Honda CBF 600 SA-8 MOT pass rate and common failures

Honda CBF 600 SA-8 motorcycles pass the MOT 88.6% of the time, measured across 228 tests in the DVSA record. A further 4.39% passed only after a defect was put right at the test station.

About average - within 1.7 points of the 86.87% figure for all motorcycles tested.

Pass rate 88.6% 202 of 228

Fixed at the station 4.39% passed after an on-the-spot repair

Average mileage at test 34,874 miles

Average age at test 16.37 years old

Engine 599cc MOT class 2

For sale now 0 Honda CBF 600 SA-8 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 37.5% of failed tests on this model.
Then check tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm and does not illuminate by the operation of both brake controls, the next two most common reasons.
The most common advisory is excessively stiff or notchy (7% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
Average recorded mileage at test is 34,874 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	85.29%		68
16+ years	90%		160

Why the Honda CBF 600 SA-8 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	37.5%	6
2	Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm	25%	4
3	Does not illuminate by the operation of both brake controls	18.8%	3
4	Has a serious fluid leak	18.8%	3
5	Less than 1.0 mm thick	18.8%	3
6	Contaminated	12.5%	2
7	Has excessive play	12.5%	2
8	Insecure	12.5%	2
9	Does not conform to the specified requirements	6.3%	1
10	Does not illuminate simultaneously with the position lamp(s)	6.3%	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	Excessively stiff or notchy	7%	16
2	Less than 1.0 mm thick	6.1%	14
3	Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm	6.1%	14
4	Excessively loose	4.4%	10
5	Has a serious fluid leak	3.9%	9
6	Excessively binding	3.1%	7
7	Worn to excess	2.6%	6
8	Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort	2.2%	5
9	Significantly and obviously worn	1.8%	4
10	Tread not clearly visible	1.8%	4

Honda CBF 600 SA-8 for sale

No Honda CBF 600 SA-8 in stock at the moment - 74 other Honda bikes are advertised.

Used Honda CBF 600 SA-8 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 CBF 600 SA-8 MOT questions

What is the MOT pass rate for the Honda CBF 600 SA-8?+

88.6% of Honda CBF 600 SA-8 MOT tests end in a pass, based on 228 tests in the DVSA dataset.

What is the most common MOT failure on a Honda CBF 600 SA-8?+

Not working, which appears in 37.5% of failed tests on this model.

Does the Honda CBF 600 SA-8 get harder to pass as it ages?+

At 16+ years old the pass rate is 90%, against 85.29% 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.