YAMAHA FS1E1979 · 0.0L PETROL

The 1979 Yamaha FS1E holds a current MOT valid until 5 December 2026, having passed its most recent test on 5 December 2025 at 18,461 miles. The overall mechanical trend is stable but not fully resolved. A recurring advisory for a stiff or notchy central front steering headbearing has appeared at every test since November 2022, indicating a long-standing condition that has not worsened enough to cause failure but has persisted across multiple annual inspections. The December 2025 test itself was a mixed picture: the initial failure that day was solely for a non-working offside rear direction indicator, a minor electrical defect, while the steering headbearing advisory carried over from previous years. Once the indicator was rectified, the bike passed on the same day at the identical mileage, suggesting the electrical fault was a simple fix rather than a symptom of deeper wiring issues. The mileage pattern tells a clear story of very light use. The bike has covered just 18,461 miles over roughly 47 years, averaging approximately 393 miles annually. The recorded mileages are tightly clustered: 18,456 miles in November 2022, 18,457 in November 2023, 18,460 in November 2024, and 18,461 in December 2025. That is a gain of only five miles across three years and just one mile in the final twelve-month period. Such minimal accumulation points to either very short local rides or extended periods of standing. There are no gaps in the MOT record to suggest the bike was off the road for long stretches without a valid certificate, and the annual test pattern is consistent from 2022 onward. A buyer should focus the in-person inspection on the front steering headbearing, given its five-year advisory history. A stiff or notchy bearing can indicate dried grease, pitted races, or insufficient preload, and on a lightweight two-stroke commuter like the FS1E, any notchiness transmits directly to the rider's hands at low speed. Check whether the bearing has been replaced or simply re-greased, and verify there is no play or lateral movement in the steering stem. Beyond that, examine the general condition of a machine that has likely spent considerable time stationary. Perished fuel hoses, a blocked carburettor from old two-stroke fuel, flat-spotted tyres from prolonged sitting, and corroded brake components are all more likely on a bike averaging under 400 miles per year than on one in regular use. The offside rear indicator failure in December 2025 was trivial, but it is worth confirming the wiring loom has not deteriorated from age, particularly around the headstock where flexing occurs. The structural integrity of the frame and forks should also be checked for surface corrosion, as low-mileage machines stored in damp conditions can deteriorate cosmetically and structurally despite minimal wear on mechanical parts.