Yamaha YZF-R6
Real ownership data from 26,373 UK YZF-R6 motorcycles — mileage, MOT pass rates and the faults that actually come up, taken from DVSA test records rather than opinion.
Most common YZF-R6 problems
Ranked by how often each fault appears in this model's MOT history.
| Fault | Severity | Share of faults |
|---|---|---|
| Controls and cables | fail | 0.7% |
| Brakes | dangerous | 0.7% |
| Wheels | major | 0.4% |
| Electrical | fail | 0.4% |
| Steering and head bearings | dangerous | 0.3% |
| Suspension | dangerous | 0.3% |
| Exhaust and emissions | prs | 0.2% |
| Chain and sprockets | major | 0.2% |
Advisories (wear noted but not failed) are excluded above; the most common is fork seals.
YZF-R6 mileage and reliability by year
Use this to judge whether a specific bike is high or low mileage for its age.
| Year | Examples | Median mileage | Miles/year | First-time pass |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 24 | 2,591 mi | 447 | 93.75% |
| 2020 | 102 | 4,247 mi | 650 | 87.4% |
| 2019 | 105 | 6,259 mi | 857 | 86.53% |
| 2018 | 149 | 7,344 mi | 1,063 | 88.83% |
| 2017 | 226 | 7,793 mi | 874 | 90.84% |
| 2016 | 65 | 9,027 mi | 846 | 92% |
| 2015 | 91 | 8,570 mi | 758 | 90.43% |
| 2014 | 225 | 11,133 mi | 1,047 | 84.83% |
| 2013 | 204 | 10,190 mi | 832 | 85.19% |
| 2012 | 354 | 10,731 mi | 942 | 82.11% |
| 2011 | 301 | 11,376 mi | 912 | 85.32% |
| 2010 | 748 | 12,136 mi | 937 | 83.14% |
| 2009 | 1,055 | 12,362 mi | 1,062 | 83.09% |
| 2008 | 1,634 | 12,416 mi | 1,070 | 82.29% |
| 2007 | 1,947 | 13,666 mi | 1,069 | 81.63% |
| 2006 | 1,907 | 14,006 mi | 1,062 | 81.84% |
| 2005 | 1,562 | 18,428 mi | 1,130 | 82.69% |
| 2004 | 1,175 | 19,456 mi | 1,228 | 81.64% |
| 2003 | 1,980 | 18,644 mi | 1,204 | 81.32% |
| 2002 | 1,784 | 19,561 mi | 1,039 | 79.92% |
YZF-R6 questions, answered with data
What are the most common problems with the Yamaha YZF-R6?
Across 26,373 UK examples, the most frequently recorded MOT faults are controls and cables (0.7% of all recorded faults), brakes (0.7% of all recorded faults), wheels (0.4% of all recorded faults).
What is average mileage for a Yamaha YZF-R6?
The median Yamaha YZF-R6 in the UK has covered 18,550 miles, and typically rides about 1,057 miles a year. Half of all examples fall between 11,063 and 27,103 miles.
Is the Yamaha YZF-R6 reliable?
80.12% of Yamaha YZF-R6 MOT tests are passed first time, with an average of 0.95 faults recorded per test. This is measured from DVSA MOT records, not owner opinion.
Based on DVSA MOT test records for 26,373 Yamaha YZF-R6 motorcycles registered in Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.