HONDA CX500CB

498cc Petrol Class 2

78.9%

first-time pass rate

11.6%

failed outright

37,767

median miles at test

MOT tests, 2005–2025

What fails on a CX500CB

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects
lamps and reflectors	6	25
steering and suspension	4	16.7
body and structure	4	16.7
brakes	4	16.7
lighting and signalling	3	12.5
tyres and wheels	1	4.2
steering	1	4.2
tyres	1	4.2

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 CX500CB beats 2 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 CX500CB.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1983 (77.0% pass). Weakest: 1983 (77.0%).

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.