YAMAHA XS650

654cc Petrol Class 2

#2984 of 5426 overall #172 of 409 YAMAHAs #1887 of 2787 other bikes

82.9%

first-time pass rate

8.4%

failed outright

18,245

median miles at test

6,327

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2005–2024

The XS650's first-time pass rate has risen 1.1 points since 2005, 87.1% to 88.2%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the XS650's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage XS650 passes first time 82.2% of the time; by 50k that's 84.3%.

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 XS650

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	425	32.3	1.0×
steering and suspension	247	18.8	0.9×
brakes	230	17.5	0.6×
tyres and wheels	103	7.8	0.7×
fuel and exhaust	73	5.5	1.2×
lamps and reflectors	65	4.9	0.4×
reg plates and vin	56	4.3	1.3×
body and structure	51	3.9	1.3×
drive system	45	3.4	0.8×
driving controls	21	1.6	1.3×

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 XS650 beats 3 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 XS650.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1971 (85.2% pass). Weakest: 1982 (77.7%).

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 XS650 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the YAMAHA XS650 reliable?

The YAMAHA XS650 is less reliable than average for its class: 82.9% of its 6,327 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #2984 of 5426 models.

What does a XS650 fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 32% of all defects recorded against failed XS650 tests.

What is the best year of XS650 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1977-registered examples do best (85.2%) and 1982 worst (77.7%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a XS650 last?

The median XS650 shows 18,245 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 84.3% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.