Yamaha TDM850 MOT pass rate and common failures
Yamaha TDM850 motorcycles pass the MOT 81.74% of the time, measured across 460 tests in the DVSA record. A further 6.3% passed only after a defect was put right at the test station.
What to check before the MOT
Built from this model's own failure record, not general advice.
- Start with not working - it accounts for 29.1% of failed tests on this model.
- Then check has a serious fluid leak 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 (11.1% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
- Average recorded mileage at test is 35,081 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16+ years | 82.1% | 458 |
Why the Yamaha TDM850 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 | Not working | 29.1% | 16 | |
| 2 | Has a serious fluid leak | 18.2% | 10 | |
| 3 | Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm | 14.5% | 8 | |
| 4 | Does not illuminate by the operation of both brake controls | 9.1% | 5 | |
| 5 | Seriously damaged | 9.1% | 5 | |
| 6 | Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort | 7.3% | 4 | |
| 7 | Less than 1.0 mm thick | 7.3% | 4 | |
| 8 | Projected beam image obviously incorrect | 7.3% | 4 | |
| 9 | Too low | 7.3% | 4 | |
| 10 | Contaminated | 5.5% | 3 |
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 | 11.1% | 51 | |
| 2 | Has a serious fluid leak | 6.3% | 29 | |
| 3 | Excessively loose | 5.2% | 24 | |
| 4 | Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm | 5.2% | 24 | |
| 5 | Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort | 4.3% | 20 | |
| 6 | Excessively binding | 3.9% | 18 | |
| 7 | Has a major leak of exhaust gases | 3% | 14 | |
| 8 | Less than 1.0 mm thick | 2.8% | 13 | |
| 9 | Significantly and obviously worn | 2.4% | 11 | |
| 10 | In such a condition that it is seriously weakened | 2.2% | 10 |
Yamaha TDM850 for sale
No Yamaha TDM850 in stock at the moment - 83 other Yamaha bikes are advertised.
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