Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2016 Yamaha Xvs?

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 2016 Yamaha Xvs?

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 2016 Yamaha Xvs?

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 2016 Yamaha Xvs reliable?

Based on MOT data from 270 vehicles, the 2016 Yamaha Xvs has a first-time MOT pass rate of 92.2%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2016 Yamaha Xvs?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2016 Yamaha Xvs are: Exhaust noisy (69.6% of vehicles), Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (24% of vehicles), Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (18.1% 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 2016 Yamaha Xvs?

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 Xvs (2016)

270 real MOT outcomes analysed • 92.2% first-time pass rate

2016 Yamaha Xvs

CarHunch analysed 270 real MOT records for the 2016 Yamaha Xvs. 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 Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2016 Yamaha XVS is a genuinely reliable bike: a 92.2% first-time pass rate sits well clear of the UK average of 80%, suggesting owners keep these machines in good order. The 17.4% rate of dangerous defects is acceptable rather than alarming, so safety shouldn't be a major concern for most examples.

At just over 9,000 miles on average, these bikes are lightly used for their age, which helps explain the strong pass rates. The modest failure count of 0.54 per vehicle and 1.7 advisories per bike point to straightforward, predictable maintenance rather than hidden nasties—so when you're inspecting one, focus your attention on the usual wear items (tyres, brakes, fluids) rather than expecting structural or engineering surprises.

We have limited data for the 2016 Yamaha Xvs — 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

92.2%

UK average ~80%

Better than average

Dangerous (ever)

17.4%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.54

Over 6.1 tests on record

Moderate

Typical mileage

Middle half: 4k–12k

For context

These stats describe 270 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 270 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Exhaust & emissions 69.6%

Exhaust noisy · Offside Rear Exhaust noisy · Exhaust noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar motorcycle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition · …

Tyre wear 24%

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.

Other issues 15.8%

COVID-19 6 MONTH EXTENSION

Lighting 9.1%

Headlamp aim too high · Rear reflector missing · Front Valve stem slightly damaged · …

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

Brake wear 8.8%

Rear Brake pad(s) close to minimum limit · Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened · Rear Brake pad(s) less than 1.0 mm thick

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

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2016.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 270 Yamaha Xvs cars.

Before you buy a 2016 Yamaha Xvs

Based on MOT data from 270 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 17.4% 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 1,205 Yamaha Xvs vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Black 40.2%

485

Grey 19.4%

234

White 9.9%

119

Green 9.9%

119

Blue 8.6%

104

Red 8.4%

101

Silver 1.2%

Yellow 1.1%

Orange 0.7%

Purple 0.6%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2016 Yamaha Xvs 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.

7,158

typical

4,395

low mileage

11,818

high mileage

Half of all 2016 Yamaha Xvs vehicles fall between 4,395 and 11,818 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 4,395 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.

✓ 4,395–11,818 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2016 Yamaha Xvss sit.

⚠ Over 15,954 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2016 Yamaha Xvs — Still on the Road

Most 2016 Yamaha Xvss are still being driven.

Strong survival — 197 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 83% of the peak.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2019–2025.
* 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

6.1

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.54

Avg failures per vehicle

1.7

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

2014 2015

Or browse all models: Yamaha →

Compare with another model

See how the 2016 Yamaha Xvs stacks up against a rival.

Average reliability — agree?