Matchless G80S vs Yamaha FZS600

The Matchless G80S passes its MOT first time more often than the Yamaha FZS600: 92.5% vs 82.6%, a 9.9-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

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

Metric	Matchless G80S	Yamaha FZS600
First-time pass rate	92.5%	82.6%
Outright fail rate	3.0%	10.6%
Engine size	500cc	599cc
Rank among all models	#384 of 5428	#3052 of 5428
Median miles at test	15,602	21,612
MOT tests analysed	268	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.

Pass rate by test year

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

Test year	Matchless G80S	Yamaha FZS600
2006	97.5%	86.0%
2008	92.3%	83.4%
2009	85.7%	81.2%
2010	97.1%	82.0%
2011	87.9%	81.1%

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	Matchless G80S	Yamaha FZS600
0k-10k miles	93.2%	89.6%
10k-20k miles	87.5%	85.5%
20k-30k miles	97.5%	81.4%

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

MATCHLESS G80S 92.5% pass · 268 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.