Yamaha XT 1200 Z SUPER TENERE MOT pass rate and common failures

Yamaha XT 1200 Z SUPER TENERE motorcycles pass the MOT 95.65% of the time, measured across 345 tests in the DVSA record. A further 2.9% passed only after a defect was put right at the test station.

Better than average: 8.8 points above the 86.87% figure for all motorcycles tested.
Pass rate 95.65% 330 of 345
Fixed at the station 2.9% passed after an on-the-spot repair
Average mileage at test 29,795 miles
Average age at test 10.7 years old
Engine 1,199cc MOT class 2
For sale now 0 Yamaha XT 1200 Z SUPER TENERE adverts

What to check before the MOT

Built from this model's own failure record, not general advice.

  • Start with does not illuminate simultaneously with the position lamp(s) - it accounts for 40% of failed tests on this model.
  • Then check has a serious fluid leak and not working, the next two most common reasons.
  • The most common advisory is less than 1.0 mm thick (5.5% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
  • Average recorded mileage at test is 29,795 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
3-5 years 98.57% 70
6-10 years 97.56% 41
11-15 years 94.44% 234

Why the Yamaha XT 1200 Z SUPER TENERE 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 Does not illuminate simultaneously with the position lamp(s) 40% 2
2 Has a serious fluid leak 40% 2
3 Not working 40% 2
4 Not working on dipped beam 40% 2
5 Not working on main beam 40% 2
6 Too high 40% 2
7 Too low 40% 2
8 Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 40% 2
9 With a multiple light source up to 1/2 not functioning 40% 2
10 Contaminated 20% 1

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 Less than 1.0 mm thick 5.5% 19
2 Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 3.8% 13
3 Noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar motorcycle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition 3.2% 11
4 Has a serious fluid leak 2.9% 10
5 Excessively stiff or notchy 1.7% 6
6 Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort 1.7% 6
7 Significantly and obviously worn 1.2% 4
8 Tread not clearly visible 1.2% 4
9 Corroded so that its cross sectional area is reduced and seriously weakened 0.3% 1
10 Corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced 0.3% 1

Yamaha XT 1200 Z SUPER TENERE for sale

No Yamaha XT 1200 Z SUPER TENERE in stock at the moment - 84 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
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 XT 1200 Z SUPER TENERE MOT questions

What is the MOT pass rate for the Yamaha XT 1200 Z SUPER TENERE?+
95.65% of Yamaha XT 1200 Z SUPER TENERE MOT tests end in a pass, based on 345 tests in the DVSA dataset.
What is the most common MOT failure on a Yamaha XT 1200 Z SUPER TENERE?+
Does not illuminate simultaneously with the position lamp(s), which appears in 40% of failed tests on this model.
Does the Yamaha XT 1200 Z SUPER TENERE get harder to pass as it ages?+
At 11-15 years old the pass rate is 94.44%, against 98.57% for examples 3-5 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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