Yamaha Fzs600 (2001)

1,850 real MOT outcomes analysed • 85.7% first-time pass rate

2001 Yamaha Fzs600

CarHunch analysed 1,850 real MOT records for the 2001 Yamaha Fzs600. 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 2001 Yamaha FZS600 passes its MOT first time 85.7% of the time, comfortably above the UK average of 80%, which is a solid result for a 20-plus-year-old bike. However, 21.8% of these machines have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, placing it at the upper end of concern for safety-critical issues like brakes or suspension.

At a median mileage of just 21,473 miles, these FZS600s are well-used but not worn out, suggesting they've been ridden regularly rather than stored. Expect around two failures and seven advisories per test cycle, pointing to minor wear items (lights, cables, corrosion) rather than structural problems—a straightforward picture for a buyer willing to keep up with routine maintenance and safety checks before riding.

The 2001 Yamaha Fzs600 passes its MOT first time at roughly the UK average rate (85.7%) — solid but worth checking this vehicle's history carefully.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 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
85.7%
UK average ~80%
Around average
Dangerous (ever)
21.8%
At least once in MOT history
Check this vehicle
Avg failures / car
2.07
Over 13.5 tests on record
High
Typical mileage
21k
Middle half: 14k–31k
For context
Good baseline reliability. A 85.7% 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 7.4 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 1,850 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 1,850 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 82.2%
Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Rear 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.
Exhaust & emissions 38.7%
Exhaust noisy · Exhaust is leaking but is not excessively noisey
Lighting 33.2%
Drive chain slightly loose · Headlamp aim too high
Usually cheap to fix. Worth confirming all lights work before collecting.
Brake wear 18.1%
Rear Brake pad(s) close to minimum limit · Front Brake pad(s) close to minimum limit · Rear Brake disc(s) slightly worn · …
Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.
Other issues 13.6%
Drive chain worn but not considered excessive

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2001.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 1,850 Yamaha Fzs600 cars.

UK

Before you buy a 2001 Yamaha Fzs600

Based on MOT data from 1,850 vehicles — here's what to check.

  • 📋 Check the full MOT history. 21.8% 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 ClickMechanic
  • 📄 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 carVertical Get 20% off via CarHunch

Colour Breakdown

Based on 11,819 Yamaha Fzs600 vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Red 24.3%
2,874
Black 22.4%
2,651
Silver 20.9%
2,467
Blue 17.5%
2,074
Gold 9.6%
1,130
Yellow 3.5%
414
White 0.7%
77
Green 0.3%
35
Orange 0.3%
33
Grey 0.3%
31
Purple 0.2%
20
Multi-colour 0.1%
13

Mileage Distribution

Most 2001 Yamaha Fzs600 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.

21,473
typical
14,057
low mileage
30,795
high mileage

Half of all 2001 Yamaha Fzs600 vehicles fall between 14,057 and 30,795 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?
Under 14,057 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.
14,057–30,795 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2001 Yamaha Fzs600s sit.
Over 41,573 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2001 Yamaha Fzs600 — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 50% of 2001 Yamaha Fzs600s are still active.

578 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 50% of the peak remain.

1,147 578 2014 2025

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

13.5
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
2.07
Avg failures per vehicle
7.4
Avg advisories per vehicle
Other model years — Yamaha Fzs600: All Fzs600 years → Which year to buy? →
1998 1999 2000 2002 2003

Or browse all models: Yamaha →

Compare with another model

See how the 2001 Yamaha Fzs600 stacks up against a rival.

Average reliability — agree?