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Yamaha YZF600 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Yamaha YZF600 car check

Is the Yamaha YZF600 reliable? We analysed 66,153 real MOT tests across 5,775 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 66,153 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
81.3%
Typical Mileage
23,858mi
Annual Mileage
862mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
30yrs

The Yamaha YZF600 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm, shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil and reflector on motorcycle missing. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Yamaha YZF600.

Yamaha YZF600 Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Yamaha YZF600. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Yamaha YZF600 MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Yamaha YZF600 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

75.4%
2008
82.1%
2007
88.8%
2006
87.7%
2005
83%
2004
82.9%
2003
83%
2002
83.1%
2001
81.9%
2000
81.9%
1999
80.6%
1998
80.1%
1997
79.2%
1996
80.4%
1994

Yamaha YZF600 Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Yamaha YZF600 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 1,428
shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil 1,223
reflector on motorcycle missing 840
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 806
Roller brake test indicates a binding brake 765
Stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies 589
Exhaust is leaking and excessively noisey 421
Drive chain excessively loose 395

Yamaha YZF600 Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Yamaha YZF600 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
269 mi/yr
Typical
862 mi/yr
Average
1,631 mi/yr
Heavy usage
2,091 mi/yr

Yamaha YZF600 MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Yamaha YZF600 year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2008 57 75.4% 5,105 10,842 19,790
2007 201 82.1% 8,818 13,156 23,489
2006 241 88.8% 7,638 11,485 26,619
2005 220 87.7% 5,903 12,784 23,266
2004 188 83.0% 10,496 18,069 24,531
2003 3,111 82.9% 9,538 16,451 24,568
2002 3,912 83.0% 10,982 17,702 27,757
2001 6,618 83.1% 11,793 19,218 28,483
2000 7,060 81.9% 14,022 21,144 30,583
1999 8,882 81.9% 15,732 23,166 32,636
1998 17,580 80.6% 17,929 25,938 35,521
1997 12,002 80.1% 19,464 27,521 37,515
1996 5,829 79.2% 20,308 29,078 39,195
1994 51 80.4% 22,550 33,085 53,334

How Long Does a Yamaha YZF600 Last?

Based on 5,775 Yamaha YZF600 vehicles on UK roads.

Average
18.3 years
Median
19.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
30 years

Yamaha YZF600 Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Yamaha YZF600 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
23,858 mi
75th Percentile
33,964 mi
95th Percentile
52,268 mi
Max Recorded
795,227 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Yamaha YZF600

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

Best year
2006

88.8% MOT pass rate from 241 tests

Year to avoid
2008

75.4% MOT pass rate from 57 tests

The best year to buy a used Yamaha YZF600 is 2006, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 88.8% across 241 tests. The 2008 model year has the lowest pass rate at 75.4% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Yamaha YZF600 Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Yamaha YZF600 THIS CAR 81.3% 66,153 23,858 mi 30 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
Ducati Multistrada 90.7% 30,770 13,843 mi 23 yrs

Compared to the Yamaha Yzf R1 (86.5% pass rate) and the Yamaha FZS600 (85.0% pass rate), the Yamaha YZF600 trails behind on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Yamaha YZF600?

The Yamaha YZF600 has an overall MOT pass rate of 81.3% across 66,153 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 YZF600 are tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (1,428 recorded failures), shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil (1,223), and reflector on motorcycle missing (840). 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 YZF600 owner drives around 862 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 YZF600 models stay on UK roads for around 30 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 YZF600 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Yamaha YZF600 reliable?
Based on 66,153 MOT tests, the Yamaha YZF600 has a 81.3% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Yamaha YZF600?
The most common MOT failures are tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm, shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil, and reflector on motorcycle missing. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Yamaha YZF600 do per year?
The typical Yamaha YZF600 does around 862 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Yamaha YZF600 last?
Most Yamaha YZF600 models stay on UK roads for around 30 years based on our analysis of 5,775 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Yamaha YZF600?
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 YZF600?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Yamaha YZF600 is 2006 with a 88.8% pass rate across 241 tests.