YAMAHA XT500

499cc Petrol Class 2

#3242 of 5426 overall #204 of 409 YAMAHAs #2065 of 2787 other bikes

81.7%

first-time pass rate

9.3%

failed outright

16,014

median miles at test

4,244

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2005–2025

The XT500's first-time pass rate has risen 2.5 points since 2005, 75.9% to 78.4%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the XT500's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage XT500 passes first time 83.1% of the time; by 50k that's 81.9%.

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 XT500

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	596	50.4	1.5×
steering and suspension	169	14.3	1.0×
tyres and wheels	87	7.4	0.8×
brakes	85	7.2	0.4×
reg plates and vin	63	5.3	2.0×
lamps and reflectors	55	4.7	0.4×
drive system	45	3.8	1.1×
body and structure	38	3.2	1.5×
fuel and exhaust	33	2.8	0.9×
driving controls	11	0.9	1.1×

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 XT500 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 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 XT500.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1986 (90.7% pass). Weakest: 1982 (78.8%).

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 XT500 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the YAMAHA XT500 reliable?

The YAMAHA XT500 is less reliable than average for its class: 81.7% of its 4,244 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #3242 of 5426 models.

What does a XT500 fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 50% of all defects recorded against failed XT500 tests.

What is the best year of XT500 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1986-registered examples do best (90.7%) and 1982 worst (78.8%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a XT500 last?

The median XT500 shows 16,014 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 81.9% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.