Yamaha RS100 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Yamaha RS100 car check
Is the Yamaha RS100 reliable? We analysed 686 real MOT tests across 156 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Yamaha RS100? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Yamaha RS100 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies, direction indicators affected by the operation of another lamp and horn not loud enough to be heard by another road user. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Yamaha RS100.
Yamaha RS100 Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Yamaha RS100. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Yamaha RS100 MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Yamaha RS100 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Yamaha RS100 Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Yamaha RS100 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Yamaha RS100 Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Yamaha RS100 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Yamaha RS100 MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Yamaha RS100 year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | 52 | 82.7% | 7,411 | 11,858 | 25,579 |
| 1981 | 97 | 77.3% | 9,058 | 17,330 | 28,470 |
| 1980 | 56 | 80.4% | 11,439 | 15,006 | 26,292 |
| 1977 | 58 | 74.1% | 7,997 | 18,056 | 20,157 |
How Long Does a Yamaha RS100 Last?
Based on 156 Yamaha RS100 vehicles on UK roads.
Yamaha RS100 Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Yamaha RS100 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 RS100
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
82.7% MOT pass rate from 52 tests
74.1% MOT pass rate from 58 tests
The best year to buy a used Yamaha RS100 is 1982, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 82.7% across 52 tests. The 1977 model year has the lowest pass rate at 74.1% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Yamaha RS100 Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yamaha RS100 THIS CAR | 78.4% | 686 | 16,268 mi | 49 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 |
| Ktm 350 Exc-f 22 | 83.5% | 212 | 2,208 mi | — yrs |
Compared to the Yamaha Yzf R1 (86.5% pass rate) and the Yamaha FZS600 (85.0% pass rate), the Yamaha RS100 trails behind on MOT reliability.
Found a Yamaha RS100 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 RS100Should you buy a used Yamaha RS100?
The Yamaha RS100 has an overall MOT pass rate of 78.4% across 686 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 RS100 are stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies (14 recorded failures), direction indicators affected by the operation of another lamp (13), and horn not loud enough to be heard by another road user (11). 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 RS100 owner drives around 145 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 RS100 models stay on UK roads for around 49 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.