1994 Yamaha XJ600 0.6L Petrol · M817 AWX

A 1994 Yamaha XJ600 with a 32-year MOT history showing scattered testing and two recorded failures cannot be described as a roadworthiness success story. The most recent test on 2 September 2023 produced a pass with no advisories recorded, but on the very same date a separate test was logged as a failure with three major defects: rear wheel alignment incorrect to the point of affecting handling, a rough front wheel bearing when rotated, and headlamp aim too low. Going further back, the 2010 test recorded a failure for a rear shock absorber with inadequate damping effect, and four separate advisories across 2007, 2010 and 2011 flagged a deteriorating exhaust, fluctuating rear brake effort, slightly juddering front and rear brakes, and slight free play in the rear suspension bush. The overall pattern is one of intermittent attendance at test combined with recurring braking and suspension concerns rather than a clean, improving trajectory. The mileage of 25,417 miles spread across 32 years equates to roughly 794 miles per year, which is notably low for a motorcycle of this age. The MOT record itself reinforces this picture of limited use: only eight tests are logged between 2007 and 2023, with a particularly long gap between 2011 and 2023 during which no DVSA evidence of the vehicle's condition exists. Low annual mileage on a machine of this vintage usually signals extended periods of standing, which in turn raises the prospect of perished rubber components, dried-out suspension seals, corroded electrical connections, seized caliper pistons, and stale fuel residues rather than conventional wear from high usage. A prospective buyer should treat the 2023 failure items as the immediate mechanical priority. The rough front wheel bearing is a symptom to verify by hand on a paddock stand, spinning the wheel to feel for notching, roughness or grittiness, and by rocking it laterally to detect any play in the hub. The rear wheel alignment issue should be checked by measuring chain run and sprocket alignment, and the headlamp aim corrected and confirmed against a flat surface before any road use. The 2010 rear shock absorber failure and the 2011 rear suspension bush free play together indicate that the rear suspension unit and its linkage bushes warrant close inspection for leaking oil, seized preload adjusters, cracked bush rubber, and any knocking or harshness transmitted through the frame when traversing uneven surfaces at low speed. The brake-related advisories from 2010 and 2011 should not be dismissed as historical noise, particularly given the low mileage and likely storage periods that allow caliper slide pins and piston seals to corrode. On a test ride, expect to feel for a firm lever with even pull and no sponginess, listen for any scraping or binding as the brakes are released, and check that the calipers retract cleanly without the pads dragging on the discs. The 2007 exhaust deterioration advisory also points to a component now almost two decades past that observation, so physical inspection of the system for corrosion, blueing at the joints, and secure mounting is essential. Finally, the multi-year gap in testing means there is no recorded evidence of the motorcycle's condition between 2011 and 2023, and a thorough pre-purchase inspection by a motorcycle specialist is strongly advisable to establish the present state of tyres, brake hoses, drive chain, fork seals, cooling system and electrical components that fall outside MOT scope but are critical to safe operation.