BIKERELIABILITY Reg check
League table/ Aprilia Moto 6.5/vs Yamaha FZS600
Head-to-head · 2005–2025

Data as of: DVSA MOT results to 2025

Aprilia Moto 6.5 vs Yamaha FZS600

The Yamaha FZS600 passes its MOT first time more often than the Aprilia Moto 6.5: 82.6% vs 77.9%, a 4.7-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

first-time pass rate, outright fail rate and tests analysed · 2005–2025
Metric Aprilia Moto 6.5 Yamaha FZS600
First-time pass rate 77.9% 82.6%
Outright fail rate 13.0% 10.6%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted) -7.6 pts -0.8 pts
Engine size 649cc 599cc
Rank among all models #3931 of 5428 #3052 of 5428
Median miles at test 9,669 21,612
MOT tests analysed 884 136,558
Most common failure lighting and signalling brakes

First-time outcomes on normal tests, 2005–2025. "Most common failure" is the component group with the most recorded defects on failed tests. Read pass rates against test counts: a smaller sample is noisier. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT results.

"Vs comparable bikes" is the first-time pass rate minus the rate expected for each bike's own mix of age, mileage and test class, in percentage points: positive means better than comparable bikes. How this works.

What fails, side by side

share of each bike's MOT tests that failed on the component · lower is better
Component Aprilia Moto 6.5 Yamaha FZS600
Lights & signalling 6.7% 3.4%
Brakes 4.3% 4.5%
Steering & suspension 5.2% 2.7%
Tyres & wheels 2.1% 2.9%
Drive system 1.6% 0.9%
Structure & body 0.7% 1.1%
Fuel & exhaust 0.2% 1.1%

A test that fails on two components counts once in each. Component links go to the bikes most likely to fail on it.

Pass rate by test year

first-time MOT pass rate in each calendar year both bikes were tested
Test year Aprilia Moto 6.5 Yamaha FZS600
2014 92.1% 81.2%
2015 87.2% 81.1%
2016 86.8% 82.2%
2017 81.3% 82.0%
2019 61.3% 83.0%
2021 87.2% 82.8%
2022 87.5% 83.6%
2023 80.6% 84.2%

Each year mixes bikes of different ages, so a fleet that is getting older tends to slip.

Pass rate by mileage

first-time MOT pass rate by miles on the clock at test
Mileage Aprilia Moto 6.5 Yamaha FZS600
0k-10k miles 80.3% 89.6%
10k-20k miles 74.4% 85.5%
20k-30k miles 79.7% 81.4%

Bands with fewer than 30 tests for either bike are left out.

Aprilia Moto 6.5 vs Yamaha FZS600 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Which is more reliable, the Aprilia Moto 6.5 or the Yamaha FZS600?

The Yamaha FZS600 passes its MOT first time more often than the Aprilia Moto 6.5: 82.6% vs 77.9%, a 4.7-point lead. Adjusted for age, mileage and test class, the Yamaha FZS600 still comes out ahead: -7.6 points vs comparable bikes for the Aprilia Moto 6.5, -0.8 for the Yamaha FZS600. An MOT checks roadworthiness items, not engine or gearbox internals.

What does the Aprilia Moto 6.5 fail its MOT on most?

Lights & signalling: 6.7% of Aprilia Moto 6.5 MOT tests failed on it, then steering & suspension (5.2%).

What does the Yamaha FZS600 fail its MOT on most?

Brakes: 4.5% of Yamaha FZS600 MOT tests failed on it, then lights & signalling (3.4%).

Which holds up better at high mileage, the Aprilia Moto 6.5 or the Yamaha FZS600?

At 20k-30k miles the Yamaha FZS600 passes first time more often: 79.7% for the Aprilia Moto 6.5 vs 81.4% for the Yamaha FZS600.

See each bike's full report (trend, mileage curve, failure breakdown and rivals) on its own page.