KAWASAKI ZX-6R vs YAMAHA TDM850

The YAMAHA TDM850 passes its MOT first time more often than the KAWASAKI ZX-6R — 82.5% vs 78.1%, a 4.4-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

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

Metric	KAWASAKI ZX-6R	YAMAHA TDM850
First-time pass rate	78.1%	82.5%
Outright fail rate	14.0%	10.7%
Median miles at test	19,446	27,452
MOT tests analysed	173,953	19,486
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.

KAWASAKI ZX-6R 78.1% pass · 174k tests YAMAHA TDM850 82.5% pass · 19.5k tests

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