Aprilia Pegaso 650 vs Yamaha FZS600

The Yamaha FZS600 passes its MOT first time more often than the Aprilia Pegaso 650: 82.6% vs 80.9%, a 1.7-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

first-time pass rate, outright fail rate and tests analysed · 2005–2025

Metric	Aprilia Pegaso 650	Yamaha FZS600
First-time pass rate	80.9%	82.6%
Outright fail rate	11.5%	10.6%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted)	-3.7 pts	-0.8 pts
Engine size	652cc	599cc
Rank among all models	#3398 of 5428	#3052 of 5428
Median miles at test	16,108	21,612
MOT tests analysed	9,511	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 Pegaso 650	Yamaha FZS600
Lights & signalling	5.7%	3.4%
Brakes	3.4%	4.5%
Steering & suspension	4.3%	2.7%
Tyres & wheels	2.0%	2.9%
Structure & body	0.8%	1.1%
Drive system	0.9%	0.9%
Fuel & exhaust	0.4%	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 Pegaso 650	Yamaha FZS600
2018	81.3%	81.3%
2019	81.3%	83.0%
2020	80.6%	83.6%
2021	83.5%	82.8%
2022	86.8%	83.6%
2023	83.1%	84.2%
2024	86.3%	83.3%
2025	85.1%	84.0%

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 Pegaso 650	Yamaha FZS600
0k-10k miles	86.7%	89.6%
10k-20k miles	81.9%	85.5%
20k-30k miles	75.5%	81.4%
30k-40k miles	75.9%	78.7%
40k-50k miles	73.7%	76.8%
50k-60k miles	77.9%	74.7%

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

Aprilia Pegaso 650 vs Yamaha FZS600 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Which is more reliable, the Aprilia Pegaso 650 or the Yamaha FZS600?

The Yamaha FZS600 passes its MOT first time more often than the Aprilia Pegaso 650: 82.6% vs 80.9%, a 1.7-point lead. Adjusted for age, mileage and test class, the Yamaha FZS600 still comes out ahead: -3.7 points vs comparable bikes for the Aprilia Pegaso 650, -0.8 for the Yamaha FZS600. An MOT checks roadworthiness items, not engine or gearbox internals.

What does the Aprilia Pegaso 650 fail its MOT on most?

Lights & signalling: 5.7% of Aprilia Pegaso 650 MOT tests failed on it, then steering & suspension (4.3%).

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 Pegaso 650 or the Yamaha FZS600?

At 50k-60k miles the Aprilia Pegaso 650 passes first time more often: 77.9% for the Aprilia Pegaso 650 vs 74.7% for the Yamaha FZS600.

APRILIA PEGASO 650 80.9% pass · 9,511 tests YAMAHA FZS600 82.6% pass · 137k tests

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