Yamaha RD500 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Yamaha RD500 car check
Is the Yamaha RD500 reliable? We analysed 2,174 real MOT tests across 418 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Yamaha RD500? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Yamaha RD500 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil, suspension bush has excessive free play and reflector on motorcycle missing. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Yamaha RD500.
Yamaha RD500 Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Yamaha RD500. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Yamaha RD500 MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Yamaha RD500 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Yamaha RD500 Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Yamaha RD500 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Yamaha RD500 Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Yamaha RD500 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Yamaha RD500 MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Yamaha RD500 year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 64 | 95.3% | 16,966 | 19,175 | 22,034 |
| 1987 | 64 | 89.1% | 10,204 | 25,316 | 40,598 |
| 1986 | 346 | 87.3% | 15,036 | 20,982 | 27,972 |
| 1985 | 938 | 90.3% | 14,046 | 20,755 | 27,067 |
| 1984 | 401 | 94.3% | 11,678 | 17,756 | 25,177 |
How Long Does a Yamaha RD500 Last?
Based on 418 Yamaha RD500 vehicles on UK roads.
Yamaha RD500 Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Yamaha RD500 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 RD500
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
95.3% MOT pass rate from 64 tests
87.3% MOT pass rate from 346 tests
The best year to buy a used Yamaha RD500 is 1991, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 95.3% across 64 tests. The 1986 model year has the lowest pass rate at 87.3% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Yamaha RD500 Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yamaha RD500 THIS CAR | 90.3% | 2,174 | 20,028 mi | 42 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 |
| Harley-davidson Flhxs Street Glide Sp 1868 19 | 94.9% | 661 | 10,948 mi | — yrs |
Compared to the Yamaha Yzf R1 (86.5% pass rate) and the Yamaha FZS600 (85.0% pass rate), the Yamaha RD500 outperforms both on MOT reliability.
Found a Yamaha RD500 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 RD500Should you buy a used Yamaha RD500?
The Yamaha RD500 has an overall MOT pass rate of 90.3% across 2,174 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 RD500 are shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil (16 recorded failures), suspension bush has excessive free play (13), and reflector on motorcycle missing (8). 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 RD500 owner drives around 160 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 RD500 models stay on UK roads for around 42 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.