Honda XL 650 V-4 vs Yamaha FZS600

The Honda XL 650 V-4 passes its MOT first time more often than the Yamaha FZS600: 84.3% vs 82.6%, a 1.7-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

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

Metric	Honda XL 650 V-4	Yamaha FZS600
First-time pass rate	84.3%	82.6%
Outright fail rate	9.3%	10.6%
Median miles at test	16,337	21,612
MOT tests analysed	2,084	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.

HONDA XL 650 V-4 84.3% pass · 2,084 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.