Yamaha VMAX MOT pass rate and common failures
Yamaha VMAX motorcycles pass the MOT 89.64% of the time, measured across 280 tests in the DVSA record. A further 3.93% 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 44.4% of failed tests on this model.
- Then check missing and has a serious fluid leak, the next two most common reasons.
- Age matters here: 98.55% of 6-10 year old examples pass, against 86.15% at 16+ years - a gap of 12.4 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 (9.3% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
- Average recorded mileage at test is 20,403 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6-10 years | 98.55% | 69 | |
| 16+ years | 86.15% | 195 |
Why the Yamaha VMAX 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 | 44.4% | 8 | |
| 2 | Missing | 27.8% | 5 | |
| 3 | Has a serious fluid leak | 22.2% | 4 | |
| 4 | Not working on dipped beam | 22.2% | 4 | |
| 5 | Contaminated | 16.7% | 3 | |
| 6 | Too high | 16.7% | 3 | |
| 7 | Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm | 16.7% | 3 | |
| 8 | Does not illuminate by the operation of both brake controls | 11.1% | 2 | |
| 9 | Does not illuminate simultaneously with the position lamp(s) | 11.1% | 2 | |
| 10 | Flashing more than 120 times a minute | 11.1% | 2 |
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 | 9.3% | 26 | |
| 2 | Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm | 7.1% | 20 | |
| 3 | Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort | 4.6% | 13 | |
| 4 | Has a serious fluid leak | 3.2% | 9 | |
| 5 | Excessively binding | 1.1% | 3 | |
| 6 | Less than 1.0 mm thick | 1.1% | 3 | |
| 7 | Significantly and obviously worn | 1.1% | 3 | |
| 8 | Tread not clearly visible | 1.1% | 3 | |
| 9 | Excessively stiff or notchy | 0.7% | 2 | |
| 10 | Is bent and the brake cannot be readily applied | 0.7% | 2 |
Yamaha VMAX for sale
No Yamaha VMAX in stock at the moment - 82 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 | |
| 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 R1250 · 1,254cc | 6,764 | 96.17% | 17,373 | |
| BMW R 1200 · 1,170cc | 6,170 | 95.28% | 27,241 |
Source: DVSA MOT testing data, 2025 · updated Aug 2026 · licence and method