Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2002 Yamaha Xp500?

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 2002 Yamaha Xp500?

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 2002 Yamaha Xp500?

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 2002 Yamaha Xp500 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 271 vehicles, the 2002 Yamaha Xp500 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 88.6%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2002 Yamaha Xp500?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2002 Yamaha Xp500 are: Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (57.9% of vehicles), Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (41.7% of vehicles), Rear Brake disc(s) slightly worn (24.7% 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 2002 Yamaha Xp500?

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 Xp500 (2002)

271 real MOT outcomes analysed • 88.6% first-time pass rate

2002 Yamaha Xp500

CarHunch analysed 271 real MOT records for the 2002 Yamaha Xp500. 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

The 2002 Yamaha XP500 passes its MOT slightly above the UK average, with an 82.7% first-time pass rate compared to 80% nationally, suggesting reasonable reliability for a machine of this age. However, 17% of these scooters have recorded dangerous defects at some point, which is worth noting if you're buying used—check the full MOT history carefully.

With a median mileage of just 18,563 miles, these machines have generally been lightly used, though they average 1.21 failures and 4.1 advisories per test, indicating wear items and minor issues crop up regularly. Before purchasing, obtain the complete MOT history and have a trusted mechanic inspect the brakes and suspension, as these tend to be where problems emerge on ageing scooters.

We have limited data for the 2002 Yamaha Xp500 — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

⚠️ 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

88.6%

UK average ~80%

Better than average

Dangerous (ever)

17%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.21

Over 9.6 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

19k

Middle half: 13k–28k

For context

These stats describe 271 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 271 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 57.9%

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.

Brake wear 24.7%

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

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

Suspension & steering 11.9%

Nearside Front shock absorber has light misting of stanchion · Steering movement slightly 'notchy'

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 2002.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 271 Yamaha Xp500 cars.

Before you buy a 2002 Yamaha Xp500

Based on MOT data from 271 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 17% 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 (99%)	269	88.5%	1.22

Colour Breakdown

Based on 1,885 Yamaha Xp500 vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Black 26.6%

502

Blue 22.3%

421

Silver 18.8%

355

Yellow 12.8%

241

Grey 12.5%

236

White 4.8%

Red 2.1%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2002 Yamaha Xp500 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.

18,563

typical

12,647

low mileage

28,371

high mileage

Half of all 2002 Yamaha Xp500 vehicles fall between 12,647 and 28,371 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 12,647 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.

✓ 12,647–28,371 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2002 Yamaha Xp500s sit.

⚠ Over 38,300 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2002 Yamaha Xp500 — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 25% of 2002 Yamaha Xp500s are still active.

Numbers are declining — 31 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (25% of peak).

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

9.6

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.21

Avg failures per vehicle

4.1

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Yamaha Xp500: All Xp500 years → Which year to buy? →

2001 2003 2004 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Or browse all models: Yamaha →

Compare with another model

See how the 2002 Yamaha Xp500 stacks up against a rival.

Average reliability — agree?