YAMAHA XT550

558cc Petrol Class 2

#3577 of 5426 overall #236 of 409 YAMAHAs #2275 of 2787 other bikes

80.0%

first-time pass rate

10.8%

failed outright

26,341

median miles at test

1,002

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2006–2022

The XT550's first-time pass rate has risen 22.9 points since 2006, 70.4% to 93.3%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the XT550's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage XT550 passes first time 78.5% of the time; by 50k that's 78.3%.

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 XT550

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	79	29.4	1.2×
steering and suspension	46	17.1	1.3×
brakes	36	13.4	0.6×
tyres and wheels	35	13	1.3×
reg plates and vin	23	8.6	2.8×
lamps and reflectors	14	5.2	0.4×
fuel and exhaust	12	4.5	1.2×
drive system	9	3.3	0.7×
structure and attachments	8	3	0.6×
driving controls	7	2.6	2.5×

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 XT550 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 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 XT550.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1984 (84.9% pass). Weakest: 1982 (78.4%).

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 XT550 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the YAMAHA XT550 reliable?

The YAMAHA XT550 is less reliable than average for its class: 80.0% of its 1,002 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #3577 of 5426 models.

What does a XT550 fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 29% of all defects recorded against failed XT550 tests.

What is the best year of XT550 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1984-registered examples do best (84.9%) and 1982 worst (78.4%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a XT550 last?

The median XT550 shows 26,341 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 78.3% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.