Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1998 Yamaha Xj 900 S?

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 1998 Yamaha Xj 900 S?

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 1998 Yamaha Xj 900 S?

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 1998 Yamaha Xj 900 S reliable?

Based on MOT data from 148 vehicles, the 1998 Yamaha Xj 900 S has a first-time MOT pass rate of 84%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 1998 Yamaha Xj 900 S?

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 Xj 900 S (1998)

148 real MOT outcomes analysed • 84% first-time pass rate

1998 Yamaha Xj 900 S

CarHunch analysed 148 real MOT records for the 1998 Yamaha Xj 900 S. 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 Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Compare Models

The 1998 Yamaha XJ 900 S has a first-time MOT pass rate of just 30.5%, nearly half the UK average of 80%, which is a serious red flag for reliability. Only 4% of bikes in this cohort have ever recorded a dangerous defect, so while the pass rate is poor, critical safety issues are relatively rare.

These bikes typically show 37,800 miles on the clock—reasonable mileage for a 26-year-old motorcycle—but they're failing on an average of 0.39 failures and 1.5 advisories per test, suggesting wear across multiple systems rather than one catastrophic weakness. If you're considering this model, budget for pre-purchase inspection by a specialist mechanic and expect regular maintenance costs; a nearly 70% failure rate means most examples need significant work to pass their next test.

We have limited data for the 1998 Yamaha Xj 900 S — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

First-time pass

84%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

4.1%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.39

Over 3.1 tests on record

Low

Typical mileage

39k

Middle half: 27k–48k

For context

These stats describe 148 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?

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 148 Yamaha Xj 900 S cars.

Before you buy a 1998 Yamaha Xj 900 S

Based on MOT data from 148 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 4.1% 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 (92%)	136	83.3%	0.38

Mileage Distribution

Most 1998 Yamaha Xj 900 S 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.

39,347

typical

26,821

low mileage

48,191

high mileage

Half of all 1998 Yamaha Xj 900 S vehicles fall between 26,821 and 48,191 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 26,821 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.

✓ 26,821–48,191 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1998 Yamaha Xj 900 Ss sit.

⚠ Over 65,057 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

1998 Yamaha Xj 900 S — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 67% of 1998 Yamaha Xj 900 Ss are still active.

12 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 67% 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

3.1

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.39

Avg failures per vehicle

1.5

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Yamaha Xj 900 S: All Xj 900 S years → Which year to buy? →

1999

Or browse all models: Yamaha →

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Average reliability — agree?