Honda Xl600 MOT Pass Rate
Overall pass rate across all manufacture years, based on 3,071 real MOT test results. Failure rate: 18.5%.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
Honda Xl600 MOT Reliability Overview
The Honda Xl600 is a niche vehicle in the UK, with 3,071 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 23 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 81.5% and a failure rate of 18.5%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.
Based on this data, the Honda Xl600 earns a "Excellent" reliability rating. The average Honda Xl600 presents for MOT with approximately 38,511 miles on the clock. Manufacture year matters: 1995 models achieve the highest pass rate at 89.4%, while 1991 models have the lowest at 72.9%. This 16.5 percentage point difference suggests notable variation in build quality or component durability across production years.
The most common MOT failure for the Honda Xl600 is Motorcycle brakes, affecting 8.0% 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 lamps and reflectors at 7.3%. Motorcycle lighting and signalling rounds out the top three at 6.8%. 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 | 8.9% | 272 |
| 2 | Motorcycle Brakes | 8.4% | 257 |
| 3 | Motorcycle Lamps And Reflectors | 7.3% | 225 |
| 4 | Motorcycle Steering And Suspension | 4.3% | 133 |
| 5 | Motorcycle Tyres And Wheels | 3.1% | 94 |
| 6 | Motorcycle Structure And Attachments | 3.1% | 94 |
| 7 | Motorcycle Drive System | 2.0% | 62 |
| 8 | Motorcycle Tyres | 1.6% | 48 |
| 9 | Motorcycle Suspension | 1.4% | 44 |
| 10 | Motorcycle Fuel And Exhaust | 1.4% | 43 |
| 11 | Motorcycle Steering | 1.2% | 38 |
| 12 | Motorcycle Wheels | 1.1% | 33 |
| 13 | Motorcycle Body And Structure | 0.8% | 26 |
| 14 | Motorcycle Driving Controls | 0.7% | 23 |
| 15 | Motorcycle Reg Plates And Vin | 0.7% | 22 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 38,511 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 | 2.30 | 8.9% | 272 |
| Motorcycle brakes | 2.17 | 8.4% | 257 |
| Motorcycle lamps and reflectors | 1.90 | 7.3% | 225 |
| Motorcycle steering and suspension | 1.12 | 4.3% | 133 |
| Motorcycle tyres and wheels | 0.79 | 3.1% | 94 |
| Motorcycle structure and attachments | 0.79 | 3.1% | 94 |
| Motorcycle drive system | 0.52 | 2.0% | 62 |
| Motorcycle tyres | 0.41 | 1.6% | 48 |
| Motorcycle suspension | 0.37 | 1.4% | 44 |
| Motorcycle fuel and exhaust | 0.36 | 1.4% | 43 |
| Motorcycle steering | 0.32 | 1.2% | 38 |
| Motorcycle wheels | 0.28 | 1.1% | 33 |
| Motorcycle body and structure | 0.22 | 0.8% | 26 |
| Motorcycle driving controls | 0.19 | 0.7% | 23 |
| Motorcycle reg plates and vin | 0.19 | 0.7% | 22 |
🚗 Similar Cars to Consider
Mileage at MOT
The average Honda Xl600 has 38,511 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 Xl600 has a mileage-adjusted failure rate of 4.80% per 10,000 miles driven. The average across all makes is 5.38%, so this model is better than average.
About Honda Xl600 MOT Data
The Honda Xl600 is a niche vehicle in the UK, with 3,071 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 23 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 81.5% and a failure rate of 18.5%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.
For Honda Xl600 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 lamps and reflectors 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 Xl600 is likely to perform.
Motorcycle brakes — 8.0% of failures
Motorcycle brakes issues account for 8.0% of MOT failures on the Honda Xl600. 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 lamps and reflectors — 7.3% of failures
Motorcycle lamps and reflectors issues account for 7.3% of MOT failures on the Honda Xl600. Lighting failures cover all external lights: headlights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, fog lights, and reflectors. A single blown bulb will cause an MOT fail. This is one of the most preventable failure categories. Typical repair costs: £5–50. Pre-MOT check: Walk around the car and check every light — headlights (dipped and main beam), side lights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, hazard lights, reverse light, rear fog light, and number plate lights. Replace any blown bulbs before the test.
Motorcycle lighting and signalling — 6.8% of failures
Motorcycle lighting and signalling issues account for 6.8% of MOT failures on the Honda Xl600. 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Honda Xl600?
Based on 3,071 MOT tests in our database, the Honda Xl600 has an overall pass rate of 81.5% (18.5% fail rate).
What are the most common MOT failures on a Honda Xl600?
The top 3 reasons a Honda Xl600 fails its MOT are: 1. Motorcycle brakes (8.0%), 2. Motorcycle lamps and reflectors (7.3%), 3. Motorcycle lighting and signalling (6.8%). Check these areas before booking your MOT.
Is the Honda Xl600 reliable?
With a 18.5% MOT failure rate, the Xl600 is more reliable than average compared to the UK average of ~40%.
What should I check before an MOT on my Honda Xl600?
Based on failure data, focus on: Motorcycle brakes (8.0%); Motorcycle lamps and reflectors (7.3%); Motorcycle lighting and signalling (6.8%). 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.