YAMAHA 600

599cc Petrol Class 2

#4431 of 5426 overall #335 of 409 YAMAHAs #2711 of 2787 other bikes

73.7%

first-time pass rate

18.3%

failed outright

28,262

median miles at test

761

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2006–2017

The 600's first-time pass rate has fallen 12.7 points since 2006, 83.3% to 70.6%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the 600's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage 600 passes first time 76.5% of the time; by 50k that's 62.7%.

First-time pass rate by odometer reading at test, 10,000-mile bands for this model. Mileage is the strongest reliability signal. See the full curve.

What fails on a 600

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	86	27.8	1.7×
brakes	64	20.7	1.5×
steering and suspension	61	19.7	2.1×
tyres and wheels	26	8.4	1.5×
lamps and reflectors	19	6.1	0.7×
fuel and exhaust	14	4.5	2.1×
suspension	13	4.2	1.6×
drive system	11	3.6	1.8×
reg plates and vin	8	2.6	1.8×
body and structure	7	2.3	1.9×

Defects recorded against failed normal tests, 2005–2025, grouped by DVSA inspection section. One test can record multiple defects. "vs all bikes" is how often this model's tests record a defect in the group, as a multiple of the all-bike rate.

How rivals compare

same type, similar capacity, high test volume

On first-time pass rate the 600 beats 0 of its 4 closest rivals (KAWASAKI ZX-6R, SUZUKI GSF600, YAMAHA FZS600).

KAWASAKI ZX-6R 78.1% pass · 174k tests SUZUKI GSF600 77.3% pass · 143k tests YAMAHA FZS600 82.6% pass · 137k tests SUZUKI SV650S 80.6% pass · 84.6k tests

Rivals share this bike's type and sit within ±30% of its engine capacity, ≥ 5,000 tests. Card colour = better/worse first-time pass rate than the 600.

Pass rate by registration year

how each model-year cohort fares · registration year from first use date

Best year to buy used: 1995 (82.1% pass). Weakest: 1998 (60.0%).

First-time pass rate by the year each bike was first registered (cohorts with ≥ 50 tests). Older cohorts are survivors: the worst examples have already left the road, which tends to lift the earliest years.

YAMAHA 600 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the YAMAHA 600 reliable?

The YAMAHA 600 is less reliable than average for its class: 73.7% of its 761 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #4431 of 5426 models.

What does a 600 fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 28% of all defects recorded against failed 600 tests.

What is the best year of 600 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1995-registered examples do best (82.1%) and 1998 worst (60.0%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a 600 last?

The median 600 shows 28,262 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 62.7% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.