HONDA NT650

649cc Petrol Class 2

#3881 of 5426 overall #731 of 921 HONDAs #2459 of 2787 other bikes

78.2%

first-time pass rate

12.6%

failed outright

30,051

median miles at test

706

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2006–2017

The NT650's first-time pass rate has risen 14.0 points since 2006, 67.3% to 81.3%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the NT650's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage NT650 passes first time 89.1% of the time; by 50k that's 74.4%.

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 NT650

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	55	25.8	1.3×
brakes	53	24.9	1.3×
steering and suspension	38	17.8	1.3×
tyres and wheels	20	9.4	1.2×
driving controls	10	4.7	5.4×
drive system	10	4.7	1.6×
fuel and exhaust	8	3.8	1.3×
reg plates and vin	7	3.3	0.7×
tyres	6	2.8	1.2×
lamps and reflectors	6	2.8	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 NT650 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 HONDA VFR800 FI 86.7% pass · 89.4k 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 NT650.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2004 (84.9% pass). Weakest: 1988 (70.7%).

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 NT650 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the HONDA NT650 reliable?

The HONDA NT650 is less reliable than average for its class: 78.2% of its 706 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #3881 of 5426 models.

What does a NT650 fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 26% of all defects recorded against failed NT650 tests.

What is the best year of NT650 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2004-registered examples do best (84.9%) and 1988 worst (70.7%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a NT650 last?

The median NT650 shows 30,051 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 74.4% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.