YAMAHA XV535

535cc Petrol Class 2

#3028 of 5426 overall #178 of 409 YAMAHAs #1921 of 2787 other bikes

82.7%

first-time pass rate

9.8%

failed outright

15,604

median miles at test

48.1k

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

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

The XV535's first-time pass rate has risen 1.5 points since 2005, 82.5% to 84.0%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the XV535's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage XV535 passes first time 88.7% of the time; by 50k that's 70.6%.

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 XV535

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	2,152	23.5	0.7×
steering and suspension	1,789	19.5	1.0×
brakes	1,474	16.1	0.6×
tyres and wheels	1,307	14.2	1.2×
lamps and reflectors	738	8	0.6×
fuel and exhaust	649	7.1	1.6×
structure and attachments	282	3.1	0.7×
reg plates and vin	281	3.1	0.8×
suspension	269	2.9	0.6×
tyres	234	2.6	0.6×

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 XV535 beats 4 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 XV535.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2003 (90.5% pass). Weakest: 1989 (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 XV535 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the YAMAHA XV535 reliable?

The YAMAHA XV535 is less reliable than average for its class: 82.7% of its 48,056 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #3028 of 5426 models.

What does a XV535 fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 23% of all defects recorded against failed XV535 tests.

What is the best year of XV535 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2003-registered examples do best (90.5%) and 1989 worst (74.3%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a XV535 last?

The median XV535 shows 15,604 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 70.6% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.