Honda CB 500 XA-K MOT pass rate and common failures
Honda CB 500 XA-K motorcycles pass the MOT 92.79% of the time, measured across 902 tests in the DVSA record. A further 3.33% 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 too high - it accounts for 31.4% of failed tests on this model.
- Then check tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm and less than 1.0 mm thick, the next two most common reasons.
- The most common advisory is tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (6.3% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
- Average recorded mileage at test is 13,577 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 | 92.79% | 666 | |
| 6-10 years | 92.8% | 236 |
Why the Honda CB 500 XA-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 | Too high | 31.4% | 11 | |
| 2 | Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm | 31.4% | 11 | |
| 3 | Less than 1.0 mm thick | 28.6% | 10 | |
| 4 | Has a serious fluid leak | 17.1% | 6 | |
| 5 | Excessively loose | 11.4% | 4 | |
| 6 | Inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps | 11.4% | 4 | |
| 7 | Contaminated | 8.6% | 3 | |
| 8 | Grip insecure to handlebar | 8.6% | 3 | |
| 9 | Has negligible damping effect | 8.6% | 3 | |
| 10 | Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort | 8.6% | 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 | 6.3% | 57 | |
| 2 | Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort | 3% | 27 | |
| 3 | Excessively loose | 2.5% | 23 | |
| 4 | Less than 1.0 mm thick | 2.5% | 23 | |
| 5 | Has a serious fluid leak | 1.6% | 14 | |
| 6 | Noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar motorcycle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition | 1.2% | 11 | |
| 7 | Worn to excess | 1.2% | 11 | |
| 8 | Tread not clearly visible | 1% | 9 | |
| 9 | Grabbing severely | 0.6% | 5 | |
| 10 | Shortened so it cannot be readily operated | 0.6% | 5 |
Honda CB 500 XA-K for sale
1 Honda CB 500 XA-K adverts on MotoDealers UK right now, 74 Honda in total.
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