Honda Xbr500f MOT Pass Rate
Overall pass rate across all manufacture years, based on 141 real MOT test results. Failure rate: 20.6%.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
Honda Xbr500f MOT Reliability Overview
The Honda Xbr500f is a rare vehicle in the UK, with 141 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 2 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 79.4% and a failure rate of 20.6%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.
Based on this data, the Honda Xbr500f earns a "Excellent" reliability rating. The average Honda Xbr500f presents for MOT with approximately 35,891 miles on the clock. Manufacture year matters: 1985 models achieve the highest pass rate at 84.3%, while 1986 models have the lowest at 71.0%. This 13.3 percentage point difference suggests notable variation in build quality or component durability across production years.
The most common MOT failure for the Honda Xbr500f is Motorcycle steering and suspension, affecting 8.5% of all tests. 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. The second most common issue is Motorcycle lighting and signalling at 7.8%. Motorcycle brakes rounds out the top three at 5.0%. 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 Steering And Suspension | 9.2% | 13 |
| 2 | Motorcycle Lighting And Signalling | 7.8% | 11 |
| 3 | Motorcycle Brakes | 5.7% | 8 |
| 4 | Motorcycle Fuel And Exhaust | 4.3% | 6 |
| 5 | Motorcycle Lamps And Reflectors | 3.5% | 5 |
| 6 | Motorcycle Steering | 1.4% | 2 |
| 7 | Motorcycle Drive System | 1.4% | 2 |
| 8 | Motorcycle Driving Controls | 1.4% | 2 |
| 9 | Motorcycle Body And Structure | 0.7% | 1 |
| 10 | Motorcycle Structure And Attachments | 0.7% | 1 |
| 11 | Motorcycle Wheels | 0.7% | 1 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 35,891 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 steering and suspension | 2.57 | 9.2% | 13 |
| Motorcycle lighting and signalling | 2.17 | 7.8% | 11 |
| Motorcycle brakes | 1.58 | 5.7% | 8 |
| Motorcycle fuel and exhaust | 1.19 | 4.3% | 6 |
| Motorcycle lamps and reflectors | 0.99 | 3.5% | 5 |
| Motorcycle steering | 0.40 | 1.4% | 2 |
| Motorcycle drive system | 0.40 | 1.4% | 2 |
| Motorcycle driving controls | 0.40 | 1.4% | 2 |
| Motorcycle body and structure | 0.20 | 0.7% | 1 |
| Motorcycle structure and attachments | 0.20 | 0.7% | 1 |
| Motorcycle wheels | 0.20 | 0.7% | 1 |
🚗 Similar Cars to Consider
Mileage at MOT
The average Honda Xbr500f has 35,891 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 Xbr500f has a mileage-adjusted failure rate of 5.74% per 10,000 miles driven. The average across all makes is 5.38%, so this model is worse than average.
About Honda Xbr500f MOT Data
The Honda Xbr500f is a rare vehicle in the UK, with 141 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 2 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 79.4% and a failure rate of 20.6%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.
For Honda Xbr500f owners, these results suggest a reliable vehicle that generally passes its MOT without major issues. Focus your pre-MOT checks on motorcycle steering and suspension 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 Xbr500f is likely to perform.
Motorcycle steering and suspension — 8.5% of failures
Motorcycle steering and suspension issues account for 8.5% of MOT failures on the Honda Xbr500f. 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.
Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 7.8% of failures
Motorcycle lighting and signalling issues account for 7.8% of MOT failures on the Honda Xbr500f. 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 — 5.0% of failures
Motorcycle brakes issues account for 5.0% of MOT failures on the Honda Xbr500f. 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).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Honda Xbr500f?
Based on 141 MOT tests in our database, the Honda Xbr500f has an overall pass rate of 79.4% (20.6% fail rate).
What are the most common MOT failures on a Honda Xbr500f?
The top 3 reasons a Honda Xbr500f fails its MOT are: 1. Motorcycle steering and suspension (8.5%), 2. Motorcycle lighting and signalling (7.8%), 3. Motorcycle brakes (5.0%). Check these areas before booking your MOT.
Is the Honda Xbr500f reliable?
With a 20.6% MOT failure rate, the Xbr500f is more reliable than average compared to the UK average of ~40%.
What should I check before an MOT on my Honda Xbr500f?
Based on failure data, focus on: Motorcycle steering and suspension (8.5%); Motorcycle lighting and signalling (7.8%); Motorcycle brakes (5.0%). 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.