BMW G 650 vs Yamaha FZS600

The BMW G 650 passes its MOT first time more often than the Yamaha FZS600: 86.9% vs 82.6%, a 4.3-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

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

Metric	BMW G 650	Yamaha FZS600
First-time pass rate	86.9%	82.6%
Outright fail rate	7.3%	10.6%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted)	-0.1 pts	-0.8 pts
Engine size	652cc	599cc
Rank among all models	#1937 of 5428	#3052 of 5428
Median miles at test	9,111	21,612
MOT tests analysed	1,466	136,558
Most common failure	brakes	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 G 650	Yamaha FZS600
Brakes	2.2%	4.5%
Lights & signalling	2.1%	3.4%
Steering & suspension	2.0%	2.7%
Tyres & wheels	1.2%	2.9%
Structure & body	1.0%	1.1%
Fuel & exhaust	0.1%	1.1%
Drive system	0.2%	0.9%

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 G 650	Yamaha FZS600
2018	85.5%	81.3%
2019	87.6%	83.0%
2020	86.7%	83.6%
2021	88.0%	82.8%
2022	87.4%	83.6%
2023	86.3%	84.2%
2024	88.4%	83.3%
2025	84.0%	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 G 650	Yamaha FZS600
0k-10k miles	90.1%	89.6%
10k-20k miles	85.2%	85.5%
20k-30k miles	79.5%	81.4%
30k-40k miles	87.7%	78.7%

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

BMW G 650 vs Yamaha FZS600 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Which is more reliable, the BMW G 650 or the Yamaha FZS600?

The BMW G 650 passes its MOT first time more often than the Yamaha FZS600: 86.9% vs 82.6%, a 4.3-point lead. Adjusted for age, mileage and test class the two are level (-0.1 vs -0.8 points against comparable bikes), so the raw gap is mostly down to how old and how used each fleet is. An MOT checks roadworthiness items, not engine or gearbox internals.

What does the BMW G 650 fail its MOT on most?

Brakes: 2.2% of BMW G 650 MOT tests failed on it, then lights & signalling (2.1%).

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 G 650 or the Yamaha FZS600?

At 30k-40k miles the BMW G 650 passes first time more often: 87.7% for the BMW G 650 vs 78.7% for the Yamaha FZS600.

BMW G 650 86.9% pass · 1,466 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.