YAMAHA XJ6

599cc Petrol Class 2

#2264 of 5426 overall #111 of 409 YAMAHAs #1406 of 2787 other bikes

85.8%

first-time pass rate

7.3%

failed outright

15,691

median miles at test

1,970

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

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

The XJ6's first-time pass rate has risen 1.2 points since 2012, 84.5% to 85.7%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the XJ6's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage XJ6 passes first time 91.6% of the time; by 50k that's 77.1%.

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 XJ6

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lamps and reflectors	65	24	1.3×
brakes	41	15.1	0.4×
lighting and signalling	38	14	0.3×
tyres and wheels	27	10	0.6×
structure and attachments	23	8.5	1.2×
tyres	23	8.5	1.5×
drive system	20	7.4	0.9×
suspension	15	5.5	0.8×
steering and suspension	12	4.4	0.2×
Identification of the vehicle	7	2.6	1.5×

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 XJ6 beats 4 of its 4 closest rivals (KAWASAKI ZX-6R, SUZUKI GSF600, YAMAHA FZS600).

KAWASAKI ZX-6R 78.1% pass · 174k tests SUZUKI GSF600 77.3% pass · 143k tests YAMAHA FZS600 82.6% pass · 137k tests SUZUKI SV650S 80.6% pass · 84.6k 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 XJ6.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2012 (90.7% pass). Weakest: 2009 (84.8%).

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 XJ6 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the YAMAHA XJ6 reliable?

The YAMAHA XJ6 is about average for its class: 85.8% of its 1,970 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #2264 of 5426 models.

What does a XJ6 fail its MOT on most?

lamps and reflectors — 24% of all defects recorded against failed XJ6 tests.

What is the best year of XJ6 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2012-registered examples do best (90.7%) and 2009 worst (84.8%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a XJ6 last?

The median XJ6 shows 15,691 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 77.1% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.