What year Yamaha Rd250 is most reliable?

Based on MOT first-test pass rates, the 1983 Yamaha Rd250 has the highest pass rate at 90.8%, out of 107 vehicles tested.

What are the most common Yamaha Rd250 MOT failures?

The most common Yamaha Rd250 MOT failures vary by year. Check the individual year pages for detailed defect breakdowns — links in the table above.

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Yamaha Rd250 — Reliability by Year

1,008 vehicles · MOT data 1980–1983 · first-test pass rates

This page shows MOT first-test pass rates for each year the Yamaha Rd250 was manufactured — click any year to explore that cohort in detail. Trying to decide which year to buy? See the full buying guide →

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Best pass rate year

1983

90.8% pass rate · 107 vehicles

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Lowest pass rate year

1981

88.7% pass rate · 385 vehicles

Year	Pass rate	Avg mileage	Vehicles
1983	90.8%	27,185 mi	107
1982	90.4%	25,656 mi	163
1981	88.7%	24,211 mi	385
1980	89.7%	21,562 mi	353

Which year Yamaha Rd250 is most reliable?

MOT pass rate by year of manufacture — averaged across each vehicle's lifetime of tests.

Tests range from an average of 21,562 miles (newest year) to 27,185 miles (oldest year). Older years naturally accumulate more tests at higher mileages — see the mileage-normalised breakdown →

Trying to decide which year to buy?

We've done the full analysis — which years to look for, which to avoid, and where to find the best value for reliability on a Yamaha Rd250.

See the buying guide →

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Check any UK registration — free MOT history and risk insights.