Yamaha XT660R vs Honda VFR800 Fi

The Yamaha XT660R passes its MOT first time more often than the Honda VFR800 Fi: 86.9% vs 86.7%, a 0.2-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

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

Metric	Yamaha XT660R	Honda VFR800 Fi
First-time pass rate	86.9%	86.7%
Outright fail rate	7.0%	8.5%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted)	+0.8 pts	+4.5 pts
Engine size	659cc	781cc
Rank among all models	#1937 of 5428	#1985 of 5428
Median miles at test	11,293	26,212
MOT tests analysed	7,787	89,421
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.

"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.

What fails, side by side

share of each bike's MOT tests that failed on the component · lower is better

Component	Yamaha XT660R	Honda VFR800 Fi
Brakes	1.9%	3.2%
Steering & suspension	2.5%	2.6%
Lights & signalling	2.6%	2.4%
Tyres & wheels	1.5%	2.3%
Drive system	0.7%	0.4%
Structure & body	0.6%	0.4%
Fuel & exhaust	0.1%	0.5%

A test that fails on two components counts once in each. Component links go to the bikes most likely to fail on it.

Pass rate by test year

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

Test year	Yamaha XT660R	Honda VFR800 Fi
2018	84.0%	86.1%
2019	89.7%	86.6%
2020	87.9%	87.0%
2021	88.6%	87.3%
2022	87.4%	87.1%
2023	89.5%	88.9%
2024	88.7%	88.9%
2025	84.5%	88.2%

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	Yamaha XT660R	Honda VFR800 Fi
0k-10k miles	90.4%	92.5%
10k-20k miles	85.9%	89.4%
20k-30k miles	83.2%	87.3%
30k-40k miles	80.4%	85.5%
40k-50k miles	83.7%	83.5%
50k-60k miles	72.8%	81.4%

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

Yamaha XT660R vs Honda VFR800 Fi FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Which is more reliable, the Yamaha XT660R or the Honda VFR800 Fi?

The Yamaha XT660R passes its MOT first time more often than the Honda VFR800 Fi: 86.9% vs 86.7%, a 0.2-point lead. Adjusted for age, mileage and test class, the Honda VFR800 Fi still comes out ahead: +0.8 points vs comparable bikes for the Yamaha XT660R, +4.5 for the Honda VFR800 Fi. An MOT checks roadworthiness items, not engine or gearbox internals.

What does the Yamaha XT660R fail its MOT on most?

Lights & signalling: 2.6% of Yamaha XT660R MOT tests failed on it, then steering & suspension (2.5%).

What does the Honda VFR800 Fi fail its MOT on most?

Brakes: 3.2% of Honda VFR800 Fi MOT tests failed on it, then steering & suspension (2.6%).

Which holds up better at high mileage, the Yamaha XT660R or the Honda VFR800 Fi?

At 50k-60k miles the Honda VFR800 Fi passes first time more often: 72.8% for the Yamaha XT660R vs 81.4% for the Honda VFR800 Fi.

YAMAHA XT660R 86.9% pass · 7,787 tests HONDA VFR800 FI 86.7% pass · 89.4k tests

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