Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2016 Yamaha Yzf?

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 2016 Yamaha Yzf?

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 2016 Yamaha Yzf?

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.

How many 2016 Yamaha Yzf vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

24% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 2016 Yamaha Yzf reliable?

Based on MOT data from 1,387 vehicles, the 2016 Yamaha Yzf has a first-time MOT pass rate of 84.3%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2016 Yamaha Yzf?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2016 Yamaha Yzf are: Exhaust noisy (65.8% of vehicles), Drive chain slightly loose (23% of vehicles), COVID-19 6 MONTH EXTENSION (21.3% 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 2016 Yamaha Yzf?

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 Yzf (2016)

1,387 real MOT outcomes analysed • 84.3% first-time pass rate

2016 Yamaha Yzf

CarHunch analysed 1,387 real MOT records for the 2016 Yamaha Yzf. 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 Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2016 YAMAHA YZF has a first-time pass rate of 73%, which sits 7 percentage points below the UK average of 80%—a meaningful gap that suggests this model presents more reliability challenges than typical. Worryingly, nearly a quarter of these bikes (23.5%) have recorded dangerous defects at some point, which is a genuine safety concern for prospective buyers.

At just under 10,000 miles on the median, these YZFs show relatively modest use for their age, yet they're averaging 0.85 failures and 3.6 advisories per test, indicating mechanical issues emerge even on lightly-ridden machines. Before buying one, get a full pre-purchase inspection focused on the specific failure patterns—suspension, electrics, and brake components are common weak spots on this generation—and factor in potentially higher maintenance costs than the pass rate suggests.

The 2016 Yamaha Yzf passes its MOT first time at roughly the UK average rate (84.3%) — solid but worth checking this vehicle's history carefully.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 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

84.3%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

23.5%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.85

Over 4.6 tests on record

Moderate

Typical mileage

10k

Middle half: 6k–16k

For context

🔧 Average reliability. Passes at roughly the UK rate — not a standout, not a problem vehicle. Individual history makes all the difference.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 3.6 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 1,387 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.

Average reliability — agree?

What tends to go wrong

Across 1,387 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Exhaust & emissions 65.8%

Exhaust noisy

Lighting 23%

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

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

Other issues 21.3%

COVID-19 6 MONTH EXTENSION · Drive chain worn but not considered excessive · Drive chain excessively loose

Tyre wear 20.8%

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.

Brake wear 10.8%

Front Brake pad(s) close to minimum limit · Rear Brake pad(s) close to minimum limit · Front Brake indicates slight fluctuation of brake effort · …

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

Suspension & steering 10.2%

Steering headbearing has slight free play

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 2016.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 1,387 Yamaha Yzf cars.

Before you buy a 2016 Yamaha Yzf

Based on MOT data from 1,387 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 23.5% 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

Colour Breakdown

Based on 11,019 Yamaha Yzf vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Blue 32.9%

3,622

Black 16.3%

1,799

Red 15.6%

1,722

White 15.2%

1,673

Grey 14.1%

1,549

Silver 2.8%

304

Yellow 1.7%

182

Multi-colour 0.5%

Green 0.3%

Orange 0.3%

Purple 0.3%

Pink 0.1%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2016 Yamaha Yzf 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.

9,764

typical

5,692

low mileage

15,593

high mileage

Half of all 2016 Yamaha Yzf vehicles fall between 5,692 and 15,593 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 5,692 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.

✓ 5,692–15,593 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2016 Yamaha Yzfs sit.

⚠ Over 21,050 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2016 Yamaha Yzf — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 67% of 2016 Yamaha Yzfs are still active.

571 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 67% of the peak remain.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2019–2025.
* 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

4.6

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.85

Avg failures per vehicle

3.6

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

1998 1999 2000 2001 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2017

Or browse all models: Yamaha →

Compare with another model

See how the 2016 Yamaha Yzf stacks up against a rival.

Average reliability — agree?