Honda Cb550 MOT Pass Rate
Overall pass rate across all manufacture years, based on 1,517 real MOT test results. Failure rate: 17.8%.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
Honda Cb550 MOT Reliability Overview
The Honda Cb550 is a niche vehicle in the UK, with 1,517 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 6 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 82.2% and a failure rate of 17.8%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.
Based on this data, the Honda Cb550 earns a "Excellent" reliability rating. The average Honda Cb550 presents for MOT with approximately 27,127 miles on the clock. Manufacture year matters: 1974 models achieve the highest pass rate at 95.4%, while 1975 models have the lowest at 72.9%. This 22.5 percentage point difference suggests notable variation in build quality or component durability across production years.
The most common MOT failure for the Honda Cb550 is Motorcycle lighting and signalling, affecting 11.3% of all tests. 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. The second most common issue is Motorcycle brakes at 7.1%. Motorcycle steering and suspension rounds out the top three at 5.9%. 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 Lighting And Signalling | 12.8% | 194 |
| 2 | Motorcycle Brakes | 8.5% | 129 |
| 3 | Motorcycle Steering And Suspension | 7.0% | 106 |
| 4 | Motorcycle Tyres And Wheels | 3.9% | 59 |
| 5 | Motorcycle Drive System | 2.8% | 42 |
| 6 | Motorcycle Lamps And Reflectors | 2.2% | 33 |
| 7 | Motorcycle Fuel And Exhaust | 2.0% | 31 |
| 8 | Motorcycle Body And Structure | 1.1% | 16 |
| 9 | Motorcycle Reg Plates And Vin | 1.0% | 15 |
| 10 | Motorcycle Structure And Attachments | 1.0% | 15 |
| 11 | Motorcycle Driving Controls | 0.6% | 9 |
| 12 | Motorcycle Steering | 0.3% | 5 |
| 13 | Motorcycle Wheels | 0.3% | 4 |
| 14 | Motorcycle Suspension | 0.2% | 3 |
| 15 | Motorcycle Audible Warning (Horn) | 0.2% | 3 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 27,127 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 lighting and signalling | 4.71 | 12.8% | 194 |
| Motorcycle brakes | 3.13 | 8.5% | 129 |
| Motorcycle steering and suspension | 2.58 | 7.0% | 106 |
| Motorcycle tyres and wheels | 1.43 | 3.9% | 59 |
| Motorcycle drive system | 1.02 | 2.8% | 42 |
| Motorcycle lamps and reflectors | 0.80 | 2.2% | 33 |
| Motorcycle fuel and exhaust | 0.75 | 2.0% | 31 |
| Motorcycle body and structure | 0.39 | 1.1% | 16 |
| Motorcycle reg plates and vin | 0.36 | 1.0% | 15 |
| Motorcycle structure and attachments | 0.36 | 1.0% | 15 |
| Motorcycle driving controls | 0.22 | 0.6% | 9 |
| Motorcycle steering | 0.12 | 0.3% | 5 |
| Motorcycle wheels | 0.10 | 0.3% | 4 |
| Motorcycle suspension | 0.07 | 0.2% | 3 |
| Motorcycle audible warning (Horn) | 0.07 | 0.2% | 3 |
🚗 Similar Cars to Consider
Mileage at MOT
The average Honda Cb550 has 27,127 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 Cb550 has a mileage-adjusted failure rate of 6.56% per 10,000 miles driven. The average across all makes is 5.38%, so this model is worse than average.
About Honda Cb550 MOT Data
The Honda Cb550 is a niche vehicle in the UK, with 1,517 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 6 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 82.2% and a failure rate of 17.8%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.
For Honda Cb550 owners, these results suggest a reliable vehicle that generally passes its MOT without major issues. Focus your pre-MOT checks on motorcycle lighting and signalling and motorcycle brakes 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 Cb550 is likely to perform.
Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 11.3% of failures
Motorcycle lighting and signalling issues account for 11.3% of MOT failures on the Honda Cb550. 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 brakes — 7.1% of failures
Motorcycle brakes issues account for 7.1% of MOT failures on the Honda Cb550. 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 steering and suspension — 5.9% of failures
Motorcycle steering and suspension issues account for 5.9% of MOT failures on the Honda Cb550. 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 Cb550?
Based on 1,517 MOT tests in our database, the Honda Cb550 has an overall pass rate of 82.2% (17.8% fail rate).
What are the most common MOT failures on a Honda Cb550?
The top 3 reasons a Honda Cb550 fails its MOT are: 1. Motorcycle lighting and signalling (11.3%), 2. Motorcycle brakes (7.1%), 3. Motorcycle steering and suspension (5.9%). Check these areas before booking your MOT.
Is the Honda Cb550 reliable?
With a 17.8% MOT failure rate, the Cb550 is more reliable than average compared to the UK average of ~40%.
What should I check before an MOT on my Honda Cb550?
Based on failure data, focus on: Motorcycle lighting and signalling (11.3%); Motorcycle brakes (7.1%); Motorcycle steering and suspension (5.9%). 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.