Yamaha VMX1200 MOT pass rate and common failures

Yamaha VMX1200 motorcycles pass the MOT 87.96% of the time, measured across 648 tests in the DVSA record. A further 5.86% passed only after a defect was put right at the test station.

About average - within 1.1 points of the 86.87% figure for all motorcycles tested.

Pass rate 87.96% 570 of 648

Fixed at the station 5.86% passed after an on-the-spot repair

Average mileage at test 23,933 miles

Average age at test 26.92 years old

Engine 1,198cc MOT class 2

For sale now 0 Yamaha VMX1200 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 40% of failed tests on this model.
Then check flashing more than 120 times a minute and missing, 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 (11.6% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
Average recorded mileage at test is 23,933 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	88.5%		635

Why the Yamaha VMX1200 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	40%	16
2	Flashing more than 120 times a minute	22.5%	9
3	Missing	20%	8
4	Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm	20%	8
5	Does not conform to the specified requirements	15%	6
6	Has a serious fluid leak	15%	6
7	Insecure	15%	6
8	Does not illuminate by the operation of both brake controls	12.5%	5
9	Too high	12.5%	5
10	Too low	12.5%	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	11.6%	75
2	Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort	5.1%	33
3	Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm	3.4%	22
4	Has a serious fluid leak	3.2%	21
5	Excessively binding	1.9%	12
6	Has a major leak of exhaust gases	1.4%	9
7	Less than 1.0 mm thick	1.2%	8
8	In such a condition that it is seriously weakened	1.1%	7
9	Excessively stiff or notchy	0.9%	6
10	Inscription illegible	0.9%	6

Yamaha VMX1200 for sale

No Yamaha VMX1200 in stock at the moment - 83 other Yamaha bikes are advertised.

Used Yamaha VMX1200 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 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

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

Yamaha VMX1200 MOT questions

What is the MOT pass rate for the Yamaha VMX1200?+

87.96% of Yamaha VMX1200 MOT tests end in a pass, based on 648 tests in the DVSA dataset.

What is the most common MOT failure on a Yamaha VMX1200?+

Not working, which appears in 40% 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.