Yamaha XJ 6 N MOT pass rate and common failures

Yamaha XJ 6 N motorcycles pass the MOT 83.67% of the time, measured across 496 tests in the DVSA record. A further 6.85% passed only after a defect was put right at the test station.

Worse than average: 3.2 points below the 86.87% figure for all motorcycles tested.

Pass rate 83.67% 415 of 496

Fixed at the station 6.85% passed after an on-the-spot repair

Average mileage at test 27,149 miles

Average age at test 14.12 years old

Engine 599cc MOT class 2

For sale now 0 Yamaha XJ 6 N 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 34% of failed tests on this model.
Then check has a serious fluid leak 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 (8.9% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
Average recorded mileage at test is 27,149 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
11-15 years	83.56%		438
16+ years	84.21%		57

Why the Yamaha XJ 6 N 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	34%	16
2	Has a serious fluid leak	27.7%	13
3	Missing	25.5%	12
4	Does not illuminate by the operation of both brake controls	17%	8
5	Insecure	17%	8
6	Flashing more than 120 times a minute	14.9%	7
7	Inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps	14.9%	7
8	Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm	14.9%	7
9	Seriously damaged	12.8%	6
10	Too low	12.8%	6

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	8.9%	44
2	Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm	6.3%	31
3	Excessively loose	4.6%	23
4	Has a serious fluid leak	2.6%	13
5	Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort	2.4%	12
6	Significantly and obviously worn	2%	10
7	Excessively deformed	1.8%	9
8	Excessively binding	1.6%	8
9	In such a condition that it is seriously weakened	1.6%	8
10	Less than 1.0 mm thick	1.6%	8

Yamaha XJ 6 N for sale

No Yamaha XJ 6 N in stock at the moment - 84 other Yamaha bikes are advertised.

Used Yamaha XJ 6 N 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
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
Suzuki SV650 · 646cc	3,834	80.99%	27,644

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

Yamaha XJ 6 N MOT questions

What is the MOT pass rate for the Yamaha XJ 6 N?+

83.67% of Yamaha XJ 6 N MOT tests end in a pass, based on 496 tests in the DVSA dataset.

What is the most common MOT failure on a Yamaha XJ 6 N?+

Not working, which appears in 34% of failed tests on this model.

Does the Yamaha XJ 6 N get harder to pass as it ages?+

At 16+ years old the pass rate is 84.21%, against 83.56% for examples 11-15 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.