Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2004 Yamaha Fz6?

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 Fz6?

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 Fz6?

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 Fz6 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 1,524 vehicles, the 2004 Yamaha Fz6 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 87.8%, 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 Fz6?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2004 Yamaha Fz6 are: Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (68.5% of vehicles), Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (60.9% of vehicles), Drive chain slightly loose (32.6% 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 Fz6?

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.

CarHunch

Get Started

Yamaha Fz6 (2004)

1,524 real MOT outcomes analysed • 87.8% first-time pass rate

2004 Yamaha Fz6

CarHunch analysed 1,524 real MOT records for the 2004 Yamaha Fz6. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

On this page

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

The 2004 Yamaha FZ6 is a reliable bike, with an 87.8% first-time MOT pass rate that sits comfortably above the UK average of 80%. One in six of these machines (17.4%) have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, which is worth factoring into your decision—not a deal-breaker, but something to inspect carefully during a pre-purchase check.

These FZ6s are typically ridden hard: the median mileage of 16,220 is quite low for a 20-year-old bike, suggesting many have been stored or used sparingly, yet they still average 1.62 failures per MOT test. Check the service history and condition of the cooling system and chassis components when you view one, as these are the areas where issues tend to cluster on this generation.

The 2004 Yamaha Fz6 passes its MOT first time at roughly the UK average rate (87.8%) — 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

87.8%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

17.5%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.62

Over 12.3 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

16k

Middle half: 11k–25k

For context

✅ Good baseline reliability. A 87.8% 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 5.2 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 1,524 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 1,524 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 68.5%

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.

Lighting 32.6%

Drive chain slightly loose

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

Brake wear 24%

Rear Brake pad(s) close to minimum limit · Rear Brake disc(s) slightly worn · 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.

Exhaust & emissions 22.3%

Exhaust noisy

Suspension & steering 11.4%

Steering headbearing has slight free play · Steering movement slightly 'notchy' · Steering headbearing has excessive free play

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

Other issues 9.9%

Drive chain worn but not considered excessive

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 1,524 Yamaha Fz6 cars.

Before you buy a 2004 Yamaha Fz6

Based on MOT data from 1,524 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 17.5% 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 (100%)	1,521	87.8%	1.62

Colour Breakdown

Based on 6,861 Yamaha Fz6 vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Black 29%

1,988

Blue 25.8%

1,767

Silver 22.5%

1,542

Red 9.6%

659

Purple 4%

277

Orange 3.5%

242

Grey 2.5%

170

White 2%

136

Yellow 1.1%

Multi-colour 0.1%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2004 Yamaha Fz6 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.

16,220

typical

10,594

low mileage

24,593

high mileage

Half of all 2004 Yamaha Fz6 vehicles fall between 10,594 and 24,593 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 10,594 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.

✓ 10,594–24,593 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2004 Yamaha Fz6s sit.

⚠ Over 33,200 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 Fz6 — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 53% of 2004 Yamaha Fz6s are still active.

486 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 53% 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

12.3

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.62

Avg failures per vehicle

5.2

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Yamaha Fz6: All Fz6 years → Which year to buy? →

2003 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Or browse all models: Yamaha →

Compare with another model

See how the 2004 Yamaha Fz6 stacks up against a rival.

Average reliability — agree?