YAMAHA VMAX

1200cc Petrol Class 2

#2411 of 5426 overall #129 of 409 YAMAHAs #1507 of 2787 other bikes

85.3%

first-time pass rate

8.1%

failed outright

19,366

median miles at test

11.0k

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

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

The VMAX's first-time pass rate has risen 3.5 points since 2005, 84.3% to 87.8%.

Pass rate by mileage

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

A low-mileage VMAX passes first time 88.5% of the time; by 50k that's 80.3%.

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 VMAX

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	482	28	0.7×
brakes	442	25.7	0.7×
steering and suspension	214	12.4	0.5×
lamps and reflectors	138	8	0.6×
reg plates and vin	123	7.2	1.6×
tyres and wheels	119	6.9	0.5×
fuel and exhaust	70	4.1	0.8×
tyres	56	3.3	0.7×
suspension	42	2.4	0.4×
Identification of the vehicle	33	1.9	1.3×

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 VMAX beats 1 of its 4 closest rivals (BMW R1200, BMW R1150, TRIUMPH SPRINT).

BMW R1200 92.9% pass · 299k tests BMW R1150 88.5% pass · 171k tests TRIUMPH SPRINT 85.6% pass · 133k tests SUZUKI GSF1200 82.4% pass · 97.6k 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 VMAX.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2017 (96.0% pass). Weakest: 1986 (77.1%).

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 VMAX FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the YAMAHA VMAX reliable?

The YAMAHA VMAX is about average for its class: 85.3% of its 10,951 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #2411 of 5426 models.

What does a VMAX fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 28% of all defects recorded against failed VMAX tests.

What is the best year of VMAX to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2017-registered examples do best (96.0%) and 1986 worst (77.1%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a VMAX last?

The median VMAX shows 19,366 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 80.3% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.