Honda CB 500 XA-M MOT pass rate and common failures

Honda CB 500 XA-M motorcycles pass the MOT 95.55% of the time, measured across 337 tests in the DVSA record. A further 1.78% passed only after a defect was put right at the test station.

Better than average: 8.7 points above the 86.87% figure for all motorcycles tested.

Pass rate 95.55% 322 of 337

Fixed at the station 1.78% passed after an on-the-spot repair

Average mileage at test 11,080 miles

Average age at test 4.04 years old

Engine 471cc MOT class 1 and 2

For sale now 0 Honda CB 500 XA-M adverts

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 33.3% of failed tests on this model.
Then check too high and too low, the next two most common reasons.
The most common advisory is tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (5.6% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
Average recorded mileage at test is 11,080 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	95.55%		337

Why the Honda CB 500 XA-M 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	33.3%	3
2	Too high	33.3%	3
3	Too low	33.3%	3
4	Has a serious fluid leak	22.2%	2
5	Less than 1.0 mm thick	22.2%	2
6	Contaminated	11.1%	1
7	Excessively tight	11.1%	1
8	Fluid level below minimum level	11.1%	1
9	Has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords	11.1%	1
10	Has a tear caused by separation or partial failure of its structure	11.1%	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	Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm	5.6%	19
2	Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort	4.7%	16
3	Excessively loose	2.7%	9
4	Less than 1.0 mm thick	1.8%	6
5	Worn to excess	1.8%	6
6	Significantly and obviously worn	1.2%	4
7	Tread not clearly visible	1.2%	4
8	Shortened so it cannot be readily operated	0.9%	3
9	In such a condition that it is seriously weakened	0.6%	2
10	Is bent and the brake cannot be readily applied	0.6%	2

Honda CB 500 XA-M for sale

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

Used Honda CB 500 XA-M 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 XA-M MOT questions

What is the MOT pass rate for the Honda CB 500 XA-M?+

95.55% of Honda CB 500 XA-M MOT tests end in a pass, based on 337 tests in the DVSA dataset.

What is the most common MOT failure on a Honda CB 500 XA-M?+

Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort, which appears in 33.3% 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.