Honda CBF500 MOT pass rate and common failures

Honda CBF500 motorcycles pass the MOT 81.02% of the time, measured across 511 tests in the DVSA record. A further 7.63% passed only after a defect was put right at the test station.

Worse than average: 5.9 points below the 86.87% figure for all motorcycles tested.

Pass rate 81.02% 414 of 511

Fixed at the station 7.63% passed after an on-the-spot repair

Average mileage at test 35,231 miles

Average age at test 19.51 years old

Engine 499cc MOT class 2

For sale now 0 Honda CBF500 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 44.8% of failed tests on this model.
Then check has a serious fluid leak and too low, the next two most common reasons.
The most common advisory is tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (6.8% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
Average recorded mileage at test is 35,231 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
16+ years	80.94%		509

Why the Honda CBF500 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	44.8%	26
2	Has a serious fluid leak	27.6%	16
3	Too low	19%	11
4	Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm	15.5%	9
5	Flashing more than 120 times a minute	12.1%	7
6	Has excessive play	10.3%	6
7	Has a major leak of exhaust gases	8.6%	5
8	Insecure	8.6%	5
9	Less than 1.0 mm thick	8.6%	5
10	Missing	8.6%	5

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	6.8%	35
2	Has a serious fluid leak	6.5%	33
3	Less than 1.0 mm thick	5.9%	30
4	Significantly and obviously worn	4.9%	25
5	Excessively loose	4.5%	23
6	Noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar motorcycle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition	3.9%	20
7	In such a condition that it is seriously weakened	2.9%	15
8	Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort	2.7%	14
9	Excessively stiff or notchy	2.5%	13
10	Has a major leak of exhaust gases	2.3%	12

Honda CBF500 for sale

No Honda CBF500 in stock at the moment - 73 other Honda bikes are advertised.

Used Honda CBF500 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 CBF500 MOT questions

What is the MOT pass rate for the Honda CBF500?+

81.02% of Honda CBF500 MOT tests end in a pass, based on 511 tests in the DVSA dataset.

What is the most common MOT failure on a Honda CBF500?+

Not working, which appears in 44.8% 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.