BIKERELIABILITY
MOT DATA · GREAT BRITAIN · 2005–2025
League table/ HONDA/CBF 500 A-4
Model report · 2005–2025

HONDA CBF 500 A-4

499cc Petrol Class 2
79.9%
first-time pass rate
11.7%
failed outright
17,728
median miles at test
412
MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2008–2011

The CBF 500 A-4's first-time pass rate has fallen 6.4 points since 2008, 83.8% to 77.4%.

72%79%86%2008: 83.8% pass (37 tests)2009: 76.2% pass (42 tests)2010: 74.3% pass (35 tests)2011: 77.4% pass (31 tests)20082011

Pass rate by mileage

how the CBF 500 A-4's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage CBF 500 A-4 passes first time 94.4% of the time; by 30k that's 62.0%.

56%78%100%0k: 94.4% pass (107 tests)10k: 80.0% pass (130 tests)20k: 83.3% pass (78 tests)30k: 62.0% pass (50 tests)0k20k30k

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 CBF 500 A-4

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded
Component group Share of defects Defects % of defects
brakes
22 25.6
steering and suspension
20 23.3
lighting and signalling
18 20.9
tyres and wheels
8 9.3
drive system
7 8.1
lamps and reflectors
6 7
suspension
2 2.3
steering
1 1.2
fuel and exhaust
1 1.2
tyres
1 1.2

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 CBF 500 A-4 beats 2 of its 4 closest rivals (KAWASAKI ZX-6R, SUZUKI GSF600, YAMAHA FZS600).

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 CBF 500 A-4.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2005 (82.5% pass). Weakest: 2006 (68.7%).

66%76%85%2004: 78.5% pass (65 tests)2005: 82.5% pass (268 tests)2006: 68.7% pass (67 tests)200420052006

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.