YAMAHA MAXIM

699cc Petrol Class 2

#3577 of 5426 overall #236 of 409 YAMAHAs #2275 of 2787 other bikes

80.0%

first-time pass rate

12.2%

failed outright

26,594

median miles at test

704

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2006–2016

The MAXIM's first-time pass rate has risen 7.9 points since 2006, 80.3% to 88.2%.

Pass rate by mileage

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

A low-mileage MAXIM passes first time 74.3% of the time; by 50k that's 83.7%.

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 MAXIM

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
brakes	48	25.5	1.1×
lighting and signalling	46	24.5	1.1×
steering and suspension	43	22.9	1.6×
tyres and wheels	12	6.4	0.8×
lamps and reflectors	12	6.4	0.8×
fuel and exhaust	9	4.8	1.7×
reg plates and vin	5	2.7	1.0×
structure and attachments	5	2.7	0.6×
body and structure	4	2.1	0.9×
suspension	4	2.1	0.8×

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 MAXIM 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 HONDA VFR800 FI 86.7% pass · 89.4k 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 MAXIM.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1986 (84.8% pass). Weakest: 1982 (76.8%).

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 MAXIM FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the YAMAHA MAXIM reliable?

The YAMAHA MAXIM is less reliable than average for its class: 80.0% of its 704 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #3577 of 5426 models.

What does a MAXIM fail its MOT on most?

brakes — 26% of all defects recorded against failed MAXIM tests.

What is the best year of MAXIM to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1986-registered examples do best (84.8%) and 1982 worst (76.8%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a MAXIM last?

The median MAXIM shows 26,594 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 83.7% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.