Honda Cb 500 MOT Pass Rate
Overall pass rate across all manufacture years, based on 1,787 real MOT test results. Failure rate: 21.2%.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
Honda Cb 500 MOT Reliability Overview
The Honda Cb 500 is a niche vehicle in the UK, with 1,787 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 11 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 78.8% and a failure rate of 21.2%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.
Based on this data, the Honda Cb 500 earns a "Excellent" reliability rating. The average Honda Cb 500 presents for MOT with approximately 31,092 miles on the clock. Manufacture year matters: 1971 models achieve the highest pass rate at 82.5%, while 1994 models have the lowest at 75.4%. This 7.1 percentage point difference suggests notable variation in build quality or component durability across production years.
The most common MOT failure for the Honda Cb 500 is Motorcycle brakes, affecting 10.2% of all tests. Brake-related failures include worn brake pads, corroded brake discs, leaking brake lines, and faulty brake servos. These are safety-critical components — any brake deficiency will result in an MOT fail. The second most common issue is Motorcycle lighting and signalling at 9.4%. Motorcycle steering and suspension rounds out the top three at 8.6%. Together, these top 3 failure categories account for a significant portion of all MOT failures for this model.
Top failures across all manufacture years combined. Individual year pages may show different top failures.
What Fails Most
Best Year to Buy
📈 How Each Vintage Ages
Pass Rate by Manufacture Year
* High Fail Rate badge indicates an MOT pass rate below 65% (failure rate above 35%).
What Fails on This Car?
Click a category to see specific failure items.
View as table
| Rank | Failure Category | Rate (%) | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Motorcycle Brakes | 11.6% | 208 |
| 2 | Motorcycle Lighting And Signalling | 11.0% | 196 |
| 3 | Motorcycle Steering And Suspension | 10.2% | 183 |
| 4 | Motorcycle Tyres And Wheels | 6.1% | 109 |
| 5 | Motorcycle Drive System | 5.3% | 94 |
| 6 | Motorcycle Lamps And Reflectors | 2.4% | 42 |
| 7 | Motorcycle Structure And Attachments | 2.0% | 36 |
| 8 | Motorcycle Fuel And Exhaust | 1.6% | 29 |
| 9 | Motorcycle Suspension | 1.6% | 29 |
| 10 | Motorcycle Body And Structure | 1.1% | 20 |
| 11 | Motorcycle Steering | 0.7% | 13 |
| 12 | Motorcycle Tyres | 0.7% | 13 |
| 13 | Motorcycle Driving Controls | 0.5% | 9 |
| 14 | Motorcycle Reg Plates And Vin | 0.4% | 7 |
| 15 | Identification Of The Vehicle | 0.1% | 2 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 31,092 miFor every 10,000 miles driven, this shows what percentage of MOT tests fail for each category. This accounts for how far cars are actually driven, not just raw pass/fail counts.
View as table
| Category | Rate / 10K mi | Raw % | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Motorcycle brakes | 3.74 | 11.6% | 208 |
| Motorcycle lighting and signalling | 3.53 | 11.0% | 196 |
| Motorcycle steering and suspension | 3.29 | 10.2% | 183 |
| Motorcycle tyres and wheels | 1.96 | 6.1% | 109 |
| Motorcycle drive system | 1.69 | 5.3% | 94 |
| Motorcycle lamps and reflectors | 0.76 | 2.4% | 42 |
| Motorcycle structure and attachments | 0.65 | 2.0% | 36 |
| Motorcycle fuel and exhaust | 0.52 | 1.6% | 29 |
| Motorcycle suspension | 0.52 | 1.6% | 29 |
| Motorcycle body and structure | 0.36 | 1.1% | 20 |
| Motorcycle steering | 0.23 | 0.7% | 13 |
| Motorcycle tyres | 0.23 | 0.7% | 13 |
| Motorcycle driving controls | 0.16 | 0.5% | 9 |
| Motorcycle reg plates and vin | 0.13 | 0.4% | 7 |
| Identification of the vehicle | 0.04 | 0.1% | 2 |
🚗 Similar Cars to Consider
Mileage at MOT
The average Honda Cb 500 has 31,092 miles when tested for MOT.
📊 Mileage-Adjusted Failure Rate
How often this car fails MOT relative to how much it's driven — a fairer comparison than raw pass rate.
The Honda Cb 500 has a mileage-adjusted failure rate of 6.82% per 10,000 miles driven. The average across all makes is 5.38%, so this model is worse than average.
About Honda Cb 500 MOT Data
The Honda Cb 500 is a niche vehicle in the UK, with 1,787 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 11 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 78.8% and a failure rate of 21.2%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.
For Honda Cb 500 owners, these results suggest a reliable vehicle that generally passes its MOT without major issues. Focus your pre-MOT checks on motorcycle brakes and motorcycle lighting and signalling for the best chance of a first-time pass. Use our detailed year-by-year breakdown and failure analysis below to understand how your specific Cb 500 is likely to perform.
Motorcycle brakes — 10.2% of failures
Motorcycle brakes issues account for 10.2% of MOT failures on the Honda Cb 500. Brake-related failures include worn brake pads, corroded brake discs, leaking brake lines, and faulty brake servos. These are safety-critical components — any brake deficiency will result in an MOT fail. Typical repair costs: £150–400. Pre-MOT check: Listen for squealing or grinding noises. Check brake pedal feel — if it feels spongy or goes to the floor, have the system inspected immediately. Look at brake pad thickness through the wheel spokes (minimum 3mm).
Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 9.4% of failures
Motorcycle lighting and signalling issues account for 9.4% of MOT failures on the Honda Cb 500. Motorcycle lighting and signalling issues are a common cause of MOT failure. Regular inspection and maintenance of these components helps ensure your vehicle passes its MOT. Typical repair costs: £100–400. Pre-MOT check: Have this system checked during regular servicing. Look for warning signs like unusual noises, vibrations, or dashboard warning lights.
Motorcycle steering and suspension — 8.6% of failures
Motorcycle steering and suspension issues account for 8.6% of MOT failures on the Honda Cb 500. Suspension failures typically involve worn bushes, leaking shock absorbers, broken coil springs, and damaged suspension arms. These affect ride quality, tyre wear, and road holding. Typical repair costs: £200–500. Pre-MOT check: Look for uneven tyre wear, listen for clunking over bumps, and check if the car pulls to one side. A bouncy ride suggests worn shock absorbers. Visually inspect coil springs for cracks.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Honda Cb 500?
Based on 1,787 MOT tests in our database, the Honda Cb 500 has an overall pass rate of 78.8% (21.2% fail rate).
What are the most common MOT failures on a Honda Cb 500?
The top 3 reasons a Honda Cb 500 fails its MOT are: 1. Motorcycle brakes (10.2%), 2. Motorcycle lighting and signalling (9.4%), 3. Motorcycle steering and suspension (8.6%). Check these areas before booking your MOT.
Is the Honda Cb 500 reliable?
With a 21.2% MOT failure rate, the Cb 500 is more reliable than average compared to the UK average of ~40%.
What should I check before an MOT on my Honda Cb 500?
Based on failure data, focus on: Motorcycle brakes (10.2%); Motorcycle lighting and signalling (9.4%); Motorcycle steering and suspension (8.6%). These are the areas most likely to cause a fail. Also check all lights, tyres (minimum 1.6mm tread), and windscreen condition — these are quick wins that apply to all cars.
Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.