Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1987 Yamaha Rxs100?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 1987 Yamaha Rxs100?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 1987 Yamaha Rxs100?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

Is the 1987 Yamaha Rxs100 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 101 vehicles, the 1987 Yamaha Rxs100 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 74.6%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 1987 Yamaha Rxs100?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1987 Yamaha Rxs100 are: Drive chain worn but not considered excessive (18.3% of vehicles), Drive chain slightly loose (17.6% of vehicles), Rear reflector on motorcycle missing (17.6% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 1987 Yamaha Rxs100?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Yamaha Rxs100 (1987)

101 real MOT outcomes analysed • 74.6% first-time pass rate

1987 Yamaha Rxs100

CarHunch analysed 101 real MOT records for the 1987 Yamaha Rxs100. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Compare Models

The 1987 Yamaha RXS100 passes its MOT first time in 74.6% of cases, which is notably below the UK average of 80%—so you're looking at a bike that's more likely than average to need work before it passes. The bright spot is that only 18.8% have ever recorded a dangerous defect, which is manageable, though still worth checking the specific history of any machine you're considering.

These machines are running around 25,000 miles on average, which is fairly typical for their age, and the 1.49 failures per vehicle suggests recurring issues rather than one-off problems. Factor in 3.0 advisories per bike and you're looking at a model where ongoing maintenance and attention to detail will be essential—get a pre-purchase inspection done by someone who knows small-capacity Japanese bikes, and don't skip the full service history.

We have limited data for the 1987 Yamaha Rxs100 — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

⚠️ Around 1 in 8 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

74.6%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

18.8%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.49

Over 5.4 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

23k

Middle half: 18k–31k

For context

These stats describe 101 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Buyer beware — pass it on

What tends to go wrong

Across 101 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Other issues 18.3%

Drive chain worn but not considered excessive · Horn not working · Horn not loud enough to be heard by another road user

Lighting 17.6%

Drive chain slightly loose · Rear reflector on motorcycle missing · Wheel alignment slightly misaligned. · …

Usually cheap to fix. Worth confirming all lights work before collecting.

Tyre wear 13.7%

Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Suspension & steering 11.8%

Rear wheel bearings have slight free play · Nearside Front shock absorber has light misting of stanchion · Offside Front shock absorber has light misting of stanchion · …

Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1987.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 101 Yamaha Rxs100 cars.

Before you buy a 1987 Yamaha Rxs100

Based on MOT data from 101 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 18.8% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Mileage Distribution

Most 1987 Yamaha Rxs100 vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

22,998

typical

17,809

low mileage

30,771

high mileage

Half of all 1987 Yamaha Rxs100 vehicles fall between 17,809 and 30,771 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 17,809 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 17,809–30,771 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1987 Yamaha Rxs100s sit.

⚠ Over 41,540 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

1987 Yamaha Rxs100 — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 43% of 1987 Yamaha Rxs100s are still active.

Numbers are declining — 10 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2023 (43% of peak).

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2023.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

5.4

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.49

Avg failures per vehicle

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Yamaha Rxs100: All Rxs100 years → Which year to buy? →

1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993

Or browse all models: Yamaha →

Compare with another model

See how the 1987 Yamaha Rxs100 stacks up against a rival.

Buyer beware — pass it on