YAMAHA XJ650

653cc Petrol Class 2

#3831 of 5426 overall #263 of 409 YAMAHAs #2428 of 2787 other bikes

78.6%

first-time pass rate

13.0%

failed outright

33,402

median miles at test

2,254

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

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

The XJ650's first-time pass rate has risen 4.0 points since 2005, 84.1% to 88.1%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the XJ650's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage XJ650 passes first time 74.4% of the time; by 50k that's 76.6%.

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 XJ650

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	190	28.8	1.3×
brakes	155	23.5	1.2×
steering and suspension	146	22.1	1.5×
tyres and wheels	53	8	0.9×
fuel and exhaust	29	4.4	1.4×
reg plates and vin	24	3.6	1.2×
lamps and reflectors	24	3.6	0.4×
body and structure	17	2.6	1.3×
driving controls	13	2	2.5×
tyres	9	1.4	0.5×

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 XJ650 beats 2 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 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 XJ650.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1985 (79.7% pass). Weakest: 1984 (74.6%).

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 XJ650 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the YAMAHA XJ650 reliable?

The YAMAHA XJ650 is less reliable than average for its class: 78.6% of its 2,254 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #3831 of 5426 models.

What does a XJ650 fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 29% of all defects recorded against failed XJ650 tests.

What is the best year of XJ650 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1985-registered examples do best (79.7%) and 1984 worst (74.6%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a XJ650 last?

The median XJ650 shows 33,402 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 76.6% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.