CarVerify

Yamaha Sr Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Yamaha Sr car check

Is the Yamaha Sr reliable? We analysed 2,285 real MOT tests across 343 vehicles to find out.

Got a specific Yamaha Sr? Enter the reg for a free check:

Free basic check Reports from £4.99 Results in seconds
Data last updated: · Based on 2,285 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
84.2%
Typical Mileage
13,318mi
Annual Mileage
385mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
35yrs

The Yamaha Sr is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm, shock absorber has inadequate damping effect. and shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Yamaha Sr.

Yamaha Sr Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Yamaha Sr. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Yamaha Sr MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Yamaha Sr to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

91.1%
2016
95%
2015
93.9%
2014
81.3%
1997
81.5%
1996
78.2%
1995
74.1%
1994
78%
1993
75.1%
1992
73.7%
1991

Yamaha Sr Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Yamaha Sr fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 29
shock absorber has inadequate damping effect. 29
shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil 20
Drive chain excessively loose 18
Headlamp aim too high 18
Drive chain worn to excess 13
Exhaust is leaking and excessively noisey 13
Headlamp at least one does not illuminate on dipped beam 12
Steering movement excessively 'notchy' with the wheel raised 12
Drive chain sprocket worn to excess 11

Yamaha Sr Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Yamaha Sr owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
85 mi/yr
Typical
385 mi/yr
Average
926 mi/yr
Heavy usage
1,133 mi/yr

Yamaha Sr MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Yamaha Sr year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2016 101 91.1% 1,353 3,505 7,509
2015 219 95.0% 1,228 3,304 5,742
2014 492 93.9% 2,384 4,585 9,384
1997 176 81.3% 10,962 16,025 23,707
1996 135 81.5% 11,097 17,551 22,082
1995 193 78.2% 12,899 21,700 27,992
1994 243 74.1% 13,030 24,831 30,470
1993 173 78.0% 9,028 15,793 24,929
1992 181 75.1% 11,719 17,874 27,950
1991 137 73.7% 14,401 19,453 34,036

How Long Does a Yamaha Sr Last?

Based on 343 Yamaha Sr vehicles on UK roads.

Average
17.1 years
Median
15.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
35 years

Yamaha Sr Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Yamaha Sr MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
13,318 mi
75th Percentile
23,900 mi
95th Percentile
43,822 mi
Max Recorded
217,462 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Yamaha Sr

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
2015

95.0% MOT pass rate from 219 tests

Year to avoid
1991

73.7% MOT pass rate from 137 tests

The best year to buy a used Yamaha Sr is 2015, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 95.0% across 219 tests. The 1991 model year has the lowest pass rate at 73.7% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Yamaha Sr Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Yamaha Sr THIS CAR 84.2% 2,285 13,318 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
Honda Cbr 900RR-2 88.2% 686 17,100 mi 24 yrs

Compared to the Yamaha Yzf R1 (86.5% pass rate) and the Yamaha FZS600 (85.0% pass rate), the Yamaha Sr trails behind on MOT reliability.

Found a Yamaha Sr 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 Sr

Should you buy a used Yamaha Sr?

The Yamaha Sr has an overall MOT pass rate of 84.2% across 2,285 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 Sr are tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (29 recorded failures), shock absorber has inadequate damping effect. (29), and shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil (20). 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 Sr owner drives around 385 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 Sr 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.

Yamaha Sr — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Yamaha Sr reliable?
Based on 2,285 MOT tests, the Yamaha Sr has a 84.2% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Yamaha Sr?
The most common MOT failures are tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm, shock absorber has inadequate damping effect., and shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Yamaha Sr do per year?
The typical Yamaha Sr does around 385 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Yamaha Sr last?
Most Yamaha Sr models stay on UK roads for around 35 years based on our analysis of 343 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Yamaha Sr?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Yamaha Sr?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Yamaha Sr is 2015 with a 95.0% pass rate across 219 tests.