Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1989 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 1989 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 1989 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 1989 Yamaha Rxs100 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 190 vehicles, the 1989 Yamaha Rxs100 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 73.4%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 1989 Yamaha Rxs100?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1989 Yamaha Rxs100 are: Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (17.8% of vehicles), Rear reflector on motorcycle missing (17.1% of vehicles), Horn not working (15.1% 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 1989 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 (1989)

190 real MOT outcomes analysed • 73.4% first-time pass rate

1989 Yamaha Rxs100

CarHunch analysed 190 real MOT records for the 1989 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 1989 Yamaha RXS100 passes its first MOT attempt only 73.4% of the time—noticeably below the UK average of 80%—suggesting these 35-year-old bikes need closer pre-purchase inspection and may require remedial work. The 12.1% dangerous defect rate is moderate rather than alarming, but it underlines that safety-critical systems deserve particular attention.

These machines have covered a modest 24,406 miles on average, which is reasonable for their age and hints at a mix of weekend riders and light commuters in the test population. With 1.45 failures and 2.9 advisories per vehicle, expect routine wear items like cables, brakes, and lighting to need attention; before buying, get a pre-purchase inspection from a specialist and budget for at least one round of remedial work before confident ownership.

We have limited data for the 1989 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

73.4%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

12.1%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.45

Over 5.4 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

21k

Middle half: 15k–30k

For context

These stats describe 190 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 190 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 17.8%

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.

Lighting 17.1%

Rear reflector on motorcycle missing · Rear Drive chain sprocket slightly worn · Drive chain slightly loose · …

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

Other issues 15.1%

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

Suspension & steering 12.5%

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 1989.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 190 Yamaha Rxs100 cars.

Before you buy a 1989 Yamaha Rxs100

Based on MOT data from 190 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 12.1% 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 1989 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.

21,319

typical

15,113

low mileage

30,003

high mileage

Half of all 1989 Yamaha Rxs100 vehicles fall between 15,113 and 30,003 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 15,113 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.

✓ 15,113–30,003 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1989 Yamaha Rxs100s sit.

⚠ Over 40,504 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

1989 Yamaha Rxs100 — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 49% of 1989 Yamaha Rxs100s are still active.

Numbers are declining — 20 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (49% of peak).

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
* 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

1.45

Avg failures per vehicle

2.9

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

1987 1988 1990 1991 1992 1993

Or browse all models: Yamaha →

Compare with another model

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Buyer beware — pass it on