Yamaha MT 800-1000cc MOT pass rate and common failures

Yamaha MT 800-1000cc motorcycles pass the MOT 90.98% of the time, measured across 5,720 tests in the DVSA record. A further 4.63% passed only after a defect was put right at the test station.

Calculated from DVSA records for Yamaha MT, 800-1000cc.

Better than average: 4.1 points above the 86.87% figure for all motorcycles tested.

Pass rate 90.98% 5,204 of 5,720

Fixed at the station 4.63% passed after an on-the-spot repair

Average mileage at test 16,130 miles

Average age at test 8.67 years old

Engine 909cc MOT class 1 and 2

For sale now 0 Yamaha MT 800-1000cc adverts

What to check before the MOT

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

Start with missing - it accounts for 61% of failed tests on this model.
Then check tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm and not working, the next two most common reasons.
Age matters here: 91.41% of 3-5 year old examples pass, against 85.55% at 11-15 years - a gap of 5.9 points.
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 (12.1% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
Average recorded mileage at test is 16,130 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	91.41%	629
6-10 years	91.41%	4,668
11-15 years	85.55%	422

Why the Yamaha MT 800-1000cc 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	61%	153
2	Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm	24.7%	62
3	Not working	21.9%	55
4	Does not conform to the specified requirements	19.5%	49
5	Too high	13.5%	34
6	Inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps	10.8%	27
7	Does not illuminate simultaneously with the position lamp(s)	8.8%	22
8	Obviously incorrectly positioned	8.8%	22
9	Less than 1.0 mm thick	8%	20
10	Has a serious fluid leak	7.6%	19

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	12.1%	691
2	Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm	6.2%	352
3	Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort	2.5%	144
4	Excessively loose	1.9%	108
5	Less than 1.0 mm thick	1.6%	89
6	Excessively stiff or notchy	1.4%	78
7	Tread not clearly visible	1.2%	71
8	Worn to excess	0.8%	46
9	Seriously damaged	0.8%	45
10	Has a serious fluid leak	0.6%	36

Yamaha MT 800-1000cc for sale

No Yamaha MT 800-1000cc in stock at the moment - 86 other Yamaha bikes are advertised.

Used Yamaha MT 800-1000cc Used Yamaha All Yamaha Yamaha MOT statistics Check a specific bike by plate

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 R SERIES · 1,152cc	9,796	91.92%	40,594
BMW R1200 · 1,170cc	9,521	94.43%	28,830
BMW S 1000 · 999cc	8,445	91.96%	15,282
BMW R 1200 · 1,170cc	6,170	95.28%	27,241

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

Yamaha MT 800-1000cc MOT questions

What is the MOT pass rate for the Yamaha MT 800-1000cc?+

90.98% of Yamaha MT 800-1000cc MOT tests end in a pass, based on 5,720 tests in the DVSA dataset.

What is the most common MOT failure on a Yamaha MT 800-1000cc?+

Missing, which appears in 61% of failed tests on this model.

Does the Yamaha MT 800-1000cc get harder to pass as it ages?+

At 11-15 years old the pass rate is 85.55%, against 91.41% 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.