Honda NC 700 XA-C MOT pass rate and common failures

Honda NC 700 XA-C motorcycles pass the MOT 87.84% of the time, measured across 329 tests in the DVSA record. A further 3.34% passed only after a defect was put right at the test station.

About average - within 1 point of the 86.87% figure for all motorcycles tested.
Pass rate 87.84% 289 of 329
Fixed at the station 3.34% passed after an on-the-spot repair
Average mileage at test 35,789 miles
Average age at test 12.74 years old
Engine 670cc MOT class 1 and 2
For sale now 0 Honda NC 700 XA-C adverts

What to check before the MOT

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

  • Start with has excessive play - it accounts for 17.2% of failed tests on this model.
  • Then check less than 1.0 mm thick and not working, the next two most common reasons.
  • The most common advisory is tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (10% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
  • Average recorded mileage at test is 35,789 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 87.84% 329

Why the Honda NC 700 XA-C 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 Has excessive play 17.2% 5
2 Less than 1.0 mm thick 17.2% 5
3 Not working 17.2% 5
4 Has a serious fluid leak 13.8% 4
5 Remains on when the brakes are released 13.8% 4
6 Excessively loose 10.3% 3
7 Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 10.3% 3
8 Does not illuminate by the operation of both brake controls 6.9% 2
9 Excessively tight 6.9% 2
10 Has insufficient reserve travel 6.9% 2

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 10% 33
2 Less than 1.0 mm thick 7.3% 24
3 Has a serious fluid leak 4.3% 14
4 Excessively loose 4% 13
5 Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort 3% 10
6 Has excessive play 2.7% 9
7 In such a condition that it is seriously weakened 2.7% 9
8 Noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar motorcycle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition 2.7% 9
9 Significantly and obviously worn 2.7% 9
10 Tread not clearly visible 2.1% 7

Honda NC 700 XA-C for sale

No Honda NC 700 XA-C 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
Triumph BONNEVILLE 642-904cc · 642-904cc 12,456 90.8% 12,824
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

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

Honda NC 700 XA-C MOT questions

What is the MOT pass rate for the Honda NC 700 XA-C?+
87.84% of Honda NC 700 XA-C MOT tests end in a pass, based on 329 tests in the DVSA dataset.
What is the most common MOT failure on a Honda NC 700 XA-C?+
Has excessive play, which appears in 17.2% 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.
Top