Yamaha YZF1000 MOT pass rate and common failures

Yamaha YZF1000 motorcycles pass the MOT 83.7% of the time, measured across 411 tests in the DVSA record. A further 5.11% passed only after a defect was put right at the test station.

Worse than average: 3.2 points below the 86.87% figure for all motorcycles tested.

Pass rate 83.7% 344 of 411

Fixed at the station 5.11% passed after an on-the-spot repair

Average mileage at test 29,810 miles

Average age at test 26.71 years old

Engine 999cc MOT class 2

For sale now 0 Yamaha YZF1000 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 37% of failed tests on this model.
Then check has a serious fluid leak and excessively binding, 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 (7.1% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
Average recorded mileage at test is 29,810 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	83.7%		411

Why the Yamaha YZF1000 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	37%	17
2	Has a serious fluid leak	26.1%	12
3	Excessively binding	21.7%	10
4	Missing	17.4%	8
5	Too low	15.2%	7
6	Does not conform to the specified requirements	10.9%	5
7	Does not illuminate by the operation of both brake controls	10.9%	5
8	Has insufficient reserve travel	10.9%	5
9	Flashing more than 120 times a minute	8.7%	4
10	Has negligible damping effect	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	7.1%	29
2	Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm	7.1%	29
3	Has a serious fluid leak	6.6%	27
4	Excessively loose	3.4%	14
5	In such a condition that it is seriously weakened	3.4%	14
6	Excessively binding	2.9%	12
7	Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort	1.9%	8
8	Tread not clearly visible	1.9%	8
9	Excessively tight	1.2%	5
10	Has a major leak of exhaust gases	1.2%	5

Yamaha YZF1000 for sale

No Yamaha YZF1000 in stock at the moment - 83 other Yamaha bikes are advertised.

Used Yamaha YZF1000 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 YZF1000 MOT questions

What is the MOT pass rate for the Yamaha YZF1000?+

83.7% of Yamaha YZF1000 MOT tests end in a pass, based on 411 tests in the DVSA dataset.

What is the most common MOT failure on a Yamaha YZF1000?+

Not working, which appears in 37% 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.