Honda NC 750 XD-L MOT pass rate and common failures

Honda NC 750 XD-L motorcycles pass the MOT 95.22% of the time, measured across 209 tests in the DVSA record. A further 1.44% passed only after a defect was put right at the test station.

Better than average: 8.3 points above the 86.87% figure for all motorcycles tested.
Pass rate 95.22% 199 of 209
Fixed at the station 1.44% passed after an on-the-spot repair
Average mileage at test 12,671 miles
Average age at test 4.84 years old
Engine 745cc MOT class 1 and 2
For sale now 0 Honda NC 750 XD-L 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 28.6% of failed tests on this model.
  • Then check tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm and excessively tight, the next two most common reasons.
  • The most common advisory is tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (7.2% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
  • Average recorded mileage at test is 12,671 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
3-5 years 95.22% 209

Why the Honda NC 750 XD-L 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 28.6% 2
2 Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 28.6% 2
3 Excessively tight 14.3% 1
4 Grip insecure to handlebar 14.3% 1
5 Has insufficient reserve travel 14.3% 1
6 Has ply or cord exposed 14.3% 1
7 Incorrect which adversely affects the handling 14.3% 1
8 Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort 14.3% 1
9 Rough when rotated 14.3% 1
10 Switch does not operate in accordance with the requirements 14.3% 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 Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 7.2% 15
2 Excessively loose 4.3% 9
3 Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort 4.3% 9
4 Less than 1.0 mm thick 2.4% 5
5 Worn to excess 1.9% 4
6 Has a serious fluid leak 1.4% 3
7 Is bent and the brake cannot be readily applied 1.4% 3
8 Tread not clearly visible 1.4% 3
9 Excessively distorted 1% 2
10 Has excessive wear or free play 1% 2

Honda NC 750 XD-L for sale

No Honda NC 750 XD-L 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
Yamaha MT 800-1000cc · 800-1000cc 5,720 90.98% 16,130
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 750 XD-L MOT questions

What is the MOT pass rate for the Honda NC 750 XD-L?+
95.22% of Honda NC 750 XD-L MOT tests end in a pass, based on 209 tests in the DVSA dataset.
What is the most common MOT failure on a Honda NC 750 XD-L?+
Has excessive play, which appears in 28.6% 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.
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