Yamaha XVS MOT pass rate and common failures

Yamaha XVS motorcycles pass the MOT 89.88% of the time, measured across 830 tests in the DVSA record. A further 4.58% passed only after a defect was put right at the test station.

Better than average: 3 points above the 86.87% figure for all motorcycles tested.

Pass rate 89.88% 746 of 830

Fixed at the station 4.58% passed after an on-the-spot repair

Average mileage at test 13,953 miles

Average age at test 10.96 years old

Engine 1,009cc MOT class 1 and 2

For sale now 0 Yamaha XVS 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 30.4% of failed tests on this model.
Then check too low 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 (16.3% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
Average recorded mileage at test is 13,953 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
6-10 years	89.32%	571
11-15 years	91.96%	199
16+ years	87.93%	58

Why the Yamaha XVS 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	30.4%	14
2	Too low	21.7%	10
3	Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm	21.7%	10
4	Does not conform to the specified requirements	17.4%	8
5	Missing	17.4%	8
6	Inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps	13%	6
7	Too high	13%	6
8	Less than 1.0 mm thick	10.9%	5
9	Flashing more than 120 times a minute	8.7%	4
10	Missing in the case of a single lamp or all lamps	8.7%	4

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	16.3%	135
2	Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm	7.3%	61
3	Less than 1.0 mm thick	2.5%	21
4	Tread not clearly visible	1.6%	13
5	In such a condition that it is seriously weakened	1.1%	9
6	Excessively binding	1%	8
7	Has a serious fluid leak	0.8%	7
8	Is bent and the brake cannot be readily applied	0.8%	7
9	Seriously damaged	0.8%	7
10	Corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced	0.6%	5

Yamaha XVS for sale

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

Used Yamaha XVS 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
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 XVS MOT questions

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

89.88% of Yamaha XVS MOT tests end in a pass, based on 830 tests in the DVSA dataset.

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

Not working, which appears in 30.4% of failed tests on this model.

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

At 16+ years old the pass rate is 87.93%, against 89.32% for examples 6-10 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.