Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2004 Yamaha Fjr1300a?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2004 Yamaha Fjr1300a?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2004 Yamaha Fjr1300a?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

Is the 2004 Yamaha Fjr1300a reliable?

Based on MOT data from 235 vehicles, the 2004 Yamaha Fjr1300a has a first-time MOT pass rate of 89.8%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2004 Yamaha Fjr1300a?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2004 Yamaha Fjr1300a are: Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (75.9% of vehicles), Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (62.2% of vehicles), Front Brake pad(s) close to minimum limit (19.4% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2004 Yamaha Fjr1300a?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Yamaha Fjr1300a (2004)

235 real MOT outcomes analysed • 89.8% first-time pass rate

2004 Yamaha Fjr1300a

CarHunch analysed 235 real MOT records for the 2004 Yamaha Fjr1300a. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2004 Yamaha FJR1300A passes its MOT on first attempt 89.8% of the time, which is nearly 10 points ahead of the UK average—a genuinely strong result for a 20-year-old sports tourer. That said, nearly one in five examples (19.1%) has recorded a dangerous defect at some point, so any prospective buyer should inspect the braking system and tyres with particular care.

These bikes have covered a modest median of 30,454 miles for their age, suggesting many are weekend warriors rather than high-mileage commuters, though they still average 1.54 failures per test and 5.6 advisories—mostly wear items. Check the service history carefully, as maintenance discipline makes the difference on a machine of this complexity; a well-kept FJR1300A is genuinely reliable, but neglected ones deteriorate quickly.

We have limited data for the 2004 Yamaha Fjr1300a — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

⚠️ Around 1 in 8 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

89.8%

UK average ~80%

Better than average

Dangerous (ever)

19.2%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.54

Over 14.5 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

30k

Middle half: 20k–40k

For context

These stats describe 235 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Average reliability — agree?

What tends to go wrong

Across 235 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 75.9%

Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Front Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Brake wear 19.4%

Front Brake pad(s) close to minimum limit · Rear Brake pad(s) close to minimum limit · Rear Brake indicates slight fluctuation of brake effort · …

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Suspension & steering 9.4%

Offside Front Shock absorber has a light misting of oil · Nearside Front shock absorber has light misting of stanchion · Offside Front shock absorber has light misting of stanchion · …

Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2004.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 235 Yamaha Fjr1300a cars.

Before you buy a 2004 Yamaha Fjr1300a

Based on MOT data from 235 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 19.2% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Colour Breakdown

Based on 2,516 Yamaha Fjr1300a vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Silver 38.5%

968

Blue 20.1%

506

Black 16.2%

408

Grey 14.5%

366

Red 4.2%

105

Brown 3%

Gold 1.9%

White 1.3%

Maroon 0.4%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2004 Yamaha Fjr1300a vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

30,454

typical

20,461

low mileage

40,170

high mileage

Half of all 2004 Yamaha Fjr1300a vehicles fall between 20,461 and 40,170 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 20,461 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 20,461–40,170 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2004 Yamaha Fjr1300as sit.

⚠ Over 54,229 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2004 Yamaha Fjr1300a — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 61% of 2004 Yamaha Fjr1300as are still active.

104 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 61% of the peak remain.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

14.5

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.54

Avg failures per vehicle

5.6

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Yamaha Fjr1300a: All Fjr1300a years → Which year to buy? →

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2013 2014

Or browse all models: Yamaha →

Compare with another model

See how the 2004 Yamaha Fjr1300a stacks up against a rival.

Average reliability — agree?