Husqvarna SM450R vs Yamaha XV535

The Yamaha XV535 passes its MOT first time more often than the Husqvarna SM450R: 82.7% vs 81.4%, a 1.3-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

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

Metric	Husqvarna SM450R	Yamaha XV535
First-time pass rate	81.4%	82.7%
Outright fail rate	10.8%	9.8%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted)	-6.9 pts	-1.8 pts
Engine size	450cc	535cc
Rank among all models	#3291 of 5428	#3029 of 5428
Median miles at test	2,288	15,604
MOT tests analysed	361	48,056
Most common failure	lighting and signalling	lighting and signalling

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.

Pass rate by test year

first-time MOT pass rate in each calendar year both bikes were tested

Test year	Husqvarna SM450R	Yamaha XV535
2008	81.8%	81.0%
2009	75.7%	81.4%
2010	80.0%	82.3%

Each year mixes bikes of different ages, so a fleet that is getting older tends to slip.

HUSQVARNA SM450R 81.4% pass · 361 tests YAMAHA XV535 82.7% pass · 48.1k tests

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