Honda XL 700 Va-A vs Yamaha FZS600

The Honda XL 700 Va-A passes its MOT first time more often than the Yamaha FZS600: 88.5% vs 82.6%, a 5.9-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

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

Metric	Honda XL 700 Va-A	Yamaha FZS600
First-time pass rate	88.5%	82.6%
Outright fail rate	6.3%	10.6%
Median miles at test	13,832	21,612
MOT tests analysed	920	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 700 VA-A 88.5% pass · 920 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.