Yamaha VIRAGO MOT pass rate and common failures

Yamaha VIRAGO motorcycles pass the MOT 84.38% of the time, measured across 397 tests in the DVSA record. A further 5.79% passed only after a defect was put right at the test station.

About average - within 2.5 points of the 86.87% figure for all motorcycles tested.

Pass rate 84.38% 335 of 397

Fixed at the station 5.79% passed after an on-the-spot repair

Average mileage at test 23,187 miles

Average age at test 30.43 years old

Engine 670cc MOT class 1 and 2

For sale now 0 Yamaha VIRAGO adverts

What to check before the MOT

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

Start with not working - it accounts for 41% of failed tests on this model.
Then check too high and has a serious fluid leak, 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 (8.6% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
Average recorded mileage at test is 23,187 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	84.34%		396

Why the Yamaha VIRAGO 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	41%	16
2	Too high	25.6%	10
3	Has a serious fluid leak	23.1%	9
4	Missing	20.5%	8
5	Insecure	17.9%	7
6	Excessively binding	15.4%	6
7	Too low	15.4%	6
8	Flashing more than 120 times a minute	12.8%	5
9	Projected beam image obviously incorrect	12.8%	5
10	Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm	12.8%	5

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	8.6%	34
2	Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm	5.3%	21
3	Has a major leak of exhaust gases	3.5%	14
4	Excessively binding	3%	12
5	Has a serious fluid leak	3%	12
6	Excessively stiff or notchy	2.5%	10
7	Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort	2%	8
8	Excessively distorted	1.5%	6
9	Has excessive play	1.5%	6
10	In such a condition that it is seriously weakened	1.5%	6

Yamaha VIRAGO for sale

No Yamaha VIRAGO in stock at the moment - 83 other Yamaha bikes are advertised.

Used Yamaha VIRAGO 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 BONNEVILLE 642-904cc · 642-904cc	12,456	90.8%	12,824
Honda CB 397-750cc · 397-750cc	5,400	89.76%	19,444
Honda NC · 741cc	5,311	89.53%	22,765
Suzuki GSF600 · 600cc	4,890	80%	29,308
Honda CBR600F · 599cc	4,710	85.56%	30,651
Kawasaki ZX-6R · 599-636cc	4,510	81.62%	26,019

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

Yamaha VIRAGO MOT questions

What is the MOT pass rate for the Yamaha VIRAGO?+

84.38% of Yamaha VIRAGO MOT tests end in a pass, based on 397 tests in the DVSA dataset.

What is the most common MOT failure on a Yamaha VIRAGO?+

Not working, which appears in 41% of failed tests on this model.

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.