Honda Cb550k MOT Pass Rate
Overall pass rate across all manufacture years, based on 239 real MOT test results. Failure rate: 19.2%.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
Honda Cb550k MOT Reliability Overview
The Honda Cb550k is a rare vehicle in the UK, with 239 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 3 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 80.8% and a failure rate of 19.2%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.
Based on this data, the Honda Cb550k earns a "Excellent" reliability rating. The average Honda Cb550k presents for MOT with approximately 24,854 miles on the clock. Manufacture year matters: 1977 models achieve the highest pass rate at 85.0%, while 1978 models have the lowest at 73.5%. This 11.5 percentage point difference suggests notable variation in build quality or component durability across production years.
The most common MOT failure for the Honda Cb550k is Motorcycle lighting and signalling, affecting 13.0% 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 5.9%. Motorcycle steering and suspension rounds out the top three at 5.4%. 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
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 | 13.8% | 33 |
| 2 | Motorcycle Brakes | 6.7% | 16 |
| 3 | Motorcycle Steering And Suspension | 6.7% | 16 |
| 4 | Motorcycle Fuel And Exhaust | 4.6% | 11 |
| 5 | Motorcycle Lamps And Reflectors | 3.3% | 8 |
| 6 | Motorcycle Tyres And Wheels | 2.5% | 6 |
| 7 | Motorcycle Drive System | 1.7% | 4 |
| 8 | Motorcycle Structure And Attachments | 1.3% | 3 |
| 9 | Motorcycle Audible Warning (Horn) | 0.8% | 2 |
| 10 | Motorcycle Reg Plates And Vin | 0.8% | 2 |
| 11 | Items Not Tested | 0.4% | 1 |
| 12 | Motorcycle Driving Controls | 0.4% | 1 |
| 13 | Non-component Advisories | 0.4% | 1 |
| 14 | Identification Of The Vehicle | 0.4% | 1 |
| 15 | Motorcycle Steering | 0.4% | 1 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 24,854 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 | 5.56 | 13.8% | 33 |
| Motorcycle brakes | 2.69 | 6.7% | 16 |
| Motorcycle steering and suspension | 2.69 | 6.7% | 16 |
| Motorcycle fuel and exhaust | 1.85 | 4.6% | 11 |
| Motorcycle lamps and reflectors | 1.35 | 3.3% | 8 |
| Motorcycle tyres and wheels | 1.01 | 2.5% | 6 |
| Motorcycle drive system | 0.67 | 1.7% | 4 |
| Motorcycle structure and attachments | 0.51 | 1.3% | 3 |
| Motorcycle audible warning (Horn) | 0.34 | 0.8% | 2 |
| Motorcycle reg plates and vin | 0.34 | 0.8% | 2 |
| Items Not Tested | 0.17 | 0.4% | 1 |
| Motorcycle driving controls | 0.17 | 0.4% | 1 |
| Non-component advisories | 0.17 | 0.4% | 1 |
| Identification of the vehicle | 0.17 | 0.4% | 1 |
| Motorcycle steering | 0.17 | 0.4% | 1 |
🚗 Similar Cars to Consider
Mileage at MOT
The average Honda Cb550k has 24,854 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 Cb550k has a mileage-adjusted failure rate of 7.73% per 10,000 miles driven. The average across all makes is 5.38%, so this model is worse than average.
About Honda Cb550k MOT Data
The Honda Cb550k is a rare vehicle in the UK, with 239 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 3 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 80.8% and a failure rate of 19.2%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.
For Honda Cb550k 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 Cb550k is likely to perform.
Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 13.0% of failures
Motorcycle lighting and signalling issues account for 13.0% of MOT failures on the Honda Cb550k. 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 — 5.9% of failures
Motorcycle brakes issues account for 5.9% of MOT failures on the Honda Cb550k. 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 — 5.4% of failures
Motorcycle steering and suspension issues account for 5.4% of MOT failures on the Honda Cb550k. 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 Cb550k?
Based on 239 MOT tests in our database, the Honda Cb550k has an overall pass rate of 80.8% (19.2% fail rate).
What are the most common MOT failures on a Honda Cb550k?
The top 3 reasons a Honda Cb550k fails its MOT are: 1. Motorcycle lighting and signalling (13.0%), 2. Motorcycle brakes (5.9%), 3. Motorcycle steering and suspension (5.4%). Check these areas before booking your MOT.
Is the Honda Cb550k reliable?
With a 19.2% MOT failure rate, the Cb550k is more reliable than average compared to the UK average of ~40%.
What should I check before an MOT on my Honda Cb550k?
Based on failure data, focus on: Motorcycle lighting and signalling (13.0%); Motorcycle brakes (5.9%); Motorcycle steering and suspension (5.4%). 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.