Yamaha XC MOT pass rate and common failures

Yamaha XC motorcycles pass the MOT 80.26% of the time, measured across 836 tests in the DVSA record. A further 6.82% passed only after a defect was put right at the test station.

Worse than average: 6.6 points below the 86.87% figure for all motorcycles tested.
Pass rate 80.26% 671 of 836
Fixed at the station 6.82% passed after an on-the-spot repair
Average mileage at test 16,748 miles
Average age at test 10.32 years old
Engine 117cc MOT class 1 and 2
For sale now 0 Yamaha XC 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 36.1% of failed tests on this model.
  • Then check tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm and has insufficient reserve travel, the next two most common reasons.
  • The most common advisory is tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (7.9% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
  • Average recorded mileage at test is 16,748 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 79.67% 615
11-15 years 81.94% 216

Why the Yamaha XC 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 36.1% 39
2 Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 31.5% 34
3 Has insufficient reserve travel 15.7% 17
4 Too low 14.8% 16
5 Less than 1.0 mm thick 11.1% 12
6 Not working on dipped beam 9.3% 10
7 Does not illuminate by the operation of both brake controls 8.3% 9
8 Does not illuminate simultaneously with the position lamp(s) 8.3% 9
9 Excessively binding 8.3% 9
10 Has a serious fluid leak 8.3% 9

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 Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 7.9% 66
2 Is bent and the brake cannot be readily applied 4.5% 38
3 Excessively stiff or notchy 3% 25
4 Less than 1.0 mm thick 2.9% 24
5 Inscription illegible 2.3% 19
6 Has excessive wear or free play 1.9% 16
7 In such a condition that it is seriously weakened 1.9% 16
8 Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort 1.7% 14
9 Has negligible damping effect 1.4% 12
10 Is so short that the brake cannot be readily applied 1.4% 12

Yamaha XC for sale

No Yamaha XC 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
Yamaha GPD125-A NMAX 125 · 125cc 8,762 80.8% 45,039
Piaggio VESPA 79-210cc · 79-210cc 8,363 85.42% 11,710
Honda WW · 125cc 7,252 80.32% 40,134
Honda WW 125 A-M · 125cc 5,011 84.06% 29,846
Honda GLR · 125cc 4,737 79.99% 14,642
Honda CBF 100-125cc · 100-125cc 3,204 77% 15,203

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

Yamaha XC MOT questions

What is the MOT pass rate for the Yamaha XC?+
80.26% of Yamaha XC MOT tests end in a pass, based on 836 tests in the DVSA dataset.
What is the most common MOT failure on a Yamaha XC?+
Not working, which appears in 36.1% of failed tests on this model.
Does the Yamaha XC get harder to pass as it ages?+
At 11-15 years old the pass rate is 81.94%, against 79.67% for examples 6-10 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.
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