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Yamaha Yzf 600 R Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Yamaha Yzf 600 R car check

Is the Yamaha Yzf 600 R reliable? We analysed 3,099 real MOT tests across 544 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 3,099 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
81.3%
Typical Mileage
21,416mi
Annual Mileage
962mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
29yrs

The Yamaha Yzf 600 R is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm, reflector on motorcycle missing and shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Yamaha Yzf 600 R.

Yamaha Yzf 600 R Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Yamaha Yzf 600 R. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Yamaha Yzf 600 R MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Yamaha Yzf 600 R to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

88.9%
2007
81.7%
2003
76.9%
2002
82.7%
2001
81.5%
2000
81.3%
1999
79.9%
1998
79.7%
1997

Yamaha Yzf 600 R Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Yamaha Yzf 600 R fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 84
reflector on motorcycle missing 61
shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil 50
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 48
Roller brake test indicates a binding brake 45
Stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies 23
Exhaust is leaking and excessively noisey 20
Drive chain excessively loose 14
Headlamp aim too high 12

Yamaha Yzf 600 R Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Yamaha Yzf 600 R owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
288 mi/yr
Typical
962 mi/yr
Average
1,933 mi/yr
Heavy usage
2,371 mi/yr

Yamaha Yzf 600 R MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Yamaha Yzf 600 R year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2007 54 88.9% 5,796 11,266 19,532
2003 251 81.7% 8,645 12,927 18,518
2002 117 76.9% 5,416 11,393 19,134
2001 272 82.7% 10,195 16,469 22,610
2000 336 81.5% 9,679 17,702 25,521
1999 438 81.3% 15,758 24,560 34,615
1998 930 79.9% 17,118 23,246 32,394
1997 478 79.7% 19,340 29,226 36,863

How Long Does a Yamaha Yzf 600 R Last?

Based on 544 Yamaha Yzf 600 R vehicles on UK roads.

Average
12.2 years
Median
10.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
29 years

Yamaha Yzf 600 R Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Yamaha Yzf 600 R MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
21,416 mi
75th Percentile
30,782 mi
95th Percentile
51,019 mi
Max Recorded
300,089 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Yamaha Yzf 600 R

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

Best year
2007

88.9% MOT pass rate from 54 tests

Year to avoid
2002

76.9% MOT pass rate from 117 tests

The best year to buy a used Yamaha Yzf 600 R is 2007, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 88.9% across 54 tests. The 2002 model year has the lowest pass rate at 76.9% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Yamaha Yzf 600 R Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Yamaha Yzf 600 R THIS CAR 81.3% 3,099 21,416 mi 29 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
Fiat Brava 1.6 SX 62% 3,699 82,764 mi 30 yrs

Compared to the Yamaha Yzf R1 (86.5% pass rate) and the Yamaha FZS600 (85.0% pass rate), the Yamaha Yzf 600 R trails behind on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Yamaha Yzf 600 R?

The Yamaha Yzf 600 R has an overall MOT pass rate of 81.3% across 3,099 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 Yzf 600 R are tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (84 recorded failures), reflector on motorcycle missing (61), and shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil (50). 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 Yzf 600 R owner drives around 962 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 Yzf 600 R models stay on UK roads for around 29 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 Yzf 600 R — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Yamaha Yzf 600 R reliable?
Based on 3,099 MOT tests, the Yamaha Yzf 600 R has a 81.3% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Yamaha Yzf 600 R?
The most common MOT failures are tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm, reflector on motorcycle missing, and shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Yamaha Yzf 600 R do per year?
The typical Yamaha Yzf 600 R does around 962 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Yamaha Yzf 600 R last?
Most Yamaha Yzf 600 R models stay on UK roads for around 29 years based on our analysis of 544 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Yamaha Yzf 600 R?
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 Yzf 600 R?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Yamaha Yzf 600 R is 2007 with a 88.9% pass rate across 54 tests.