HONDA CB600 HORNET
Pass rate over time
The CB600 HORNET's first-time pass rate has fallen 3.3 points since 2005, 84.6% to 81.3%.
Pass rate by mileage
A low-mileage CB600 HORNET passes first time 85.2% of the time; by 50k that's 70.9%.
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 CB600 HORNET
| Component group | Share of defects | Defects | % of defects | vs all bikes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| lighting and signalling |
|
2,051 | 28.7 | 1.2× |
| brakes |
|
1,665 | 23.3 | 1.1× |
| steering and suspension |
|
981 | 13.7 | 1.0× |
| tyres and wheels |
|
773 | 10.8 | 1.3× |
| lamps and reflectors |
|
507 | 7.1 | 0.8× |
| drive system |
|
401 | 5.6 | 1.6× |
| reg plates and vin |
|
241 | 3.4 | 1.3× |
| fuel and exhaust |
|
186 | 2.6 | 0.8× |
| structure and attachments |
|
177 | 2.5 | 0.8× |
| suspension |
|
153 | 2.1 | 0.7× |
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
On first-time pass rate the CB600 HORNET beats 0 of its 4 closest rivals (HONDA CB500, TRIUMPH STREET TRIPLE, TRIUMPH STREET TRIPLE R).
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 CB600 HORNET.
Pass rate by registration year
Best year to buy used: 2008 (86.8% pass). Weakest: 1998 (77.2%).
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 CB600 HORNET FAQ
Is the HONDA CB600 HORNET reliable?
The HONDA CB600 HORNET is less reliable than average for its class: 78.6% of its 26,392 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #3831 of 5426 models.
What does a CB600 HORNET fail its MOT on most?
lighting and signalling — 29% of all defects recorded against failed CB600 HORNET tests.
What is the best year of CB600 HORNET to buy used?
By first-time pass rate, 2008-registered examples do best (86.8%) and 1998 worst (77.2%). Condition and history still trump the year.
How many miles will a CB600 HORNET last?
The median CB600 HORNET shows 20,837 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 70.9% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.