Yamaha YZF-R1
Real ownership data from 33,534 UK YZF-R1 motorcycles — mileage, MOT pass rates and the faults that actually come up, taken from DVSA test records rather than opinion.
Most common YZF-R1 problems
Ranked by how often each fault appears in this model's MOT history.
| Fault | Severity | Share of faults |
|---|---|---|
| Frame and structure | major | 20.5% |
| Fork seals | major | 13.3% |
| Fluid leaks | dangerous | 8% |
| Lights and indicators | major | 3.3% |
| Other | major | 3% |
| Exhaust and emissions | dangerous | 2.8% |
| Wheels | dangerous | 1.9% |
| Brakes | major | 1.7% |
Advisories (wear noted but not failed) are excluded above; the most common is exhaust and emissions.
YZF-R1 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 9 | — | — | — |
| 2025 | 68 | — | — | — |
| 2024 | 182 | — | — | — |
| 2023 | 213 | 3,220 mi | 2,086 | 90% |
| 2022 | 198 | 4,580 mi | 1,379 | 92.26% |
| 2021 | 225 | 5,560 mi | 851 | 92.21% |
| 2020 | 298 | 6,800 mi | 994 | 91.04% |
| 2019 | 247 | 7,522 mi | 997 | 89.92% |
| 2018 | 298 | 9,146 mi | 1,110 | 92.47% |
| 2017 | 391 | 8,563 mi | 925 | 92.52% |
| 2016 | 716 | 9,555 mi | 909 | 91.82% |
| 2015 | 607 | 11,196 mi | 1,096 | 89.79% |
| 2014 | 304 | 11,405 mi | 982 | 87.07% |
| 2013 | 301 | 12,586 mi | 1,018 | 88.34% |
| 2012 | 436 | 13,375 mi | 997 | 87.5% |
| 2011 | 509 | 15,061 mi | 1,112 | 86.15% |
| 2010 | 721 | 15,419 mi | 1,118 | 86.81% |
| 2009 | 1,565 | 15,556 mi | 1,126 | 86.66% |
| 2008 | 1,548 | 16,520 mi | 1,046 | 86.81% |
| 2007 | 2,087 | 16,784 mi | 1,092 | 85.54% |
YZF-R1 questions, answered with data
What are the most common problems with the Yamaha YZF-R1?
Across 33,534 UK examples, the most frequently recorded MOT faults are frame and structure (20.5% of all recorded faults), fork seals (13.3% of all recorded faults), fluid leaks (8% of all recorded faults).
What is average mileage for a Yamaha YZF-R1?
The median Yamaha YZF-R1 in the UK has covered 19,049 miles, and typically rides about 993 miles a year. Half of all examples fall between 11,378 and 28,380 miles.
Is the Yamaha YZF-R1 reliable?
85.2% of Yamaha YZF-R1 MOT tests are passed first time, with an average of 0 faults recorded per test. This is measured from DVSA MOT records, not owner opinion.
Based on DVSA MOT test records for 33,534 Yamaha YZF-R1 motorcycles registered in Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.