Yamaha RD 250
Real ownership data from 2,371 UK RD 250 motorcycles — mileage, MOT pass rates and the faults that actually come up, taken from DVSA test records rather than opinion.
Most common RD 250 problems
Ranked by how often each fault appears in this model's MOT history.
| Fault | Severity | Share of faults |
|---|---|---|
| Brakes | prs | 11.8% |
| Suspension | fail | 8.1% |
| Other | major | 7.6% |
| Wheels | fail | 7.3% |
| Tyres | user entered | 5.9% |
| Electrical | major | 5.9% |
| Chain and sprockets | fail | 5.4% |
| Steering and head bearings | major | 3.9% |
Advisories (wear noted but not failed) are excluded above; the most common is wheels.
RD 250 mileage and reliability by year
Use this to judge whether a specific bike is high or low mileage for its age.
| YearYear | MedianMedian mileage | Mi/yrMiles/year | MOT passFirst-time pass | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 19 | 16,957 mi | 76 | 79.17% |
| 2020 | 16 | 18,048 mi | 316 | 83.33% |
| 2019 | 22 | 20,506 mi | 553 | 90.38% |
| 2018 | 35 | 15,792 mi | 222 | 81.71% |
| 2017 | 41 | 19,900 mi | 214 | 84.11% |
| 2016 | 45 | 20,441 mi | 101 | 88.62% |
| 2015 | 18 | 21,383 mi | 173 | 85.92% |
| 2014 | 20 | 17,370 mi | 359 | 84.62% |
| 2013 | 25 | 17,065 mi | 526 | 91.67% |
| 2012 | 14 | 22,222 mi | 158 | 85.92% |
| 2011 | 11 | 25,662 mi | 180 | 78.33% |
| 2010 | 11 | 15,755 mi | 289 | 89.83% |
| 2009 | 5 | 25,864 mi | 770 | 91.89% |
| 2008 | 8 | 15,747 mi | 1,667 | 86.36% |
| 2007 | 10 | 25,236 mi | 1,644 | 91.89% |
| 2006 | 13 | 16,470 mi | 510 | 82.98% |
| 2005 | 6 | 17,623 mi | 249 | 79.49% |
| 1997 | 5 | 4,428 mi | 144 | 100% |
| 1986 | 17 | 20,608 mi | 16 | 83.61% |
| 1985 | 30 | 18,140 mi | 119 | 86.36% |
RD 250 questions, answered with data
What are the most common problems with the Yamaha RD 250?
Across 2,371 UK examples, the most frequently recorded MOT faults are brakes (11.8% of all recorded faults), suspension (8.1% of all recorded faults), other (7.6% of all recorded faults).
What is average mileage for a Yamaha RD 250?
The median Yamaha RD 250 in the UK has covered 20,604 miles, and typically rides about 148 miles a year. Half of all examples fall between 12,234 and 29,200 miles.
Is the Yamaha RD 250 reliable?
86.42% of Yamaha RD 250 MOT tests are passed first time, with an average of 0.15 faults recorded per test. This is measured from DVSA MOT records, not owner opinion.
Based on DVSA MOT test records for 2,371 Yamaha RD 250 motorcycles registered in Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.