YAMAHA THUNDERCAT

599cc Petrol Class 2

#4065 of 5426 overall #292 of 409 YAMAHAs #2566 of 2787 other bikes

77.0%

first-time pass rate

14.5%

failed outright

28,392

median miles at test

3,485

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2005–2025

The THUNDERCAT's first-time pass rate has fallen 8.4 points since 2005, 82.9% to 74.5%.

Pass rate by mileage

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

A low-mileage THUNDERCAT passes first time 84.9% of the time; by 50k that's 72.8%.

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 THUNDERCAT

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
brakes	290	26.1	1.5×
lighting and signalling	245	22	1.2×
steering and suspension	206	18.5	1.5×
tyres and wheels	103	9.3	1.3×
fuel and exhaust	58	5.2	1.8×
lamps and reflectors	57	5.1	0.7×
structure and attachments	44	4	1.3×
drive system	43	3.9	1.5×
suspension	42	3.8	1.1×
reg plates and vin	25	2.2	1.2×

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 THUNDERCAT 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 THUNDERCAT.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2001 (80.0% pass). Weakest: 1998 (72.4%).

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 THUNDERCAT FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the YAMAHA THUNDERCAT reliable?

The YAMAHA THUNDERCAT is less reliable than average for its class: 77.0% of its 3,485 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #4065 of 5426 models.

What does a THUNDERCAT fail its MOT on most?

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

What is the best year of THUNDERCAT to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2001-registered examples do best (80.0%) and 1998 worst (72.4%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a THUNDERCAT last?

The median THUNDERCAT shows 28,392 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 72.8% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.