, no extra cost to you.
Mobile mechanic · UK-wide
Book a mechanic at your door.
Fixed-price quotes upfront. No garage needed. Click Mechanic sends a vetted local mechanic to you — home, work, or roadside.
Recall history
10 UK recalls on record.
The Yzf R1 has 10 official UK vehicle recalls covering defect details, remedies, and affected build dates.
Buying or keeping a Yzf R1?
Use the failure ranking as a pre-test checklist or a haggling lever. Treat the headline pass rate as a fleet-wide trend, not a guarantee on any individual car.
If you own a Yzf R1 and your last MOT looked nothing like the ranked failures above, that's normal — individual cars vary widely. The ranking shows the patterns testers flag most often across the country.