HONDA 550 FOUR

544cc Petrol Class 2

#1748 of 5426 overall #227 of 921 HONDAs #1058 of 2787 other bikes

87.5%

first-time pass rate

8.0%

failed outright

27,489

median miles at test

200

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate by mileage

how the 550 FOUR's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage 550 FOUR passes first time 91.7% of the time; by 40k that's 90.6%.

First-time pass rate by odometer reading at test, 10,000-mile bands for this model. Mileage is the strongest reliability signal. See the full curve.

What fails on a 550 FOUR

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects
brakes	9	32.1
steering and suspension	6	21.4
lighting and signalling	5	17.9
audible warning (Horn)	2	7.1
suspension	1	3.6
Identification of the vehicle	1	3.6
tyres and wheels	1	3.6
fuel and exhaust	1	3.6
reg plates and vin	1	3.6
steering	1	3.6

Defects recorded against failed normal tests, 2005–2025, grouped by DVSA inspection section. One test can record multiple defects.

How rivals compare

same type, similar capacity, high test volume

On first-time pass rate the 550 FOUR beats 4 of its 4 closest rivals (KAWASAKI ZX-6R, SUZUKI GSF600, YAMAHA FZS600).

KAWASAKI ZX-6R 78.1% pass · 174k tests SUZUKI GSF600 77.3% pass · 143k tests YAMAHA FZS600 82.6% pass · 137k tests SUZUKI SV650S 80.6% pass · 84.6k tests

Rivals share this bike's type and sit within ±30% of its engine capacity, ≥ 5,000 tests. Card colour = better/worse first-time pass rate than the 550 FOUR.

Pass rate by registration year

how each model-year cohort fares · registration year from first use date

Best year to buy used: 1976 (94.1% pass). Weakest: 1977 (89.3%).

First-time pass rate by the year each bike was first registered (cohorts with ≥ 50 tests). Older cohorts are survivors: the worst examples have already left the road, which tends to lift the earliest years.