YAMAHA XV1000

981cc Petrol Class 2

#3291 of 5426 overall #206 of 409 YAMAHAs #2095 of 2787 other bikes

81.4%

first-time pass rate

9.7%

failed outright

25,035

median miles at test

1,055

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2006–2023

The XV1000's first-time pass rate has fallen 4.3 points since 2006, 84.9% to 80.6%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the XV1000's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage XV1000 passes first time 78.8% of the time; by 50k that's 90.4%.

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 XV1000

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	50	25.6	0.8×
brakes	38	19.5	0.8×
steering and suspension	35	17.9	0.9×
tyres and wheels	20	10.3	0.9×
fuel and exhaust	17	8.7	1.6×
lamps and reflectors	15	7.7	0.5×
reg plates and vin	6	3.1	0.8×
suspension	6	3.1	0.8×
structure and attachments	5	2.6	0.6×
body and structure	3	1.5	0.4×

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 XV1000 beats 0 of its 4 closest rivals (BMW R1200, BMW R1150, TRIUMPH SPRINT).

BMW R1200 92.9% pass · 299k tests BMW R1150 88.5% pass · 171k tests TRIUMPH SPRINT 85.6% pass · 133k tests SUZUKI GSF1200 82.4% pass · 97.6k 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 XV1000.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1986 (87.4% pass). Weakest: 1991 (74.3%).

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 XV1000 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the YAMAHA XV1000 reliable?

The YAMAHA XV1000 is less reliable than average for its class: 81.4% of its 1,055 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #3291 of 5426 models.

What does a XV1000 fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 26% of all defects recorded against failed XV1000 tests.

What is the best year of XV1000 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1986-registered examples do best (87.4%) and 1991 worst (74.3%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a XV1000 last?

The median XV1000 shows 25,035 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 90.4% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.