Yamaha Fj1200 (1989)
1989 Yamaha Fj1200
CarHunch analysed 395 real MOT records for the 1989 Yamaha Fj1200. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
The 1989 Yamaha FJ1200 passes its MOT first time at 83.3%, slightly above the UK average of 80%, which suggests decent baseline reliability for a 35-year-old machine. Dangerous defects crop up in 14.9% of examples—a moderate concern but not alarming, so a thorough pre-purchase inspection remains essential.
These bikes are running at sensible mileages for their age (median 43,156 miles), and the average 1.55 failures per test indicates most issues are fixable rather than catastrophic. With 5.4 advisories per vehicle on average, expect minor wear items like worn bearings, tired brake components, and tired electrics—budget for a pre-purchase specialist inspection to catch these before they become failures.
What to check before buying a 1989 Yamaha Fj1200
Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.
- 📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
- 🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
- 🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
- 📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.
Before you buy a Yamaha Fj1200
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Mileage Distribution
Most 1989 Yamaha Fj1200 vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.
Half of all 1989 Yamaha Fj1200 vehicles fall between 32,479 and 55,626 miles.
1989 Yamaha Fj1200 — Still on the Road
Numbers are declining — 58 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (40% of peak).
Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
MOT History Averages
Most Common MOT Issues — 1989 Yamaha Fj1200
Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.
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38.3%
Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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28.3%
Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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23.2%
Front Roller brake test indicates slight fluctuation of brake effort
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19.4%
Exhaust is leaking but is not excessively noisey
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15.4%
Rear Roller brake test indicates slight fluctuation of brake effort
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14.9%
Drive chain slightly loose
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14.6%
Rear Brake pad(s) close to minimum limit
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13.9%
Nearside Front shock absorber has light misting of stanchion
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1989. Counts include advisories and failures.
Found a specific Yamaha Fj1200?
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