Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2006 Yamaha Xt660r?

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 2006 Yamaha Xt660r?

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 2006 Yamaha Xt660r?

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 2006 Yamaha Xt660r reliable?

Based on MOT data from 101 vehicles, the 2006 Yamaha Xt660r has a first-time MOT pass rate of 89.4%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2006 Yamaha Xt660r?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2006 Yamaha Xt660r are: Front Brake pad(s) close to minimum limit (54.2% of vehicles), Exhaust noisy (42.2% of vehicles), Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (38% 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 2006 Yamaha Xt660r?

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 Xt660r (2006)

101 real MOT outcomes analysed • 89.4% first-time pass rate

2006 Yamaha Xt660r

CarHunch analysed 101 real MOT records for the 2006 Yamaha Xt660r. 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 Compare Models

The 2006 Yamaha XT660R passes its MOT first time in 89.4% of cases, a solid 9.4 percentage points above the UK average, suggesting this is a mechanically robust bike when well maintained. The dangerous defect rate of 9.9% is reassuringly low, so safety issues are not a widespread concern for this model.

These bikes are running at a median of 11,587 miles for their age, which is relatively low and suggests many are weekend or leisure machines rather than high-mileage commuters. With an average of 0.98 failures per test, owners should expect occasional repairs, but the 5.2 advisories per vehicle indicate wearing parts like chains, sprockets, and consumables need regular attention—budget for preventive maintenance rather than surprise failures.

We have limited data for the 2006 Yamaha Xt660r — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

⚠️ About 1 in 12 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

89.4%

UK average ~80%

Better than average

Dangerous (ever)

9.9%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.98

Over 9 tests on record

Moderate

Typical mileage

12k

Middle half: 8k–19k

For context

These stats describe 101 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.

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What tends to go wrong

Across 101 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Brake wear 54.2%

Front Brake pad(s) close to minimum limit · Rear 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.

Exhaust & emissions 42.2%

Exhaust noisy

Tyre wear 38%

Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Front 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.

Lighting 18.1%

Drive chain slightly loose · Headlamp aim too high · Headlamp aim too low

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

Other issues 15.1%

Drive chain worn but not considered excessive · Drive chain sprocket carrier worn but not considered excessive · Chain guard missing

Suspension & steering 12.7%

Nearside Front shock absorber has light misting of stanchion · Rear wheel bearings have slight free play · Rear Wheel bearing has slight play

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 2006.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 101 Yamaha Xt660r cars.

Before you buy a 2006 Yamaha Xt660r

Based on MOT data from 101 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 9.9% 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

Mileage Distribution

Most 2006 Yamaha Xt660r 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.

11,587

typical

7,892

low mileage

18,883

high mileage

Half of all 2006 Yamaha Xt660r vehicles fall between 7,892 and 18,883 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 7,892 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.

✓ 7,892–18,883 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2006 Yamaha Xt660rs sit.

⚠ Over 25,492 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2006 Yamaha Xt660r — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 63% of 2006 Yamaha Xt660rs are still active.

34 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 63% 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

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.98

Avg failures per vehicle

5.2

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Yamaha Xt660r: All Xt660r years → Which year to buy? →

2007

Or browse all models: Yamaha →

Compare with another model

See how the 2006 Yamaha Xt660r stacks up against a rival.

A solid choice — agree?