Yamaha XVS650 vs Kawasaki ZX-6R

The Yamaha XVS650 passes its MOT first time more often than the Kawasaki ZX-6R — 85.5% vs 78.1%, a 7.4-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

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

Metric	Yamaha XVS650	Kawasaki ZX-6R
First-time pass rate	85.5%	78.1%
Outright fail rate	8.2%	14.0%
Median miles at test	13,288	19,446
MOT tests analysed	44,654	173,956
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.

YAMAHA XVS650 85.5% pass · 44.7k tests KAWASAKI ZX-6R 78.1% pass · 174k tests

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