YAMAHA TDM 900 A

897cc Petrol Class 2

#919 of 5426 overall #36 of 409 YAMAHAs #560 of 2787 other bikes

90.1%

first-time pass rate

6.4%

failed outright

18,495

median miles at test

1,210

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2009–2025

The TDM 900 A's first-time pass rate has held steady since 2009 (94.4% → 93.5%).

Pass rate by mileage

how the TDM 900 A's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage TDM 900 A passes first time 93.8% of the time; by 50k that's 83.3%.

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 TDM 900 A

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
brakes	39	32.2	0.6×
lighting and signalling	20	16.5	0.4×
tyres and wheels	15	12.4	0.6×
steering and suspension	13	10.7	0.3×
drive system	12	9.9	0.7×
tyres	8	6.6	1.0×
lamps and reflectors	6	5	0.3×
suspension	5	4.1	0.6×
structure and attachments	2	1.7	0.2×
reg plates and vin	1	0.8	0.1×

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 TDM 900 A beats 4 of its 4 closest rivals (BMW R1150, TRIUMPH SPRINT, SUZUKI GSF1200).

BMW R1150 88.5% pass · 171k tests TRIUMPH SPRINT 85.6% pass · 133k tests SUZUKI GSF1200 82.4% pass · 97.6k 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 TDM 900 A.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2010 (97.1% pass). Weakest: 2007 (86.8%).

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 TDM 900 A FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the YAMAHA TDM 900 A reliable?

The YAMAHA TDM 900 A is more reliable than average for its class: 90.1% of its 1,210 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #919 of 5426 models.

What does a TDM 900 A fail its MOT on most?

brakes — 32% of all defects recorded against failed TDM 900 A tests.

What is the best year of TDM 900 A to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2010-registered examples do best (97.1%) and 2007 worst (86.8%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a TDM 900 A last?

The median TDM 900 A shows 18,495 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 83.3% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.