YAMAHA FZ

749cc Petrol Class 2

#3872 of 5426 overall #268 of 409 YAMAHAs #2454 of 2787 other bikes

78.3%

first-time pass rate

12.0%

failed outright

27,409

median miles at test

709

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

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

The FZ's first-time pass rate has risen 4.4 points since 2006, 80.0% to 84.4%.

Pass rate by mileage

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

A low-mileage FZ passes first time 79.3% of the time; by 50k that's 69.5%.

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 FZ

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	65	30.5	1.4×
brakes	53	24.9	1.5×
steering and suspension	41	19.2	1.1×
tyres and wheels	11	5.2	0.7×
lamps and reflectors	8	3.8	0.4×
drive system	8	3.8	1.2×
structure and attachments	7	3.3	1.0×
reg plates and vin	7	3.3	1.5×
fuel and exhaust	7	3.3	1.3×
tyres	6	2.8	1.0×

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 FZ beats 2 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 TRIUMPH SPRINT 85.6% pass · 133k 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 FZ.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2008 (87.7% pass). Weakest: 1990 (73.3%).

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 FZ FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the YAMAHA FZ reliable?

The YAMAHA FZ is less reliable than average for its class: 78.3% of its 709 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #3872 of 5426 models.

What does a FZ fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 31% of all defects recorded against failed FZ tests.

What is the best year of FZ to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2008-registered examples do best (87.7%) and 1990 worst (73.3%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a FZ last?

The median FZ shows 27,409 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 69.5% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.