YAMAHA VMAX 1700

1679cc Petrol Class 2

#524 of 5426 overall #17 of 409 YAMAHAs #321 of 2787 other bikes

91.7%

first-time pass rate

5.2%

failed outright

7,470

median miles at test

767

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2012–2025

The VMAX 1700's first-time pass rate has fallen 4.5 points since 2012, 95.8% to 91.3%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the VMAX 1700's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage VMAX 1700 passes first time 92.7% of the time; by 20k that's 93.5%.

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 1700

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
brakes	16	23.5	0.2×
lighting and signalling	10	14.7	0.2×
tyres	10	14.7	1.5×
tyres and wheels	9	13.2	0.5×
lamps and reflectors	9	13.2	0.7×
reg plates and vin	6	8.8	0.7×
Identification of the vehicle	3	4.4	1.7×
suspension	2	2.9	0.4×
steering and suspension	2	2.9	0.1×
audible warning (Horn)	1	1.5	0.7×

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 1700 beats 4 of its 4 closest rivals (YAMAHA XJR1300, SUZUKI GSX1400, SUZUKI GSX1300R).

YAMAHA XJR1300 87.4% pass · 95.1k tests SUZUKI GSX1400 88.3% pass · 56.8k tests SUZUKI GSX1300R 86.3% pass · 48.4k tests KAWASAKI ZX-12R 86.2% pass · 33.7k 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 1700.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2008 (94.3% pass). Weakest: 2012 (80.8%).

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 VMAX 1700 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the YAMAHA VMAX 1700 reliable?

The YAMAHA VMAX 1700 is more reliable than average for its class: 91.7% of its 767 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #524 of 5426 models.

What does a VMAX 1700 fail its MOT on most?

brakes — 24% of all defects recorded against failed VMAX 1700 tests.

What is the best year of VMAX 1700 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2008-registered examples do best (94.3%) and 2012 worst (80.8%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a VMAX 1700 last?

The median VMAX 1700 shows 7,470 miles at test, and examples around 20k miles still pass 93.5% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.