Yamaha CY50 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Yamaha CY50 car check
Is the Yamaha CY50 reliable? We analysed 865 real MOT tests across 206 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Yamaha CY50? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Yamaha CY50 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include steering headbearing has excessive free play, exhaust is leaking and excessively noisey and stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Yamaha CY50.
Yamaha CY50 Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Yamaha CY50. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Yamaha CY50 MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Yamaha CY50 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Yamaha CY50 Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Yamaha CY50 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Yamaha CY50 Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Yamaha CY50 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Yamaha CY50 MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Yamaha CY50 year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 84 | 78.6% | 5,221 | 7,552 | 12,479 |
| 2003 | 63 | 82.5% | 3,705 | 6,136 | 8,288 |
| 2002 | 98 | 76.5% | 3,918 | 5,386 | 10,106 |
| 1998 | 50 | 94.0% | 3,878 | 4,968 | 6,627 |
| 1997 | 70 | 78.6% | 3,054 | 3,915 | 5,582 |
| 1996 | 124 | 86.3% | 2,810 | 5,101 | 7,495 |
| 1995 | 85 | 84.7% | 2,991 | 5,291 | 7,135 |
| 1991 | 60 | 78.3% | 5,313 | 6,206 | 7,914 |
How Long Does a Yamaha CY50 Last?
Based on 206 Yamaha CY50 vehicles on UK roads.
Yamaha CY50 Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Yamaha CY50 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.
Best Year to Buy a Used Yamaha CY50
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
94.0% MOT pass rate from 50 tests
76.5% MOT pass rate from 98 tests
The best year to buy a used Yamaha CY50 is 1998, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 94.0% across 50 tests. The 2002 model year has the lowest pass rate at 76.5% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Yamaha CY50 Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yamaha CY50 THIS CAR | 81.5% | 865 | 5,334 mi | 35 yrs |
| Yamaha Yzf R1 | 86.5% | 175,313 | 16,232 mi | 28 yrs |
| Yamaha FZS600 | 85% | 157,659 | 22,466 mi | 28 yrs |
| Yamaha XJR1300 | 88.8% | 107,128 | 16,836 mi | 27 yrs |
| Suzuki Marauder | 79.4% | 1,224 | 12,237 mi | 29 yrs |
Compared to the Yamaha Yzf R1 (86.5% pass rate) and the Yamaha FZS600 (85.0% pass rate), the Yamaha CY50 trails behind on MOT reliability.
Found a Yamaha CY50 you like?
Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.
Check a specific Yamaha CY50Should you buy a used Yamaha CY50?
The Yamaha CY50 has an overall MOT pass rate of 81.5% across 865 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.
The most common problems on the Yamaha CY50 are steering headbearing has excessive free play (21 recorded failures), exhaust is leaking and excessively noisey (11), and stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies (10). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.
A typical Yamaha CY50 owner drives around 386 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.
In terms of longevity, most Yamaha CY50 models stay on UK roads for around 35 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.
Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.