Yamaha YZF 998cc MOT pass rate and common failures
Yamaha YZF 998cc motorcycles pass the MOT 92.07% of the time, measured across 391 tests in the DVSA record. A further 3.32% passed only after a defect was put right at the test station.
Calculated from DVSA records for Yamaha YZF, 998-1002cc.
What to check before the MOT
Built from this model's own failure record, not general advice.
- Start with not working - it accounts for 61.1% of failed tests on this model.
- Then check missing and does not conform to the specified requirements, the next two most common reasons.
- Age matters here: 95.71% of 6-10 year old examples pass, against 89.92% at 16+ years - a gap of 5.8 points.
- 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 (12% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
- Average recorded mileage at test is 20,124 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 | 95.71% | 140 | |
| 16+ years | 89.92% | 248 |
Why the Yamaha YZF 998cc 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 | 61.1% | 11 | |
| 2 | Missing | 44.4% | 8 | |
| 3 | Does not conform to the specified requirements | 38.9% | 7 | |
| 4 | Insecure | 22.2% | 4 | |
| 5 | Excessively loose | 16.7% | 3 | |
| 6 | Does not illuminate by the operation of both brake controls | 11.1% | 2 | |
| 7 | Excessively binding | 11.1% | 2 | |
| 8 | Has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords | 11.1% | 2 | |
| 9 | Has a serious fluid leak | 11.1% | 2 | |
| 10 | Not working on dipped beam | 11.1% | 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 | 12% | 47 | |
| 2 | Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm | 6.1% | 24 | |
| 3 | Has a serious fluid leak | 2% | 8 | |
| 4 | Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort | 2% | 8 | |
| 5 | Less than 1.0 mm thick | 1.8% | 7 | |
| 6 | Excessively loose | 1.5% | 6 | |
| 7 | Has excessive play | 1% | 4 | |
| 8 | Has negligible damping effect | 1% | 4 | |
| 9 | Has a major leak of exhaust gases | 0.8% | 3 | |
| 10 | Has an excessively worn bush | 0.8% | 3 |
Yamaha YZF 998cc for sale
No Yamaha YZF 998cc in stock at the moment - 86 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 | |
| BMW R1200 · 1,170cc | 15,691 | 94.77% | 28,205 | |
| Triumph BONNEVILLE 642-904cc · 642-904cc | 12,456 | 90.8% | 12,824 | |
| BMW R SERIES · 1,152cc | 9,796 | 91.92% | 40,594 | |
| BMW S 1000 · 999cc | 8,445 | 91.96% | 15,282 | |
| Yamaha YZF R1 · 998cc | 6,022 | 88.01% | 23,152 |
Source: DVSA MOT testing data, 2025 · updated Aug 2026 · licence and method