YAMAHA XJ 900 S

892cc Petrol Class 2

#3334 of 5426 overall #213 of 409 YAMAHAs #2126 of 2787 other bikes

81.2%

first-time pass rate

12.4%

failed outright

29,234

median miles at test

1,303

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2005–2023

The XJ 900 S's first-time pass rate has risen 19.6 points since 2005, 73.3% to 92.9%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the XJ 900 S's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage XJ 900 S passes first time 88.6% of the time; by 50k that's 77.0%.

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 XJ 900 S

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
brakes	99	28.5	1.3×
lighting and signalling	74	21.3	0.9×
steering and suspension	71	20.5	1.4×
tyres and wheels	35	10.1	1.2×
lamps and reflectors	25	7.2	0.9×
fuel and exhaust	22	6.3	1.8×
suspension	7	2	0.6×
tyres	7	2	0.7×
body and structure	4	1.2	0.5×
steering	3	0.9	0.6×

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 XJ 900 S beats 0 of its 4 closest rivals (BMW R1150, TRIUMPH SPRINT, SUZUKI GSF1200).

BMW R1150 88.5% pass · 171k tests TRIUMPH SPRINT 85.6% pass · 133k tests SUZUKI GSF1200 82.4% pass · 97.6k 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 XJ 900 S.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2003 (86.1% pass). Weakest: 2001 (72.5%).

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 XJ 900 S FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the YAMAHA XJ 900 S reliable?

The YAMAHA XJ 900 S is less reliable than average for its class: 81.2% of its 1,303 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #3334 of 5426 models.

What does a XJ 900 S fail its MOT on most?

brakes — 29% of all defects recorded against failed XJ 900 S tests.

What is the best year of XJ 900 S to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2003-registered examples do best (86.1%) and 2001 worst (72.5%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a XJ 900 S last?

The median XJ 900 S shows 29,234 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 77.0% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.