Honda CB 500 XA-N MOT pass rate and common failures
Honda CB 500 XA-N motorcycles pass the MOT 94.02% of the time, measured across 468 tests in the DVSA record. A further 2.35% 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 tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm - it accounts for 41.2% of failed tests on this model.
- Then check inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps and missing, the next two most common reasons.
- The most common advisory is tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (6% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
- Average recorded mileage at test is 12,645 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 | 94.02% | 468 |
Why the Honda CB 500 XA-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 | Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm | 41.2% | 7 | |
| 2 | Inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps | 23.5% | 4 | |
| 3 | Missing | 23.5% | 4 | |
| 4 | Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort | 17.6% | 3 | |
| 5 | Less than 1.0 mm thick | 17.6% | 3 | |
| 6 | Does not illuminate by the operation of both brake controls | 11.8% | 2 | |
| 7 | Excessively binding | 11.8% | 2 | |
| 8 | Excessively loose | 11.8% | 2 | |
| 9 | Grip insecure to handlebar | 11.8% | 2 | |
| 10 | Does not illuminate simultaneously with the position lamp(s) | 5.9% | 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 | 6% | 28 | |
| 2 | Excessively loose | 4.1% | 19 | |
| 3 | Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort | 3% | 14 | |
| 4 | Worn to excess | 2.6% | 12 | |
| 5 | Noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar motorcycle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition | 1.7% | 8 | |
| 6 | Less than 1.0 mm thick | 1.3% | 6 | |
| 7 | Is so short that the brake cannot be readily applied | 1.1% | 5 | |
| 8 | Tread not clearly visible | 1.1% | 5 | |
| 9 | Excessively binding | 0.6% | 3 | |
| 10 | Significantly and obviously worn | 0.6% | 3 |
Honda CB 500 XA-N for sale
No Honda CB 500 XA-N 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