Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2014 Yamaha Xj?

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 2014 Yamaha Xj?

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 2014 Yamaha Xj?

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 2014 Yamaha Xj reliable?

Based on MOT data from 383 vehicles, the 2014 Yamaha Xj has a first-time MOT pass rate of 91.4%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2014 Yamaha Xj?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2014 Yamaha Xj are: Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (45.8% of vehicles), Exhaust noisy (32.4% of vehicles), Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (32.3% 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 2014 Yamaha Xj?

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 Xj (2014)

383 real MOT outcomes analysed • 91.4% first-time pass rate

2014 Yamaha Xj

CarHunch analysed 383 real MOT records for the 2014 Yamaha Xj. 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 Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

Moderate sample. 383 vehicles on record. Figures are indicative — the specific vehicle's history matters more than these averages.

The 2014 Yamaha XJ is a reliable motorcycle, with a 91.3% first-time MOT pass rate that beats the UK average of 80% by a clear margin. However, just under one in five bikes (19.1%) have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, which is worth taking seriously during a pre-purchase inspection.

At a median mileage of 12,873 miles for a ten-year-old bike, these machines are typically well-used but not hammered, and the low failure rate of 0.74 per vehicle suggests they're holding up mechanically. The average of 2.7 advisories per test indicates minor wear accumulation is normal—check the service history and have any outstanding advisories addressed before committing to a purchase.

The 2014 Yamaha Xj passes its MOT first time at roughly the UK average rate (91.4%) — 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

91.4%

UK average ~80%

Better than average

Dangerous (ever)

19.1%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.74

Over 7.3 tests on record

Moderate

Typical mileage

13k

Middle half: 7k–20k

For context

✅ Good baseline reliability. A 91.4% 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 2.7 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 383 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 383 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 45.8%

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.

Exhaust & emissions 32.4%

Exhaust noisy

Lighting 26%

Drive chain slightly loose · Front Stop lamp not working · Rear reflector missing

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

Brake wear 12.6%

Rear Brake indicates slight fluctuation of brake effort · Rear Brake pad(s) close to minimum limit · Front Brake binding but not excessively · …

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

Other issues 10.6%

Drive chain worn but not considered excessive

Suspension & steering 7%

Steering headbearing slightly stiff or notchy · 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.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2014.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 383 Yamaha Xj cars.

Before you buy a 2014 Yamaha Xj

Based on MOT data from 383 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 19.1% 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

Colour Breakdown

Based on 1,082 Yamaha Xj vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Grey 26.2%

283

Black 24.1%

261

White 21.8%

236

Red 11.8%

128

Blue 7.6%

Green 4.1%

Silver 2.3%

Yellow 0.9%

Purple 0.6%

Maroon 0.6%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2014 Yamaha Xj 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.

12,873

typical

6,762

low mileage

19,985

high mileage

Half of all 2014 Yamaha Xj vehicles fall between 6,762 and 19,985 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 6,762 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.

✓ 6,762–19,985 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2014 Yamaha Xjs sit.

⚠ Over 26,979 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2014 Yamaha Xj — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 68% of 2014 Yamaha Xjs are still active.

221 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 68% of the peak remain.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2017–2025.
* 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

7.3

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.74

Avg failures per vehicle

2.7

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

2013

Or browse all models: Yamaha →

Compare with another model

See how the 2014 Yamaha Xj stacks up against a rival.

Average reliability — agree?