Data as of: DVSA MOT results to 2025
Honda GL500: MOT pass rate by registration year
Which GL500 years pass first time, and which fall short of the model's 75.4% average, from 1,700 DVSA tests.
Pass rate by registration year
Highest pass rate: 1984 (80.6% of 144 tests). Lowest: 1981 (73.1% of 182). Years more than two points below the model average: 1981.
| Registered | Tests | First-time pass | vs model (75.4%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 182 | 73.1% | -2.3 pp |
| 1982 | 702 | 73.4% | -2.0 pp |
| 1983 | 528 | 75.4% | +0.0 pp |
| 1984 | 144 | 80.6% | +5.2 pp |
Older cohorts are survivors: the worst examples have already left the road, which tends to lift the earliest years. A first-time MOT pass is a roadworthiness check, not a full mechanical inspection.
Pass rate over time
Questions
- Which GL500 years have the lowest MOT pass rate?
- 1981 registered examples pass first time less often than the Honda GL500 overall (75.4%); the 1981 cohort is lowest at 73.1% from 182 tests.
- Which GL500 year has the highest MOT pass rate?
- 1984, at 80.6% of 144 first tests (2005–2025).
- How much does the GL500 pass rate vary by year?
- 7.5 percentage points between the highest (1984, 80.6%) and lowest (1981, 73.1%) cohorts with at least 50 tests. Older cohorts are survivors: the worst examples have already left the road, which tends to lift the earliest years.
Full report: Honda GL500 reliability, failures and mileage · ranked #4260 of 5428 models· other Honda models: CBR600F, CBR900RR, CBR1100XX, CB500, C90, VFR800 Fi