BIKERELIABILITY Reg check
League table/ Ducati 750/vs Yamaha FZS600
Head-to-head · 2005–2025

Data as of: DVSA MOT results to 2025

Ducati 750 vs Yamaha FZS600

The Ducati 750 passes its MOT first time more often than the Yamaha FZS600: 85.0% vs 82.6%, a 2.4-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

first-time pass rate, outright fail rate and tests analysed · 2005–2025
Metric Ducati 750 Yamaha FZS600
First-time pass rate 85.0% 82.6%
Outright fail rate 9.6% 10.6%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted) -0.1 pts -0.8 pts
Engine size 748cc 599cc
Rank among all models #2491 of 5428 #3052 of 5428
Median miles at test 14,846 21,612
MOT tests analysed 7,165 136,558
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 Ducati 750 Yamaha FZS600
Lights & signalling 4.6% 3.4%
Brakes 2.1% 4.5%
Steering & suspension 3.2% 2.7%
Tyres & wheels 2.1% 2.9%
Fuel & exhaust 0.6% 1.1%
Drive system 0.6% 0.9%
Structure & body 0.3% 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 Ducati 750 Yamaha FZS600
2018 85.9% 81.3%
2019 85.9% 83.0%
2020 88.7% 83.6%
2021 87.0% 82.8%
2022 86.2% 83.6%
2023 87.6% 84.2%
2024 89.9% 83.3%
2025 88.4% 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 Ducati 750 Yamaha FZS600
0k-10k miles 87.0% 89.6%
10k-20k miles 85.2% 85.5%
20k-30k miles 83.8% 81.4%
30k-40k miles 81.0% 78.7%
40k-50k miles 80.3% 76.8%
50k-60k miles 75.9% 74.7%

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

Ducati 750 vs Yamaha FZS600 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Which is more reliable, the Ducati 750 or the Yamaha FZS600?

The Ducati 750 passes its MOT first time more often than the Yamaha FZS600: 85.0% vs 82.6%, a 2.4-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 Ducati 750 fail its MOT on most?

Lights & signalling: 4.6% of Ducati 750 MOT tests failed on it, then steering & suspension (3.2%).

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 Ducati 750 or the Yamaha FZS600?

At 50k-60k miles the Ducati 750 passes first time more often: 75.9% for the Ducati 750 vs 74.7% for the Yamaha FZS600.

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