Data as of: DVSA MOT results to 2025
Honda CB550: MOT pass rate by registration year
Which CB550 years pass first time, and which fall short of the model's 82.0% average, from 2,270 DVSA tests.
Pass rate by registration year
Highest pass rate: 1974 (94.4% of 90 tests). Lowest: 1975 (72.7% of 77). Years more than two points below the model average: 1975, 1978.
| Registered | Tests | First-time pass | vs model (82.0%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | 90 | 94.4% | +12.4 pp |
| 1975 | 77 | 72.7% | -9.3 pp |
| 1976 | 327 | 80.1% | -1.9 pp |
| 1977 | 603 | 81.3% | -0.7 pp |
| 1978 | 470 | 78.7% | -3.3 pp |
| 1979 | 445 | 86.5% | +4.5 pp |
Older cohorts are survivors: the worst examples have already left the road, which tends to lift the earliest years. A first-time MOT pass is a roadworthiness check, not a full mechanical inspection.
Pass rate over time
Questions
- Which CB550 years have the lowest MOT pass rate?
- 1975, 1978 registered examples pass first time less often than the Honda CB550 overall (82.0%); the 1975 cohort is lowest at 72.7% from 77 tests.
- Which CB550 year has the highest MOT pass rate?
- 1974, at 94.4% of 90 first tests (2005–2025). Years more than two points above the model average: 1974, 1979.
- How much does the CB550 pass rate vary by year?
- 21.7 percentage points between the highest (1974, 94.4%) and lowest (1975, 72.7%) cohorts with at least 50 tests. Older cohorts are survivors: the worst examples have already left the road, which tends to lift the earliest years.
Full report: Honda CB550 reliability, failures and mileage · ranked #3181 of 5428 models· other Honda models: CBR600F, CBR900RR, CBR1100XX, CB500, C90, VFR800 Fi