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

HONDA CMX 500 A-L

471cc Petrol Class 2
#172 of 5426 overall #28 of 921 HONDAs #106 of 2787 other bikes
94.0%
first-time pass rate
2.4%
failed outright
4,157
median miles at test
714
MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2023–2025

The CMX 500 A-L's first-time pass rate has fallen 1.4 points since 2023, 96.9% to 95.5%.

90%94%98%2023: 96.9% pass (130 tests)2024: 91.2% pass (272 tests)2025: 95.5% pass (309 tests)20232025

What fails on a CMX 500 A-L

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded
Component group Share of defects Defects % of defects vs all bikes
structure and attachments
11 31.4 1.6×
brakes
9 25.7 0.2×
lamps and reflectors
7 20 0.4×
tyres
6 17.1 1.0×
audible warning (Horn)
1 2.9 0.8×
steering
1 2.9 0.3×

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 CMX 500 A-L beats 4 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 CMX 500 A-L.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2020 (94.6% pass). Weakest: 2021 (93.2%).

92%94%95%2020: 94.6% pass (350 tests)2021: 93.2% pass (337 tests)20202021

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 CMX 500 A-L FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the HONDA CMX 500 A-L reliable?

The HONDA CMX 500 A-L is more reliable than average for its class: 94.0% of its 714 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #172 of 5426 models.

What does a CMX 500 A-L fail its MOT on most?

structure and attachments — 31% of all defects recorded against failed CMX 500 A-L tests.