Honda CB 500 FA-K MOT pass rate and common failures
Honda CB 500 FA-K motorcycles pass the MOT 91.49% of the time, measured across 505 tests in the DVSA record. A further 3.17% passed only after a defect was put right at the test station.
What to check before the MOT
Built from this model's own failure record, not general advice.
- Start with indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort - it accounts for 25.9% of failed tests on this model.
- Then check excessively binding and has a serious fluid leak, the next two most common reasons.
- The most common advisory is tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (4.2% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
- Average recorded mileage at test is 10,465 miles, which is the number to compare any advert against.
Pass rate by age
A single pass rate hides the most useful thing in this data: how the same model behaves at three years old and at fifteen.
| Age at test | Pass rate | Tests | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3-5 years | 90.66% | 396 | |
| 6-10 years | 94.5% | 109 |
Why the Honda CB 500 FA-K fails
Share of failed tests on this model where the item was recorded. One test can fail on several items, so the column does not add up to 100%.
| # | Item | Of failures | Tests | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort | 25.9% | 7 | |
| 2 | Excessively binding | 18.5% | 5 | |
| 3 | Has a serious fluid leak | 14.8% | 4 | |
| 4 | Has insufficient reserve travel | 14.8% | 4 | |
| 5 | Missing | 14.8% | 4 | |
| 6 | Has no recorded effort at a wheel | 11.1% | 3 | |
| 7 | Less than 1.0 mm thick | 11.1% | 3 | |
| 8 | Not working | 11.1% | 3 | |
| 9 | The less effective brake control does not achieve an efficiency of 25% | 11.1% | 3 | |
| 10 | Too high | 11.1% | 3 |
Most common advisories
Not a failure and not a legal requirement to fix - but an advisory that repeats year after year is money the next owner spends.
| # | Item | Of all tests | Tests | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm | 4.2% | 21 | |
| 2 | Excessively loose | 4% | 20 | |
| 3 | Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort | 3.8% | 19 | |
| 4 | Noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar motorcycle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition | 3% | 15 | |
| 5 | Less than 1.0 mm thick | 2.8% | 14 | |
| 6 | Worn to excess | 2.4% | 12 | |
| 7 | Sprocket worn to excess | 1.2% | 6 | |
| 8 | Significantly and obviously worn | 1% | 5 | |
| 9 | Has a serious fluid leak | 0.8% | 4 | |
| 10 | In such a condition that it is seriously weakened | 0.8% | 4 |
Honda CB 500 FA-K for sale
No Honda CB 500 FA-K in stock at the moment - 74 other Honda bikes are advertised.
Similar bikes compared
Models of comparable capacity, so the comparison means something.
| Model | Tests | Pass rate | Avg mileage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honda CB 397-750cc · 397-750cc | 5,400 | 89.76% | 19,444 | |
| Suzuki GSF600 · 600cc | 4,890 | 80% | 29,308 | |
| Honda CBR600F · 599cc | 4,710 | 85.56% | 30,651 | |
| Suzuki GSXR600 · 599cc | 3,831 | 81.83% | 25,077 | |
| Honda CBR 471-650cc · 471-650cc | 3,603 | 86.48% | 17,329 | |
| Yamaha FZS600 · 599cc | 3,548 | 84.02% | 32,611 |
Source: DVSA MOT testing data, 2025 · updated Aug 2026 · licence and method