Honda CB500 MOT pass rate and common failures

Honda CB500 motorcycles pass the MOT 84.08% of the time, measured across 1,300 tests in the DVSA record. A further 6.46% passed only after a defect was put right at the test station.

About average - within 2.8 points of the 86.87% figure for all motorcycles tested.

Pass rate 84.08% 1,093 of 1,300

Fixed at the station 6.46% passed after an on-the-spot repair

Average mileage at test 34,941 miles

Average age at test 25.12 years old

Engine 497cc MOT class 2

For sale now 1 Honda CB500 adverts

What to check before the MOT

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

Start with not working - it accounts for 38.2% of failed tests on this model.
Then check has a serious fluid leak and too high, the next two most common reasons.
The most common advisory is noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar motorcycle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition (5% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
Average recorded mileage at test is 34,941 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
6-10 years	87.18%		78
16+ years	83.91%		1,206

Why the Honda CB500 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	Not working	38.2%	47
2	Has a serious fluid leak	22.8%	28
3	Too high	17.1%	21
4	Too low	14.6%	18
5	Flashing more than 120 times a minute	13.8%	17
6	Insecure	13.8%	17
7	Excessively binding	9.8%	12
8	Contaminated	8.1%	10
9	Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm	8.1%	10
10	Less than 1.0 mm thick	7.3%	9

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	Noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar motorcycle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition	5%	65
2	Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm	3.9%	51
3	Less than 1.0 mm thick	3.8%	50
4	Has a serious fluid leak	3.7%	48
5	Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort	3.5%	45
6	Excessively loose	3.2%	42
7	Excessively stiff or notchy	2.1%	27
8	Has a major leak of exhaust gases	1.8%	24
9	In such a condition that it is seriously weakened	1.6%	21
10	Significantly and obviously worn	1.5%	20

Honda CB500 for sale

1 Honda CB500 adverts on MotoDealers UK right now, 73 Honda in total.

Used Honda CB500 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
Kawasaki ZX-6R · 599-636cc	4,510	81.62%	26,019
Suzuki SV650 · 646cc	3,834	80.99%	27,644
Suzuki GSXR600 · 599cc	3,831	81.83%	25,077

Source: DVSA MOT testing data, 2025 · updated Aug 2026 · licence and method

Honda CB500 MOT questions

What is the MOT pass rate for the Honda CB500?+

84.08% of Honda CB500 MOT tests end in a pass, based on 1,300 tests in the DVSA dataset.

What is the most common MOT failure on a Honda CB500?+

Not working, which appears in 38.2% of failed tests on this model.

Does the Honda CB500 get harder to pass as it ages?+

At 16+ years old the pass rate is 83.91%, against 87.18% for examples 6-10 years old.

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.