BIKERELIABILITY
MOT DATA · GREAT BRITAIN · 2005–2025
Model report · 2005–2025

YAMAHA XJ400

400cc Petrol Class 2
73.0%
first-time pass rate
17.4%
failed outright
33,070
median miles at test
419
MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2006–2011

The XJ400's first-time pass rate has fallen 4.4 points since 2006, 74.1% to 69.7%.

66%75%84%2006: 74.1% pass (58 tests)2007: 72.3% pass (47 tests)2008: 81.0% pass (42 tests)2009: 69.0% pass (42 tests)2010: 73.7% pass (38 tests)2011: 69.7% pass (33 tests)20062011

Pass rate by mileage

how the XJ400's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage XJ400 passes first time 75.4% of the time; by 40k that's 76.5%.

63%72%82%10k: 75.4% pass (65 tests)20k: 78.8% pass (80 tests)30k: 65.3% pass (150 tests)40k: 76.5% pass (51 tests)10k30k40k

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 XJ400

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded
Component group Share of defects Defects % of defects
steering and suspension
54 28.1
lighting and signalling
38 19.8
brakes
37 19.3
tyres and wheels
22 11.5
drive system
19 9.9
fuel and exhaust
11 5.7
body and structure
4 2.1
Items Not Tested
3 1.6
reg plates and vin
2 1
driving controls
2 1

Defects recorded against failed normal tests, 2005–2025, grouped by DVSA inspection section. One test can record multiple defects.

How rivals compare

same type, similar capacity, high test volume

On first-time pass rate the XJ400 beats 0 of its 4 closest rivals (KAWASAKI ER5, SUZUKI GS500, SUZUKI AN400).

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 XJ400.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1993 (79.3% pass). Weakest: 1991 (68.2%).

66%74%82%1991: 68.2% pass (88 tests)1992: 77.6% pass (76 tests)1993: 79.3% pass (92 tests)199119921993

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.