Yamaha XVS650 MOT pass rate and common failures

Yamaha XVS650 motorcycles pass the MOT 84.61% of the time, measured across 1,494 tests in the DVSA record. A further 7.5% passed only after a defect was put right at the test station.

About average - within 2.3 points of the 86.87% figure for all motorcycles tested.

Pass rate 84.61% 1,264 of 1,494

Fixed at the station 7.5% passed after an on-the-spot repair

Average mileage at test 20,704 miles

Average age at test 23.85 years old

Engine 649cc MOT class 2

For sale now 0 Yamaha XVS650 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 56.8% of failed tests on this model.
Then check missing and does not conform to the specified requirements, 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 (16.1% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
Average recorded mileage at test is 20,704 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	84.46%		1,467

Why the Yamaha XVS650 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	56.8%	67
2	Missing	30.5%	36
3	Does not conform to the specified requirements	26.3%	31
4	Flashing more than 120 times a minute	22.9%	27
5	Insecure	19.5%	23
6	Too low	13.6%	16
7	Too high	12.7%	15
8	Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm	12.7%	15
9	Obviously incorrectly positioned	11%	13
10	Has a serious fluid leak	10.2%	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	Noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar motorcycle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition	16.1%	240
2	Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm	4.6%	68
3	Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort	3.1%	46
4	Corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced	2.1%	32
5	Has a serious fluid leak	1.7%	25
6	Tread not clearly visible	1.2%	18
7	Less than 1.0 mm thick	1.1%	17
8	Excessively binding	1.1%	16
9	Has excessive play	1%	15
10	Corroded and seriously weakened	0.9%	14

Yamaha XVS650 for sale

No Yamaha XVS650 in stock at the moment - 82 other Yamaha bikes are advertised.

Used Yamaha XVS650 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 XVS650 MOT questions

What is the MOT pass rate for the Yamaha XVS650?+

84.61% of Yamaha XVS650 MOT tests end in a pass, based on 1,494 tests in the DVSA dataset.

What is the most common MOT failure on a Yamaha XVS650?+

Not working, which appears in 56.8% 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.