Yamaha XJ600 MOT pass rate and common failures

Yamaha XJ600 motorcycles pass the MOT 81.33% of the time, measured across 1,221 tests in the DVSA record. A further 6.14% passed only after a defect was put right at the test station.

Worse than average: 5.5 points below the 86.87% figure for all motorcycles tested.

Pass rate 81.33% 993 of 1,221

Fixed at the station 6.14% passed after an on-the-spot repair

Average mileage at test 28,474 miles

Average age at test 25.7 years old

Engine 598cc MOT class 2

For sale now 0 Yamaha XJ600 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 37.3% 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 has a serious fluid leak (6.6% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
Average recorded mileage at test is 28,474 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	84.97%		173
16+ years	80.73%		1,048

Why the Yamaha XJ600 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	37.3%	57
2	Has a serious fluid leak	15%	23
3	Missing	15%	23
4	Too low	14.4%	22
5	Excessively binding	12.4%	19
6	Flashing more than 120 times a minute	11.1%	17
7	Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm	11.1%	17
8	Does not illuminate by the operation of both brake controls	8.5%	13
9	Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort	7.8%	12
10	Too high	7.8%	12

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	Has a serious fluid leak	6.6%	81
2	Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm	5.3%	65
3	Has a major leak of exhaust gases	4.4%	54
4	Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort	3.9%	48
5	Noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar motorcycle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition	3.8%	47
6	Excessively binding	3.7%	45
7	Excessively loose	3.6%	44
8	In such a condition that it is seriously weakened	3.4%	41
9	Worn to excess	3%	37
10	Less than 1.0 mm thick	2.1%	26

Yamaha XJ600 for sale

No Yamaha XJ600 in stock at the moment - 83 other Yamaha bikes are advertised.

Used Yamaha XJ600 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 XJ600 MOT questions

What is the MOT pass rate for the Yamaha XJ600?+

81.33% of Yamaha XJ600 MOT tests end in a pass, based on 1,221 tests in the DVSA dataset.

What is the most common MOT failure on a Yamaha XJ600?+

Not working, which appears in 37.3% of failed tests on this model.

Does the Yamaha XJ600 get harder to pass as it ages?+

At 16+ years old the pass rate is 80.73%, against 84.97% 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.