YAMAHA V STAR

650cc Petrol Class 2

#1883 of 5426 overall #83 of 409 YAMAHAs #1137 of 2787 other bikes

87.1%

first-time pass rate

6.2%

failed outright

11,738

median miles at test

504

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2014–2023

The V STAR's first-time pass rate has risen 2.5 points since 2014, 85.7% to 88.2%.

Pass rate by mileage

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

A low-mileage V STAR passes first time 83.3% of the time; by 20k that's 94.9%.

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 V STAR

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
tyres and wheels	12	18.8	1.0×
lamps and reflectors	11	17.2	0.9×
lighting and signalling	10	15.6	0.3×
reg plates and vin	8	12.5	1.7×
brakes	7	10.9	0.3×
fuel and exhaust	7	10.9	1.3×
tyres	4	6.2	1.2×
wheels	2	3.1	6.6×
Identification of the vehicle	2	3.1	1.7×
steering and suspension	1	1.6	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 V STAR beats 4 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 V STAR.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2007 (90.6% pass). Weakest: 2004 (84.0%).

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 V STAR FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the YAMAHA V STAR reliable?

The YAMAHA V STAR is more reliable than average for its class: 87.1% of its 504 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #1883 of 5426 models.

What does a V STAR fail its MOT on most?

tyres and wheels — 19% of all defects recorded against failed V STAR tests.

What is the best year of V STAR to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2007-registered examples do best (90.6%) and 2004 worst (84.0%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a V STAR last?

The median V STAR shows 11,738 miles at test, and examples around 20k miles still pass 94.9% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.