Yamaha Tdm900 MOT Pass Rate
Overall pass rate across all manufacture years, based on 18,015 real MOT test results. Failure rate: 10.9%.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
Yamaha Tdm900 MOT Reliability Overview
The Yamaha Tdm900 is a relatively common sight on UK roads, with 18,015 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 13 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 89.1% and a failure rate of 10.9%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.
Based on this data, the Yamaha Tdm900 earns a "Excellent" reliability rating. The average Yamaha Tdm900 presents for MOT with approximately 28,498 miles on the clock. Manufacture year matters: 2013 models achieve the highest pass rate at 92.7%, while 2003 models have the lowest at 87.7%. This 5.0 percentage point difference suggests notable variation in build quality or component durability across production years.
The most common MOT failure for the Yamaha Tdm900 is Motorcycle brakes, affecting 6.1% of all tests. Brake-related failures include worn brake pads, corroded brake discs, leaking brake lines, and faulty brake servos. These are safety-critical components — any brake deficiency will result in an MOT fail. The second most common issue is Motorcycle tyres and wheels at 3.2%. Motorcycle lighting and signalling rounds out the top three at 2.8%. Together, these top 3 failure categories account for a significant portion of all MOT failures for this model.
Top failures across all manufacture years combined. Individual year pages may show different top failures.
What Fails Most
Best Year to Buy
📈 How Each Vintage Ages
Tracking how each manufacture year's MOT pass rate changes as the car ages. Showing 6 vintages — click year chips to highlight.
Multi-line chart showing how different Yamaha Tdm900 vintages degrade over time, from age 3 to 22 years.
Only vintages with 100+ tests in at least 3 different test years are shown. Fleet average is the UK-wide pass rate for all cars at each age.
📉 How Age Affects Reliability
MOT failure rate by vehicle age for the Yamaha Tdm900. The dashed red line marks when the manufacturer warranty typically expires (3 years).
Line chart showing MOT failure rate by vehicle age from 3 to 20 years, with warranty expiry marked at 3 years.
💡 What does the warranty cliff mean?
The Yamaha Tdm900 actually sees a 7% decrease in failure rate after the warranty period. This is likely due to survivorship bias — unreliable cars are already off the road by this age. Peak failure occurs at age 14 (13.4% fail rate).
Note: pass rates may improve for very old vehicles due to survivorship bias — only well-maintained cars remain on the road.
Pass Rate by Manufacture Year
* High Fail Rate badge indicates an MOT pass rate below 65% (failure rate above 35%).
What Fails on This Car?
Click a category to see specific failure items.
View as table
| Rank | Failure Category | Rate (%) | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Motorcycle Brakes | 6.6% | 1,183 |
| 2 | Motorcycle Tyres And Wheels | 3.5% | 622 |
| 3 | Motorcycle Lighting And Signalling | 3.0% | 534 |
| 4 | Motorcycle Steering And Suspension | 2.2% | 398 |
| 5 | Motorcycle Lamps And Reflectors | 1.7% | 306 |
| 6 | Motorcycle Drive System | 1.4% | 247 |
| 7 | Motorcycle Tyres | 1.3% | 236 |
| 8 | Motorcycle Structure And Attachments | 1.2% | 213 |
| 9 | Motorcycle Suspension | 1.1% | 190 |
| 10 | Motorcycle Steering | 0.4% | 78 |
| 11 | Motorcycle Fuel And Exhaust | 0.4% | 73 |
| 12 | Motorcycle Reg Plates And Vin | 0.2% | 38 |
| 13 | Motorcycle Driving Controls | 0.1% | 26 |
| 14 | Motorcycle Audible Warning (Horn) | 0.1% | 22 |
| 15 | Identification Of The Vehicle | 0.1% | 11 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 28,498 miFor every 10,000 miles driven, this shows what percentage of MOT tests fail for each category. This accounts for how far cars are actually driven, not just raw pass/fail counts.
