YAMAHA XVS 950 A MIDNIGHT STAR

942cc Petrol Class 2

#1024 of 5426 overall #40 of 409 YAMAHAs #627 of 2787 other bikes

89.8%

first-time pass rate

6.2%

failed outright

9,377

median miles at test

3,609

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2012–2025

The XVS 950 A MIDNIGHT STAR's first-time pass rate has risen 5.4 points since 2012, 82.5% to 87.9%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the XVS 950 A MIDNIGHT STAR's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage XVS 950 A MIDNIGHT STAR passes first time 91.9% of the time; by 40k that's 84.8%.

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 950 A MIDNIGHT STAR

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
brakes	112	31.3	0.6×
lamps and reflectors	76	21.2	0.8×
tyres	49	13.7	1.8×
tyres and wheels	43	12	0.5×
lighting and signalling	21	5.9	0.1×
structure and attachments	19	5.3	0.7×
Identification of the vehicle	13	3.6	1.4×
fuel and exhaust	12	3.4	0.4×
reg plates and vin	9	2.5	0.2×
steering and suspension	4	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 XVS 950 A MIDNIGHT STAR beats 3 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 XVS 950 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: 2013 (90.9% pass). Weakest: 2009 (88.4%).

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 XVS 950 A MIDNIGHT STAR FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the YAMAHA XVS 950 A MIDNIGHT STAR reliable?

The YAMAHA XVS 950 A MIDNIGHT STAR is more reliable than average for its class: 89.8% of its 3,609 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #1024 of 5426 models.

What does a XVS 950 A MIDNIGHT STAR fail its MOT on most?

brakes — 31% of all defects recorded against failed XVS 950 A MIDNIGHT STAR tests.

What is the best year of XVS 950 A MIDNIGHT STAR to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2013-registered examples do best (90.9%) and 2009 worst (88.4%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a XVS 950 A MIDNIGHT STAR last?

The median XVS 950 A MIDNIGHT STAR shows 9,377 miles at test, and examples around 40k miles still pass 84.8% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.