YAMAHA XS500
Pass rate over time
The XS500's first-time pass rate has risen 7.4 points since 2006, 70.0% to 77.4%.
Pass rate by mileage
A low-mileage XS500 passes first time 77.7% of the time; by 30k that's 65.0%.
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 XS500
| Component group | Share of defects | Defects | % of defects |
|---|---|---|---|
| lighting and signalling |
|
32 | 28.8 |
| brakes |
|
23 | 20.7 |
| steering and suspension |
|
19 | 17.1 |
| fuel and exhaust |
|
13 | 11.7 |
| drive system |
|
8 | 7.2 |
| tyres and wheels |
|
6 | 5.4 |
| driving controls |
|
4 | 3.6 |
| lamps and reflectors |
|
3 | 2.7 |
| reg plates and vin |
|
2 | 1.8 |
| suspension |
|
1 | 0.9 |
Defects recorded against failed normal tests, 2005–2025, grouped by DVSA inspection section. One test can record multiple defects.
How rivals compare
On first-time pass rate the XS500 beats 2 of its 4 closest rivals (KAWASAKI ZX-6R, SUZUKI GSF600, YAMAHA FZS600).
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 XS500.
Pass rate by registration year
Best year to buy used: 1977 (85.5% pass). Weakest: 1978 (70.1%).
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.