Yamaha XT660X MOT pass rate and common failures

Yamaha XT660X motorcycles pass the MOT 84.98% of the time, measured across 253 tests in the DVSA record. A further 7.51% passed only after a defect was put right at the test station.

About average - within 1.9 points of the 86.87% figure for all motorcycles tested.
Pass rate 84.98% 215 of 253
Fixed at the station 7.51% passed after an on-the-spot repair
Average mileage at test 21,429 miles
Average age at test 17.74 years old
Engine 659cc MOT class 2
For sale now 0 Yamaha XT660X 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 52.6% of failed tests on this model.
  • Then check missing and tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm, 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 (15.4% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
  • Average recorded mileage at test is 21,429 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 83.05% 59
16+ years 85.49% 193

Why the Yamaha XT660X 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 52.6% 10
2 Missing 21.1% 4
3 Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 21.1% 4
4 Has excessive play 15.8% 3
5 Too low 15.8% 3
6 Contaminated 10.5% 2
7 Does not illuminate by the operation of both brake controls 10.5% 2
8 Inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources 10.5% 2
9 Insecure 10.5% 2
10 Not working on dipped beam 10.5% 2

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 15.4% 39
2 Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 6.3% 16
3 Has a serious fluid leak 3.6% 9
4 Significantly and obviously worn 3.6% 9
5 Has excessive play 2.8% 7
6 Less than 1.0 mm thick 2.8% 7
7 Excessively loose 2.4% 6
8 Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort 2.4% 6
9 Worn to excess 2.4% 6
10 Chain guard missing 1.6% 4

Yamaha XT660X for sale

No Yamaha XT660X 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
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 XT660X MOT questions

What is the MOT pass rate for the Yamaha XT660X?+
84.98% of Yamaha XT660X MOT tests end in a pass, based on 253 tests in the DVSA dataset.
What is the most common MOT failure on a Yamaha XT660X?+
Not working, which appears in 52.6% of failed tests on this model.
Does the Yamaha XT660X get harder to pass as it ages?+
At 16+ years old the pass rate is 85.49%, against 83.05% 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.
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