Honda CB 500 FA-N MOT pass rate and common failures

Honda CB 500 FA-N motorcycles pass the MOT 95.42% of the time, measured across 240 tests in the DVSA record. A further 3.33% passed only after a defect was put right at the test station.

Better than average: 8.5 points above the 86.87% figure for all motorcycles tested.

Pass rate 95.42% 229 of 240

Fixed at the station 3.33% passed after an on-the-spot repair

Average mileage at test 7,679 miles

Average age at test 3.05 years old

Engine 471cc MOT class 2

For sale now 0 Honda CB 500 FA-N adverts

What to check before the MOT

Built from this model's own failure record, not general advice.

Start with too low - it accounts for 100% of failed tests on this model.
Then check excessively loose and indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort, the next two most common reasons.
The most common advisory is indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort (5.4% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
Average recorded mileage at test is 7,679 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	95.42%		240

Why the Honda CB 500 FA-N 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	Too low	100%	4
2	Excessively loose	66.7%	2
3	Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort	66.7%	2
4	Does not conform to the specified requirements	33.3%	1
5	Grip insecure to handlebar	33.3%	1
6	Too high	33.3%	1

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	Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort	5.4%	13
2	Worn to excess	2.9%	7
3	Excessively loose	1.7%	4
4	Excessively stiff or notchy	1.7%	4
5	Is so short that the brake cannot be readily applied	1.3%	3
6	Less than 1.0 mm thick	1.3%	3
7	Noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar motorcycle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition	1.3%	3
8	Excessively distorted	0.8%	2
9	Is bent and the brake cannot be readily applied	0.8%	2
10	Shortened so it cannot be readily operated	0.8%	2

Honda CB 500 FA-N for sale

No Honda CB 500 FA-N in stock at the moment - 74 other Honda bikes are advertised.

Used Honda CB 500 FA-N Used Honda All Honda Honda MOT statistics

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

Honda CB 500 FA-N MOT questions

What is the MOT pass rate for the Honda CB 500 FA-N?+

95.42% of Honda CB 500 FA-N MOT tests end in a pass, based on 240 tests in the DVSA dataset.

What is the most common MOT failure on a Honda CB 500 FA-N?+

Too low, which appears in 100% of failed tests on this model.

Where does this data come from?+

From the DVSA anonymised MOT testing dataset, which records every MOT carried out in England, Scotland and Wales. It is published under the Open Government Licence and covers 2025.

Does a high pass rate mean the bike is reliable?+

Not by itself. The MOT checks safety items - brakes, tyres, lights, structure - and says nothing about engines, gearboxes or electrics. Read it as a maintenance signal, not a reliability score.