Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2008 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 2008 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 2008 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 2008 Yamaha Fjr1300a reliable?

Based on MOT data from 447 vehicles, the 2008 Yamaha Fjr1300a has a first-time MOT pass rate of 92%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2008 Yamaha Fjr1300a?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2008 Yamaha Fjr1300a are: Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (55.6% of vehicles), Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (49.4% of vehicles), Front Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (15.4% 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 2008 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 (2008)

447 real MOT outcomes analysed • 92% first-time pass rate

2008 Yamaha Fjr1300a

CarHunch analysed 447 real MOT records for the 2008 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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On this page

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

Moderate sample. 447 vehicles on record. Figures are indicative — the specific vehicle's history matters more than these averages.

The 2008 Yamaha FJR1300A is a genuinely reliable tourer, with a 92% first-time pass rate that sits well clear of the UK average of 80%—this is a vehicle that tends to be properly maintained by its owners. The dangerous defect rate of 19.7% is just under the concern threshold, so while not a major red flag, it's worth a thorough pre-purchase inspection focusing on brakes and chassis components.

At nearly 32,000 miles on average, these bikes show typical usage for their age and type, and the low failure count of 1.04 per vehicle reflects solid engineering. The high advisory rate of 3.8 per machine mainly signals wear items rather than structural problems—budget for routine consumables like cables and seals, and have any prospective purchase checked by a specialist familiar with the FJR's cooling and fuel system quirks.

The 2008 Yamaha Fjr1300a passes its MOT first time at roughly the UK average rate (92%) — solid but worth checking this vehicle's history carefully.

⚠️ 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

92%

UK average ~80%

Better than average

Dangerous (ever)

19.7%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.04

Over 11.5 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

30k

Middle half: 20k–42k

For context

✅ Good baseline reliability. A 92% first-time pass rate puts this well above the UK average — it's a well-sorted vehicle in this age bracket.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 3.8 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 447 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 447 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 55.6%

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.

Suspension & steering 10.1%

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

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

Brake wear 7.7%

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

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

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2008.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 447 Yamaha Fjr1300a cars.

Before you buy a 2008 Yamaha Fjr1300a

Based on MOT data from 447 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 19.7% 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 2008 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.

29,587

typical

19,559

low mileage

42,478

high mileage

Half of all 2008 Yamaha Fjr1300a vehicles fall between 19,559 and 42,478 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 19,559 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.

✓ 19,559–42,478 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2008 Yamaha Fjr1300as sit.

⚠ Over 57,345 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2008 Yamaha Fjr1300a — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 61% of 2008 Yamaha Fjr1300as are still active.

221 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

11.5

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.04

Avg failures per vehicle

3.8

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

2004 2005 2006 2007 2009 2010 2013 2014

Or browse all models: Yamaha →

Compare with another model

See how the 2008 Yamaha Fjr1300a stacks up against a rival.

Average reliability — agree?