Data as of: DVSA MOT results to 2025
Yamaha Virago: MOT pass rate by registration year
Which Virago years pass first time, and which fall short of the model's 83.2% average, from 15,315 DVSA tests.
Pass rate by registration year
Highest pass rate: 1996 (86.8% of 1,827 tests). Lowest: 2003 (72.6% of 190). Years more than two points below the model average: 1983, 1984, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 2001, 2003.
| Registered | Tests | First-time pass | vs model (83.2%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | 53 | 86.8% | +3.6 pp |
| 1983 | 77 | 79.2% | -4.0 pp |
| 1984 | 73 | 75.3% | -7.9 pp |
| 1985 | 127 | 82.7% | -0.5 pp |
| 1986 | 143 | 83.2% | +0.0 pp |
| 1987 | 300 | 77.7% | -5.5 pp |
| 1988 | 217 | 76.0% | -7.2 pp |
| 1989 | 474 | 77.6% | -5.6 pp |
| 1990 | 620 | 78.4% | -4.8 pp |
| 1991 | 925 | 80.0% | -3.2 pp |
| 1992 | 1,344 | 83.3% | +0.1 pp |
| 1993 | 1,507 | 83.1% | -0.1 pp |
| 1994 | 1,854 | 83.0% | -0.2 pp |
| 1995 | 2,172 | 84.3% | +1.1 pp |
| 1996 | 1,827 | 86.8% | +3.6 pp |
| 1997 | 1,829 | 85.5% | +2.3 pp |
| 1998 | 689 | 85.5% | +2.3 pp |
| 1999 | 355 | 85.1% | +1.9 pp |
| 2000 | 158 | 84.8% | +1.6 pp |
| 2001 | 119 | 79.0% | -4.2 pp |
| 2002 | 112 | 85.7% | +2.5 pp |
| 2003 | 190 | 72.6% | -10.6 pp |
Older cohorts are survivors: the worst examples have already left the road, which tends to lift the earliest years. A first-time MOT pass is a roadworthiness check, not a full mechanical inspection.
Pass rate over time
Questions
- Which Virago years have the lowest MOT pass rate?
- 1983, 1984, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 2001, 2003 registered examples pass first time less often than the Yamaha Virago overall (83.2%); the 2003 cohort is lowest at 72.6% from 190 tests.
- Which Virago year has the highest MOT pass rate?
- 1996, at 86.8% of 1,827 first tests (2005–2025). Years more than two points above the model average: 1982, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2002.
- How much does the Virago pass rate vary by year?
- 14.2 percentage points between the highest (1996, 86.8%) and lowest (2003, 72.6%) cohorts with at least 50 tests. Older cohorts are survivors: the worst examples have already left the road, which tends to lift the earliest years.
Full report: Yamaha Virago reliability, failures and mileage · ranked #2911 of 5428 models· other Yamaha models: YZF-R1, YZF-R6, FZS600, YBR 125, XJR1300, FZ6