Honda CB600 MOT pass rate and common failures

Honda CB600 motorcycles pass the MOT 82.62% of the time, measured across 1,220 tests in the DVSA record. A further 6.64% passed only after a defect was put right at the test station.

Worse than average: 4.3 points below the 86.87% figure for all motorcycles tested.

Pass rate 82.62% 1,008 of 1,220

Fixed at the station 6.64% passed after an on-the-spot repair

Average mileage at test 29,008 miles

Average age at test 22.06 years old

Engine 599cc MOT class 2

For sale now 0 Honda CB600 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 44.3% of failed tests on this model.
Then check missing and flashing more than 120 times a minute, the next two most common reasons.
The most common advisory is tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (7% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
Average recorded mileage at test is 29,008 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
11-15 years	80.85%		94
16+ years	82.77%		1,126

Why the Honda CB600 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	44.3%	58
2	Missing	22.1%	29
3	Flashing more than 120 times a minute	16.8%	22
4	Insecure	16.8%	22
5	Has a serious fluid leak	16%	21
6	Too low	13%	17
7	Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm	10.7%	14
8	Does not illuminate by the operation of both brake controls	8.4%	11
9	Contaminated	7.6%	10
10	Excessively binding	7.6%	10

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	7%	86
2	Noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar motorcycle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition	6.4%	78
3	Has a serious fluid leak	4.3%	53
4	Less than 1.0 mm thick	4.2%	51
5	Excessively loose	3.5%	43
6	Excessively stiff or notchy	2.5%	30
7	Significantly and obviously worn	2.1%	26
8	Worn to excess	2%	24
9	Excessively binding	1.7%	21
10	Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort	1.7%	21

Honda CB600 for sale

No Honda CB600 in stock at the moment - 73 other Honda bikes are advertised.

Used Honda CB600 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
Honda NC · 741cc	5,311	89.53%	22,765
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

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

Honda CB600 MOT questions

What is the MOT pass rate for the Honda CB600?+

82.62% of Honda CB600 MOT tests end in a pass, based on 1,220 tests in the DVSA dataset.

What is the most common MOT failure on a Honda CB600?+

Not working, which appears in 44.3% of failed tests on this model.

Does the Honda CB600 get harder to pass as it ages?+

At 16+ years old the pass rate is 82.77%, against 80.85% for examples 11-15 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.