Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2021 Yamaha Xsr?

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 2021 Yamaha Xsr?

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 2021 Yamaha Xsr?

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 2021 Yamaha Xsr reliable?

Based on MOT data from 128 vehicles, the 2021 Yamaha Xsr has a first-time MOT pass rate of 94%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2021 Yamaha Xsr?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2021 Yamaha Xsr are: Exhaust noisy (31.8% of vehicles), Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (22.1% of vehicles), Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (19.7% 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 2021 Yamaha Xsr?

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.

CarHunch

Get Started

Yamaha Xsr (2021)

128 real MOT outcomes analysed • 94% first-time pass rate

2021 Yamaha Xsr

CarHunch analysed 128 real MOT records for the 2021 Yamaha Xsr. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

On this page

AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Mileage Distribution MOT Averages Compare Models

The 2021 Yamaha XSR is a genuinely reliable bike, passing its MOT first time in 94% of cases—14 percentage points above the UK average of 80%. Dangerous defects are rare at just 4.7%, so safety concerns are minimal for this cohort.

These motorcycles are running low mileage for their age, averaging just over 5,000 miles, which explains the strong pass rate and suggests owners are treating them as weekend or fair-weather machines rather than daily commuters. With less than 0.2 failures per bike and only 0.4 advisories on average, the XSR demands very little in the way of remedial work—if you're buying one, a basic pre-purchase inspection should be enough.

We have limited data for the 2021 Yamaha Xsr — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

First-time pass

94%

UK average ~80%

Better than average

Dangerous (ever)

4.7%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.17

Over 1.9 tests on record

Low

Typical mileage

Middle half: 2k–7k

For context

These stats describe 128 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.

A solid choice — agree?

What tends to go wrong

Across 128 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Exhaust & emissions 31.8%

Exhaust noisy

Tyre wear 22.1%

Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Front Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm · …

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

Lighting 10.4%

Rear reflector missing · Drive chain slightly loose · Headlamp aim too high · …

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

Brake wear 3.6%

Front Brake indicates slight fluctuation of brake effort · Front Brake lever is bent but brake can still be readily applied · Front Brake pad(s) close to minimum limit

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Other issues 3.6%

Drive chain worn but not considered excessive · Registration plate does not conform to the specified requirements

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2021.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 128 Yamaha Xsr cars.

Before you buy a 2021 Yamaha Xsr

Based on MOT data from 128 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 4.7% 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 2021 Yamaha Xsr 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.

3,949

typical

2,110

low mileage

6,617

high mileage

Half of all 2021 Yamaha Xsr vehicles fall between 2,110 and 6,617 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 2,110 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.

✓ 2,110–6,617 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2021 Yamaha Xsrs sit.

⚠ Over 8,932 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

MOT History Averages

1.9

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.17

Avg failures per vehicle

0.4

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

Or browse all models: Yamaha →

Compare with another model

See how the 2021 Yamaha Xsr stacks up against a rival.

A solid choice — agree?