View as table
| Category | Rate / 10K mi | Raw % | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Motorcycle brakes | 2.30 | 6.6% | 1,183 |
| Motorcycle tyres and wheels | 1.21 | 3.5% | 622 |
| Motorcycle lighting and signalling | 1.04 | 3.0% | 534 |
| Motorcycle steering and suspension | 0.78 | 2.2% | 398 |
| Motorcycle lamps and reflectors | 0.60 | 1.7% | 306 |
| Motorcycle drive system | 0.48 | 1.4% | 247 |
| Motorcycle tyres | 0.46 | 1.3% | 236 |
| Motorcycle structure and attachments | 0.41 | 1.2% | 213 |
| Motorcycle suspension | 0.37 | 1.1% | 190 |
| Motorcycle steering | 0.15 | 0.4% | 78 |
| Motorcycle fuel and exhaust | 0.14 | 0.4% | 73 |
| Motorcycle reg plates and vin | 0.07 | 0.2% | 38 |
| Motorcycle driving controls | 0.05 | 0.1% | 26 |
| Motorcycle audible warning (Horn) | 0.04 | 0.1% | 22 |
| Identification of the vehicle | 0.02 | 0.1% | 11 |
🚗 Similar Cars to Consider
Mileage at MOT
The average Yamaha Tdm900 has 28,498 miles when tested for MOT.
📊 Mileage-Adjusted Failure Rate
How often this car fails MOT relative to how much it's driven — a fairer comparison than raw pass rate.
The Yamaha Tdm900 has a mileage-adjusted failure rate of 3.82% per 10,000 miles driven. The average across all makes is 5.38%, so this model is better than average.
About Yamaha Tdm900 MOT Data
The Yamaha Tdm900 is a relatively common sight on UK roads, with 18,015 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 13 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 89.1% and a failure rate of 10.9%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.
For Yamaha Tdm900 owners, these results suggest a reliable vehicle that generally passes its MOT without major issues. Focus your pre-MOT checks on motorcycle brakes and motorcycle tyres and wheels for the best chance of a first-time pass. Use our detailed year-by-year breakdown and failure analysis below to understand how your specific Tdm900 is likely to perform.
Motorcycle brakes — 6.1% of failures
Motorcycle brakes issues account for 6.1% of MOT failures on the Yamaha Tdm900. Brake-related failures include worn brake pads, corroded brake discs, leaking brake lines, and faulty brake servos. These are safety-critical components — any brake deficiency will result in an MOT fail. Typical repair costs: £150–400. Pre-MOT check: Listen for squealing or grinding noises. Check brake pedal feel — if it feels spongy or goes to the floor, have the system inspected immediately. Look at brake pad thickness through the wheel spokes (minimum 3mm).
Motorcycle tyres and wheels — 3.2% of failures
Motorcycle tyres and wheels issues account for 3.2% of MOT failures on the Yamaha Tdm900. Tyre failures include tread depth below the legal minimum of 1.6mm, cuts, bulges, exposed cords, and incorrect tyre pressure. Tyres are one of the most common and easiest-to-prevent MOT failures. Typical repair costs: £50–200 per tyre. Pre-MOT check: Check tread depth with a 20p coin — if the outer band is visible, the tyre is too worn. Look for bulges, cuts, or embedded objects. Ensure all tyres match the recommended size and load rating.
Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 2.8% of failures
Motorcycle lighting and signalling issues account for 2.8% of MOT failures on the Yamaha Tdm900. Motorcycle lighting and signalling issues are a common cause of MOT failure. Regular inspection and maintenance of these components helps ensure your vehicle passes its MOT. Typical repair costs: £100–400. Pre-MOT check: Have this system checked during regular servicing. Look for warning signs like unusual noises, vibrations, or dashboard warning lights.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Yamaha Tdm900?
Based on 18,015 MOT tests in our database, the Yamaha Tdm900 has an overall pass rate of 89.1% (10.9% fail rate).
What are the most common MOT failures on a Yamaha Tdm900?
The top 3 reasons a Yamaha Tdm900 fails its MOT are: 1. Motorcycle brakes (6.1%), 2. Motorcycle tyres and wheels (3.2%), 3. Motorcycle lighting and signalling (2.8%). Check these areas before booking your MOT.
Is the Yamaha Tdm900 reliable?
With a 10.9% MOT failure rate, the Tdm900 is more reliable than average compared to the UK average of ~40%.
What should I check before an MOT on my Yamaha Tdm900?
Based on failure data, focus on: Motorcycle brakes (6.1%); Motorcycle tyres and wheels (3.2%); Motorcycle lighting and signalling (2.8%). These are the areas most likely to cause a fail. Also check all lights, tyres (minimum 1.6mm tread), and windscreen condition — these are quick wins that apply to all cars.
Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.