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Yamaha FZ600 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Yamaha FZ600 car check

Is the Yamaha FZ600 reliable? We analysed 2,177 real MOT tests across 391 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 2,177 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
78.9%
Typical Mileage
27,960mi
Annual Mileage
635mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
39yrs

The Yamaha FZ600 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil, reflector on motorcycle missing and roller brake test indicates a binding brake. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Yamaha FZ600.

Yamaha FZ600 Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Yamaha FZ600. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Yamaha FZ600 MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Yamaha FZ600 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

84.8%
2008
90.4%
2007
83.1%
2003
77%
2002
80.3%
2001
86.7%
2000
82%
1999
79.4%
1998
80.3%
1995
73.5%
1994
80%
1993
74%
1989
76.2%
1988
75.7%
1987

Yamaha FZ600 Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Yamaha FZ600 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil 63
reflector on motorcycle missing 46
Roller brake test indicates a binding brake 34
Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 31
Stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies 29
Brake disc(s) friction surface contaminated by oil or grease 19
Horn not working 17
Headlamp aim too high 17
Exhaust is leaking and excessively noisey 15
suspension movement is excessively stiff 14

Yamaha FZ600 Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Yamaha FZ600 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
167 mi/yr
Typical
635 mi/yr
Average
1,413 mi/yr
Heavy usage
1,616 mi/yr

Yamaha FZ600 MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Yamaha FZ600 year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2008 92 84.8% 4,337 7,967 15,731
2007 115 90.4% 9,438 15,792 21,960
2003 83 83.1% 6,798 11,073 27,168
2002 74 77.0% 8,425 20,198 47,005
2001 76 80.3% 20,078 29,458 35,668
2000 83 86.7% 8,680 13,810 23,088
1999 122 82.0% 16,790 20,984 29,148
1998 63 79.4% 23,910 40,480 52,395
1995 127 80.3% 28,506 34,794 40,476
1994 68 73.5% 17,875 28,708 34,140
1993 55 80.0% 21,554 41,835 51,754
1989 219 74.0% 22,924 31,627 42,724
1988 421 76.2% 23,938 30,232 38,366
1987 342 75.7% 18,837 29,833 42,701

How Long Does a Yamaha FZ600 Last?

Based on 391 Yamaha FZ600 vehicles on UK roads.

Average
20.3 years
Median
20.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
39 years

Yamaha FZ600 Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Yamaha FZ600 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
27,960 mi
75th Percentile
38,086 mi
95th Percentile
56,453 mi
Max Recorded
891,794 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Yamaha FZ600

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

Best year
2007

90.4% MOT pass rate from 115 tests

Year to avoid
1994

73.5% MOT pass rate from 68 tests

The best year to buy a used Yamaha FZ600 is 2007, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 90.4% across 115 tests. The 1994 model year has the lowest pass rate at 73.5% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Yamaha FZ600 Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Yamaha FZ600 THIS CAR 78.9% 2,177 27,960 mi 39 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
Rolls Royce Silver Shadow 11 78.1% 1,463 81,935 mi 49 yrs

Compared to the Yamaha Yzf R1 (86.5% pass rate) and the Yamaha FZS600 (85.0% pass rate), the Yamaha FZ600 trails behind on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Yamaha FZ600?

The Yamaha FZ600 has an overall MOT pass rate of 78.9% across 2,177 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 FZ600 are shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil (63 recorded failures), reflector on motorcycle missing (46), and roller brake test indicates a binding brake (34). 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 FZ600 owner drives around 635 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 FZ600 models stay on UK roads for around 39 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 FZ600 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Yamaha FZ600 reliable?
Based on 2,177 MOT tests, the Yamaha FZ600 has a 78.9% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Yamaha FZ600?
The most common MOT failures are shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil, reflector on motorcycle missing, and roller brake test indicates a binding brake. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Yamaha FZ600 do per year?
The typical Yamaha FZ600 does around 635 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Yamaha FZ600 last?
Most Yamaha FZ600 models stay on UK roads for around 39 years based on our analysis of 391 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Yamaha FZ600?
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 FZ600?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Yamaha FZ600 is 2007 with a 90.4% pass rate across 115 tests.