HONDA CBF 600 SA-A

599cc Petrol Class 2

#1269 of 5426 overall #152 of 921 HONDAs #775 of 2787 other bikes

89.0%

first-time pass rate

5.4%

failed outright

16,682

median miles at test

994

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2013–2025

The CBF 600 SA-A's first-time pass rate has fallen 1.5 points since 2013, 93.2% to 91.7%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the CBF 600 SA-A's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage CBF 600 SA-A passes first time 96.8% of the time; by 50k that's 88.9%.

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 CBF 600 SA-A

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
brakes	23	25.8	0.4×
lamps and reflectors	14	15.7	0.7×
steering and suspension	9	10.1	0.2×
tyres	9	10.1	1.3×
suspension	8	9	1.1×
lighting and signalling	8	9	0.2×
tyres and wheels	6	6.7	0.3×
steering	5	5.6	1.2×
audible warning (Horn)	4	4.5	2.2×
body and structure	3	3.4	0.4×

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 CBF 600 SA-A 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 CBF 600 SA-A.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2010 (89.4% pass). Weakest: 2012 (81.0%).

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 CBF 600 SA-A FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the HONDA CBF 600 SA-A reliable?

The HONDA CBF 600 SA-A is more reliable than average for its class: 89.0% of its 994 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #1269 of 5426 models.

What does a CBF 600 SA-A fail its MOT on most?

brakes — 26% of all defects recorded against failed CBF 600 SA-A tests.

What is the best year of CBF 600 SA-A to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2011-registered examples do best (89.4%) and 2012 worst (81.0%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a CBF 600 SA-A last?

The median CBF 600 SA-A shows 16,682 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 88.9% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.