YAMAHA XT

660cc Petrol Class 2

#2016 of 5426 overall #90 of 409 YAMAHAs #1223 of 2787 other bikes

86.6%

first-time pass rate

7.3%

failed outright

15,694

median miles at test

7,402

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2006–2025

The XT's first-time pass rate has risen 9.1 points since 2006, 79.4% to 88.5%.

Pass rate by mileage

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

A low-mileage XT passes first time 88.6% of the time; by 50k that's 86.0%.

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 XT

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	312	24.8	0.5×
brakes	234	18.6	0.5×
lamps and reflectors	193	15.4	1.1×
steering and suspension	148	11.8	0.5×
structure and attachments	75	6	1.1×
tyres and wheels	72	5.7	0.4×
suspension	65	5.2	1.0×
tyres	61	4.9	1.0×
drive system	55	4.4	0.7×
reg plates and vin	41	3.3	0.8×

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 XT 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 XT.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2004 (93.9% pass). Weakest: 2011 (69.9%).

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 XT FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the YAMAHA XT reliable?

The YAMAHA XT is about average for its class: 86.6% of its 7,402 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #2016 of 5426 models.

What does a XT fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 25% of all defects recorded against failed XT tests.

What is the best year of XT to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2004-registered examples do best (93.9%) and 2011 worst (69.9%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a XT last?

The median XT shows 15,694 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 86.0% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.