HONDA CB 600 FA-9

599cc Petrol Class 2

#2016 of 5426 overall #272 of 921 HONDAs #1223 of 2787 other bikes

86.6%

first-time pass rate

7.4%

failed outright

13,704

median miles at test

1,168

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2012–2025

The CB 600 FA-9's first-time pass rate has fallen 1.8 points since 2012, 82.1% to 80.3%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the CB 600 FA-9's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage CB 600 FA-9 passes first time 91.1% of the time; by 40k that's 82.4%.

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 CB 600 FA-9

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
brakes	41	27	0.6×
lighting and signalling	26	17.1	0.4×
lamps and reflectors	20	13.2	0.6×
tyres and wheels	13	8.6	0.5×
structure and attachments	13	8.6	1.5×
suspension	11	7.2	1.2×
steering and suspension	11	7.2	0.3×
tyres	7	4.6	0.8×
reg plates and vin	6	3.9	0.6×
drive system	4	2.6	0.5×

Defects recorded against failed normal tests, 2005–2025, grouped by DVSA inspection section. One test can record multiple defects. "vs all bikes" is how often this model's tests record a defect in the group, as a multiple of the all-bike rate.

How rivals compare

same type, similar capacity, high test volume

On first-time pass rate the CB 600 FA-9 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 CB 600 FA-9.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2011 (91.1% pass). Weakest: 2009 (86.0%).

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.

HONDA CB 600 FA-9 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the HONDA CB 600 FA-9 reliable?

The HONDA CB 600 FA-9 is about average for its class: 86.6% of its 1,168 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #2016 of 5426 models.

What does a CB 600 FA-9 fail its MOT on most?

brakes — 27% of all defects recorded against failed CB 600 FA-9 tests.

What is the best year of CB 600 FA-9 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2011-registered examples do best (91.1%) and 2009 worst (86.0%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a CB 600 FA-9 last?

The median CB 600 FA-9 shows 13,704 miles at test, and examples around 40k miles still pass 82.4% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.