Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2008 Yamaha Fz1s?

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 Fz1s?

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 Fz1s?

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 Fz1s reliable?

Based on MOT data from 371 vehicles, the 2008 Yamaha Fz1s has a first-time MOT pass rate of 92.3%, 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 Fz1s?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2008 Yamaha Fz1s are: Exhaust noisy (67% of vehicles), Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (60% of vehicles), Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (56.2% 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 Fz1s?

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 Fz1s (2008)

371 real MOT outcomes analysed • 92.3% first-time pass rate

2008 Yamaha Fz1s

CarHunch analysed 371 real MOT records for the 2008 Yamaha Fz1s. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

Moderate sample. 371 vehicles on record. Figures are indicative — the specific vehicle's history matters more than these averages.

The 2008 Yamaha FZ1S passes its MOT first time in 83.8% of cases, which is a solid 3.8 percentage points above the UK average—suggesting this bike is generally well-maintained by its owners. With a dangerous defect rate of 15.9%, it's not a major red flag, though roughly 1 in 6 examples will have picked up something serious at some point.

These bikes are averaging 19,155 miles across the cohort, which is reasonable mileage for a 16-year-old machine, and the 0.94 failures per vehicle tells you that most common issues are fixable rather than terminal. Before committing to one, check the service history carefully and budget for addressing the advisory items that crop up frequently—at 4.3 per bike on average, these older FZ1Ss need regular attention to brakes, tyres, and wear items.

The 2008 Yamaha Fz1s passes its MOT first time at roughly the UK average rate (92.3%) — 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

92.3%

UK average ~80%

Better than average

Dangerous (ever)

15.9%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.94

Over 10.6 tests on record

Moderate

Typical mileage

17k

Middle half: 12k–24k

For context

✅ Good baseline reliability. A 92.3% 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 4.3 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 371 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 371 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Exhaust & emissions 67%

Exhaust noisy

Tyre wear 60%

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 17.6%

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

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

Lighting 15.8%

Drive chain slightly loose · Rear reflector on motorcycle missing · Rear reflector missing

Usually cheap to fix. Worth confirming all lights work before collecting.

Suspension & steering 15.4%

Rear suspension bush has slight free play · Rear suspension bearing has slight free play

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 2008.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 371 Yamaha Fz1s cars.

Before you buy a 2008 Yamaha Fz1s

Based on MOT data from 371 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 15.9% 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

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Petrol (96%)	355	92.2%	0.96

Colour Breakdown

Based on 1,400 Yamaha Fz1s vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Red 31.5%

441

Blue 31.3%

438

Grey 18.5%

259

Silver 8.7%

122

Green 3.7%

Black 3.1%

White 2.7%

Yellow 0.5%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2008 Yamaha Fz1s 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.

16,568

typical

11,866

low mileage

24,444

high mileage

Half of all 2008 Yamaha Fz1s vehicles fall between 11,866 and 24,444 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 11,866 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.

✓ 11,866–24,444 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2008 Yamaha Fz1ss sit.

⚠ Over 32,999 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 Fz1s — Still on the Road

Most 2008 Yamaha Fz1ss are still being driven.

190 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 73% 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

10.6

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.94

Avg failures per vehicle

4.3

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Yamaha Fz1s: All Fz1s years → Which year to buy? →

2006 2007 2009 2010

Or browse all models: Yamaha →

Compare with another model

See how the 2008 Yamaha Fz1s stacks up against a rival.

Average reliability — agree?