Yamaha MT-09 MOT pass rate and common failures

Yamaha MT-09 motorcycles pass the MOT 91.92% of the time, measured across 1,497 tests in the DVSA record. A further 3.87% passed only after a defect was put right at the test station.

Better than average: 5 points above the 86.87% figure for all motorcycles tested.

Pass rate 91.92% 1,376 of 1,497

Fixed at the station 3.87% passed after an on-the-spot repair

Average mileage at test 11,581 miles

Average age at test 6.6 years old

Engine 847cc MOT class 1 and 2

For sale now 9 Yamaha MT-09 adverts

What to check before the MOT

Built from this model's own failure record, not general advice.

Start with missing - it accounts for 71.4% of failed tests on this model.
Then check does not conform to the specified requirements and tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm, the next two most common reasons.
The most common advisory is noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar motorcycle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition (15.9% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
Average recorded mileage at test is 11,581 miles, which is the number to compare any advert against.

Pass rate by age

A single pass rate hides the most useful thing in this data: how the same model behaves at three years old and at fifteen.

Age at test	Pass rate		Tests
3-5 years	92.77%		484
6-10 years	91.51%		1,013

Why the Yamaha MT-09 fails

Share of failed tests on this model where the item was recorded. One test can fail on several items, so the column does not add up to 100%.

#	Item	Of failures	Tests
1	Missing	71.4%	45
2	Does not conform to the specified requirements	42.9%	27
3	Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm	33.3%	21
4	Noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar motorcycle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition	15.9%	10
5	Obviously incorrectly positioned	12.7%	8
6	Missing in the case of a single lamp or all lamps	11.1%	7
7	Does not illuminate simultaneously with the position lamp(s)	7.9%	5
8	Not working	7.9%	5
9	Insecure	6.3%	4
10	Throwing direct white light to the rear	6.3%	4

Most common advisories

Not a failure and not a legal requirement to fix - but an advisory that repeats year after year is money the next owner spends.

#	Item	Of all tests	Tests
1	Noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar motorcycle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition	15.9%	238
2	Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm	7%	105
3	Excessively loose	2.4%	36
4	Tread not clearly visible	1.9%	28
5	Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort	1.8%	27
6	Less than 1.0 mm thick	1.5%	22
7	Worn to excess	1.1%	17
8	Seriously damaged	1%	15
9	Excessively stiff or notchy	0.8%	12
10	Has a serious fluid leak	0.7%	10

Yamaha MT-09 for sale

9 Yamaha MT-09 adverts on MotoDealers UK right now, 83 Yamaha in total.

Used Yamaha MT-09 Used Yamaha All Yamaha Yamaha MOT statistics

Similar bikes compared

Models of comparable capacity, so the comparison means something.

Model	Tests	Pass rate	Avg mileage
Triumph TIGER · 969cc	16,144	91.27%	22,934
Triumph BONNEVILLE 642-904cc · 642-904cc	12,456	90.8%	12,824
BMW S 1000 · 999cc	8,445	91.96%	15,282
Yamaha YZF R1 · 998cc	6,022	88.01%	23,152
Yamaha MT 800-1000cc · 800-1000cc	5,720	90.98%	16,130
Honda NC · 741cc	5,311	89.53%	22,765

Source: DVSA MOT testing data, 2025 · updated Aug 2026 · licence and method

Yamaha MT-09 MOT questions

What is the MOT pass rate for the Yamaha MT-09?+

91.92% of Yamaha MT-09 MOT tests end in a pass, based on 1,497 tests in the DVSA dataset.

What is the most common MOT failure on a Yamaha MT-09?+

Missing, which appears in 71.4% of failed tests on this model.

Does the Yamaha MT-09 get harder to pass as it ages?+

At 6-10 years old the pass rate is 91.51%, against 92.77% for examples 3-5 years old.

Where does this data come from?+

From the DVSA anonymised MOT testing dataset, which records every MOT carried out in England, Scotland and Wales. It is published under the Open Government Licence and covers 2025.

Does a high pass rate mean the bike is reliable?+

Not by itself. The MOT checks safety items - brakes, tyres, lights, structure - and says nothing about engines, gearboxes or electrics. Read it as a maintenance signal, not a reliability score.