BIKERELIABILITY
MOT DATA · GREAT BRITAIN · 2005–2025
League table/ YAMAHA/XVS 1300 A MIDNIGHT STAR
Model report · 2005–2025

YAMAHA XVS 1300 A MIDNIGHT STAR

1300cc Petrol Class 2
88.5%
first-time pass rate
6.1%
failed outright
11,397
median miles at test
4,869
MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2010–2025

The XVS 1300 A MIDNIGHT STAR's first-time pass rate has risen 2.1 points since 2010, 85.7% to 87.8%.

85%88%91%2010: 85.7% pass (70 tests)2011: 88.5% pass (165 tests)2012: 89.5% pass (275 tests)2013: 89.3% pass (299 tests)2014: 89.6% pass (347 tests)2015: 86.9% pass (373 tests)2016: 87.9% pass (448 tests)2017: 86.7% pass (435 tests)2018: 89.9% pass (317 tests)2019: 89.4% pass (310 tests)2020: 88.9% pass (271 tests)2021: 89.0% pass (347 tests)2022: 88.0% pass (342 tests)2023: 89.3% pass (337 tests)2024: 89.4% pass (254 tests)2025: 87.8% pass (278 tests)20102025

Pass rate by mileage

how the XVS 1300 A MIDNIGHT STAR's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage XVS 1300 A MIDNIGHT STAR passes first time 92.0% of the time; by 40k that's 82.1%.

78%86%94%0k: 92.0% pass (2,123 tests)10k: 88.2% pass (1,617 tests)20k: 83.7% pass (712 tests)30k: 80.7% pass (259 tests)40k: 82.1% pass (117 tests)0k20k40k

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 XVS 1300 A MIDNIGHT STAR

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded
Component group Share of defects Defects % of defects vs all bikes
brakes
169 33.1 0.6×
tyres and wheels
81 15.9 0.7×
lamps and reflectors
65 12.7 0.6×
tyres
64 12.5 1.6×
lighting and signalling
58 11.4 0.2×
reg plates and vin
28 5.5 0.6×
structure and attachments
14 2.7 0.4×
audible warning (Horn)
11 2.2 1.2×
Identification of the vehicle
11 2.2 1.0×
steering and suspension
10 2 0.1×

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 XVS 1300 A MIDNIGHT STAR beats 2 of its 4 closest rivals (BMW R1200, BMW R1150, TRIUMPH SPRINT).

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 XVS 1300 A MIDNIGHT STAR.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2009 (90.5% pass). Weakest: 2013 (86.8%).

86%89%91%2007: 87.4% pass (1,085 tests)2008: 88.5% pass (920 tests)2009: 90.5% pass (1,164 tests)2010: 88.1% pass (303 tests)2011: 88.7% pass (514 tests)2012: 89.3% pass (289 tests)2013: 86.8% pass (568 tests)200720102013

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 XVS 1300 A MIDNIGHT STAR FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the YAMAHA XVS 1300 A MIDNIGHT STAR reliable?

The YAMAHA XVS 1300 A MIDNIGHT STAR is more reliable than average for its class: 88.5% of its 4,869 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #1448 of 5426 models.

What does a XVS 1300 A MIDNIGHT STAR fail its MOT on most?

brakes — 33% of all defects recorded against failed XVS 1300 A MIDNIGHT STAR tests.

What is the best year of XVS 1300 A MIDNIGHT STAR to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2009-registered examples do best (90.5%) and 2013 worst (86.8%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a XVS 1300 A MIDNIGHT STAR last?

The median XVS 1300 A MIDNIGHT STAR shows 11,397 miles at test, and examples around 40k miles still pass 82.1% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.