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Yamaha Vmx 1200 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Yamaha Vmx 1200 car check

Is the Yamaha Vmx 1200 reliable? We analysed 1,112 real MOT tests across 136 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 1,112 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
88.3%
Typical Mileage
16,506mi
Annual Mileage
612mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
38yrs

The Yamaha Vmx 1200 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil, direction indicator not working and stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Yamaha Vmx 1200.

Yamaha Vmx 1200 Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Yamaha Vmx 1200. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Yamaha Vmx 1200 MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Yamaha Vmx 1200 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

98.3%
2008
92%
2007
92.1%
2003
92%
2002
85.9%
2001
89.3%
1998
83.8%
1997
85.7%
1996
77.6%
1990
77.3%
1988

Yamaha Vmx 1200 Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Yamaha Vmx 1200 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil 8
Direction indicator not working 7
Stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies 6
Direction indicator flashing more than 120 times per minute 6
Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 6
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 5
Brake pad(s) contaminated by oil or grease 4
Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush 4
Exhaust is leaking and excessively noisey 4

Yamaha Vmx 1200 Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Yamaha Vmx 1200 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
190 mi/yr
Typical
612 mi/yr
Average
1,198 mi/yr
Heavy usage
1,457 mi/yr

Yamaha Vmx 1200 MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Yamaha Vmx 1200 year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2008 58 98.3% 6,376 13,979 32,000
2007 88 92.0% 7,227 12,004 19,898
2003 76 92.1% 8,043 12,274 24,704
2002 50 92.0% 8,072 10,156 11,058
2001 64 85.9% 14,921 17,186 29,077
1998 103 89.3% 7,986 10,965 17,466
1997 111 83.8% 16,018 27,572 37,775
1996 56 85.7% 4,227 6,008 19,083
1990 67 77.6% 8,072 16,630 24,888
1988 66 77.3% 18,147 22,676 25,499

How Long Does a Yamaha Vmx 1200 Last?

Based on 136 Yamaha Vmx 1200 vehicles on UK roads.

Average
18.4 years
Median
17.5 years
Estimated max lifespan
38 years

Yamaha Vmx 1200 Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Yamaha Vmx 1200 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
16,506 mi
75th Percentile
27,187 mi
95th Percentile
43,155 mi
Max Recorded
221,385 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Yamaha Vmx 1200

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

Best year
2008

98.3% MOT pass rate from 58 tests

Year to avoid
1988

77.3% MOT pass rate from 66 tests

The best year to buy a used Yamaha Vmx 1200 is 2008, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 98.3% across 58 tests. The 1988 model year has the lowest pass rate at 77.3% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Yamaha Vmx 1200 Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Yamaha Vmx 1200 THIS CAR 88.3% 1,112 16,506 mi 38 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
Kia Ceed 3 CRDI 82.2% 613 100,350 mi — yrs

Compared to the Yamaha Yzf R1 (86.5% pass rate) and the Yamaha FZS600 (85.0% pass rate), the Yamaha Vmx 1200 outperforms both on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Yamaha Vmx 1200?

The Yamaha Vmx 1200 has an overall MOT pass rate of 88.3% across 1,112 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 Vmx 1200 are shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil (8 recorded failures), direction indicator not working (7), and stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies (6). 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 Vmx 1200 owner drives around 612 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 Vmx 1200 models stay on UK roads for around 38 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 Vmx 1200 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Yamaha Vmx 1200 reliable?
Based on 1,112 MOT tests, the Yamaha Vmx 1200 has a 88.3% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Yamaha Vmx 1200?
The most common MOT failures are shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil, direction indicator not working, and stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Yamaha Vmx 1200 do per year?
The typical Yamaha Vmx 1200 does around 612 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Yamaha Vmx 1200 last?
Most Yamaha Vmx 1200 models stay on UK roads for around 38 years based on our analysis of 136 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Yamaha Vmx 1200?
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 Vmx 1200?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Yamaha Vmx 1200 is 2008 with a 98.3% pass rate across 58 tests.