HONDA CB650Z

626cc Petrol Class 2

#3997 of 5426 overall #760 of 921 HONDAs #181 of 205 naked bikes

77.4%

first-time pass rate

11.9%

failed outright

32,988

median miles at test

1,251

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2005–2020

The CB650Z's first-time pass rate has risen 2.6 points since 2005, 79.5% to 82.1%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the CB650Z's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage CB650Z passes first time 79.2% of the time; by 50k 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 CB650Z

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
steering and suspension	87	24.4	1.6×
lighting and signalling	81	22.8	1.0×
brakes	78	21.9	1.0×
tyres and wheels	35	9.8	1.2×
reg plates and vin	20	5.6	1.7×
fuel and exhaust	16	4.5	1.5×
body and structure	12	3.4	1.5×
drive system	11	3.1	1.0×
lamps and reflectors	9	2.5	0.2×
driving controls	7	2	2.4×

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 CB650Z beats 0 of its 4 closest rivals (HONDA CB500, TRIUMPH STREET TRIPLE, HONDA CB600 HORNET).

HONDA CB500 83.3% pass · 105k tests TRIUMPH STREET TRIPLE 87.7% pass · 37.7k tests HONDA CB600 HORNET 78.6% pass · 26.4k tests TRIUMPH STREET TRIPLE R 87.7% pass · 20.6k 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 CB650Z.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1985 (85.0% pass). Weakest: 1982 (72.2%).

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 CB650Z FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the HONDA CB650Z reliable?

The HONDA CB650Z is less reliable than average for its class: 77.4% of its 1,251 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #3997 of 5426 models.

What does a CB650Z fail its MOT on most?

steering and suspension — 24% of all defects recorded against failed CB650Z tests.

What is the best year of CB650Z to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1985-registered examples do best (85.0%) and 1982 worst (72.2%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a CB650Z last?

The median CB650Z shows 32,988 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 82.4% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.