Yamaha XT600 MOT pass rate and common failures

Yamaha XT600 motorcycles pass the MOT 87.3% of the time, measured across 567 tests in the DVSA record. A further 6.35% passed only after a defect was put right at the test station.

About average - within 0.4 points of the 86.87% figure for all motorcycles tested.

Pass rate 87.3% 495 of 567

Fixed at the station 6.35% passed after an on-the-spot repair

Average mileage at test 25,475 miles

Average age at test 25.78 years old

Engine 596cc MOT class 2

For sale now 0 Yamaha XT600 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 38.9% of failed tests on this model.
Then check missing and projected beam image obviously incorrect, 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 (6.2% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
Average recorded mileage at test is 25,475 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	87.27%		550

Why the Yamaha XT600 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	38.9%	14
2	Missing	27.8%	10
3	Projected beam image obviously incorrect	22.2%	8
4	Too low	22.2%	8
5	Flashing more than 120 times a minute	13.9%	5
6	Insecure	11.1%	4
7	Pin or bush excessively worn	11.1%	4
8	Does not conform to the specified requirements	8.3%	3
9	Excessively binding	8.3%	3
10	Has excessive play	8.3%	3

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	6.2%	35
2	Pin or bush excessively worn	3%	17
3	Excessively binding	2.8%	16
4	Has an excessively worn bush	2.8%	16
5	Component pin or bush excessively worn	2.6%	15
6	Excessively loose	2.5%	14
7	Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort	2.5%	14
8	Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm	2.5%	14
9	Worn to excess	2.5%	14
10	Excessively distorted	2.3%	13

Yamaha XT600 for sale

No Yamaha XT600 in stock at the moment - 82 other Yamaha bikes are advertised.

Used Yamaha XT600 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 XT600 MOT questions

What is the MOT pass rate for the Yamaha XT600?+

87.3% of Yamaha XT600 MOT tests end in a pass, based on 567 tests in the DVSA dataset.

What is the most common MOT failure on a Yamaha XT600?+

Not working, which appears in 38.9% 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.