BMW F650 vs Yamaha FZS600

The Yamaha FZS600 passes its MOT first time more often than the BMW F650: 82.6% vs 79.0%, a 3.6-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

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

Metric	BMW F650	Yamaha FZS600
First-time pass rate	79.0%	82.6%
Outright fail rate	14.1%	10.6%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted)	-3.4 pts	-0.8 pts
Engine size	650cc	599cc
Rank among all models	#3771 of 5428	#3052 of 5428
Median miles at test	25,925	21,612
MOT tests analysed	19,346	136,558
Most common failure	steering and suspension	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	BMW F650	Yamaha FZS600
Lights & signalling	6.4%	3.4%
Brakes	4.4%	4.5%
Steering & suspension	6.1%	2.7%
Tyres & wheels	2.2%	2.9%
Drive system	1.5%	0.9%
Structure & body	0.9%	1.1%
Fuel & exhaust	0.5%	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	BMW F650	Yamaha FZS600
2018	81.1%	81.3%
2019	80.1%	83.0%
2020	80.3%	83.6%
2021	81.3%	82.8%
2022	80.7%	83.6%
2023	79.5%	84.2%
2024	80.5%	83.3%
2025	83.1%	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	BMW F650	Yamaha FZS600
0k-10k miles	86.1%	89.6%
10k-20k miles	81.9%	85.5%
20k-30k miles	79.4%	81.4%
30k-40k miles	77.2%	78.7%
40k-50k miles	73.4%	76.8%
50k-60k miles	73.5%	74.7%

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

BMW F650 vs Yamaha FZS600 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Which is more reliable, the BMW F650 or the Yamaha FZS600?

The Yamaha FZS600 passes its MOT first time more often than the BMW F650: 82.6% vs 79.0%, a 3.6-point lead. Adjusted for age, mileage and test class, the Yamaha FZS600 still comes out ahead: -3.4 points vs comparable bikes for the BMW F650, -0.8 for the Yamaha FZS600. An MOT checks roadworthiness items, not engine or gearbox internals.

What does the BMW F650 fail its MOT on most?

Lights & signalling: 6.4% of BMW F650 MOT tests failed on it, then steering & suspension (6.1%).

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 BMW F650 or the Yamaha FZS600?

At 50k-60k miles the Yamaha FZS600 passes first time more often: 73.5% for the BMW F650 vs 74.7% for the Yamaha FZS600.

BMW F650 79.0% pass · 19.3k 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.