CarVerify

Yamaha FJ1100 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Yamaha FJ1100 car check

Is the Yamaha FJ1100 reliable? We analysed 2,124 real MOT tests across 327 vehicles to find out.

Got a specific Yamaha FJ1100? Enter the reg for a free check:

Free basic check Reports from £4.99 Results in seconds
Data last updated: · Based on 2,124 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
82.3%
Typical Mileage
39,920mi
Annual Mileage
551mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
42yrs

The Yamaha FJ1100 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil, tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm and stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Yamaha FJ1100.

Yamaha FJ1100 Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Yamaha FJ1100. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Yamaha FJ1100 MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Yamaha FJ1100 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

77.4%
1997
81.6%
1987
85.7%
1986
81.3%
1985
85%
1984

Yamaha FJ1100 Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Yamaha FJ1100 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil 39
Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 36
Stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies 28
reflector on motorcycle missing 24
Roller brake test indicates a binding brake 24
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 19
Horn not working 19
shock absorber has inadequate damping effect. 16
position lamp does not illuminate immediately when switched on 14
Headlamp aim too low 12

Yamaha FJ1100 Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Yamaha FJ1100 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
181 mi/yr
Typical
551 mi/yr
Average
1,326 mi/yr
Heavy usage
1,420 mi/yr

Yamaha FJ1100 MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Yamaha FJ1100 year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
1997 133 77.4% 18,856 32,308 51,849
1987 76 81.6% 35,120 43,137 54,170
1986 210 85.7% 26,536 39,686 56,017
1985 754 81.3% 29,282 39,048 54,442
1984 586 85.0% 31,029 43,708 59,110

How Long Does a Yamaha FJ1100 Last?

Based on 327 Yamaha FJ1100 vehicles on UK roads.

Average
26.5 years
Median
26.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
42 years

Yamaha FJ1100 Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Yamaha FJ1100 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
39,920 mi
75th Percentile
55,706 mi
95th Percentile
78,198 mi
Max Recorded
434,789 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Yamaha FJ1100

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
1986

85.7% MOT pass rate from 210 tests

Year to avoid
1997

77.4% MOT pass rate from 133 tests

The best year to buy a used Yamaha FJ1100 is 1986, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 85.7% across 210 tests. The 1997 model year has the lowest pass rate at 77.4% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Yamaha FJ1100 Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Yamaha FJ1100 THIS CAR 82.3% 2,124 39,920 mi 42 yrs
Yamaha Yzf R1 86.5% 175,313 16,232 mi 28 yrs
Yamaha FZS600 85% 157,659 22,466 mi 28 yrs
Yamaha XJR1300 88.8% 107,128 16,836 mi 27 yrs
Volvo V40 Cross Country Lux D2 86.9% 657 75,440 mi — yrs

Compared to the Yamaha Yzf R1 (86.5% pass rate) and the Yamaha FZS600 (85.0% pass rate), the Yamaha FJ1100 trails behind on MOT reliability.

Found a Yamaha FJ1100 you like?

Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.

Check a specific Yamaha FJ1100

Should you buy a used Yamaha FJ1100?

The Yamaha FJ1100 has an overall MOT pass rate of 82.3% across 2,124 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.

The most common problems on the Yamaha FJ1100 are shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil (39 recorded failures), tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (36), and stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies (28). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.

A typical Yamaha FJ1100 owner drives around 551 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.

In terms of longevity, most Yamaha FJ1100 models stay on UK roads for around 42 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.

Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.

Yamaha FJ1100 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Yamaha FJ1100 reliable?
Based on 2,124 MOT tests, the Yamaha FJ1100 has a 82.3% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Yamaha FJ1100?
The most common MOT failures are shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil, tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm, and stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Yamaha FJ1100 do per year?
The typical Yamaha FJ1100 does around 551 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Yamaha FJ1100 last?
Most Yamaha FJ1100 models stay on UK roads for around 42 years based on our analysis of 327 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Yamaha FJ1100?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Yamaha FJ1100?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Yamaha FJ1100 is 1986 with a 85.7% pass rate across 210 tests.