Yamaha Virago
Real ownership data from 9,532 UK Virago motorcycles — mileage, MOT pass rates and the faults that actually come up, taken from DVSA test records rather than opinion.
Most common Virago problems
Ranked by how often each fault appears in this model's MOT history.
| Fault | Severity | Share of faults |
|---|---|---|
| Lights and indicators | fail | 4.6% |
| Suspension | major | 3.6% |
| Exhaust and emissions | major | 2.5% |
| Steering and head bearings | major | 1.9% |
| Other | major | 1.6% |
| Brake discs and pads | dangerous | 1.5% |
| Chain and sprockets | fail | 1% |
| Controls and cables | major | 0.9% |
Advisories (wear noted but not failed) are excluded above; the most common is chain and sprockets.
Virago mileage and reliability by year
Use this to judge whether a specific bike is high or low mileage for its age.
| Year | Examples | Median mileage | Miles/year | First-time pass |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 11 | 9,253 mi | 1,207 | 89.29% |
| 2020 | 36 | 6,172 mi | 652 | 92.92% |
| 2019 | 44 | 7,982 mi | 1,322 | 90.3% |
| 2018 | 54 | 9,861 mi | 1,174 | 90.7% |
| 2017 | 49 | 9,295 mi | 1,172 | 90.08% |
| 2016 | 36 | 12,306 mi | 1,062 | 80% |
| 2015 | 34 | 11,621 mi | 818 | 93.98% |
| 2014 | 25 | 10,150 mi | 867 | 91.18% |
| 2013 | 77 | 11,810 mi | 998 | 89.98% |
| 2012 | 31 | 11,770 mi | 819 | 89.95% |
| 2011 | 30 | 12,798 mi | 1,264 | 92.28% |
| 2010 | 29 | 15,992 mi | 522 | 92.51% |
| 2009 | 107 | 19,040 mi | 983 | 90.27% |
| 2008 | 141 | 20,938 mi | 1,139 | 89.16% |
| 2007 | 162 | 20,190 mi | 1,153 | 89.09% |
| 2006 | 152 | 20,972 mi | 1,094 | 87.59% |
| 2005 | 118 | 21,440 mi | 1,089 | 87.66% |
| 2004 | 174 | 22,347 mi | 1,023 | 87.63% |
| 2003 | 328 | 17,975 mi | 915 | 84.25% |
| 2002 | 389 | 19,766 mi | 866 | 83.18% |
Virago questions, answered with data
What are the most common problems with the Yamaha Virago?
Across 9,532 UK examples, the most frequently recorded MOT faults are lights and indicators (4.6% of all recorded faults), suspension (3.6% of all recorded faults), exhaust and emissions (2.5% of all recorded faults).
What is average mileage for a Yamaha Virago?
The median Yamaha Virago in the UK has covered 19,911 miles, and typically rides about 571 miles a year. Half of all examples fall between 11,714 and 29,776 miles.
Is the Yamaha Virago reliable?
83.65% of Yamaha Virago MOT tests are passed first time, with an average of 0.78 faults recorded per test. This is measured from DVSA MOT records, not owner opinion.
Based on DVSA MOT test records for 9,532 Yamaha Virago motorcycles registered in Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.