Data as of: DVSA MOT results to 2025
Honda VT500: MOT pass rate by registration year
Which VT500 years pass first time, and which fall short of the model's 78.1% average, from 4,315 DVSA tests.
Pass rate by registration year
Highest pass rate: 1989 (84.8% of 92 tests). Lowest: 1983 (76.4% of 428).
| Registered | Tests | First-time pass | vs model (78.1%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | 428 | 76.4% | -1.7 pp |
| 1984 | 539 | 76.8% | -1.3 pp |
| 1985 | 743 | 76.6% | -1.5 pp |
| 1986 | 803 | 76.7% | -1.4 pp |
| 1987 | 829 | 78.4% | +0.3 pp |
| 1988 | 814 | 81.8% | +3.7 pp |
| 1989 | 92 | 84.8% | +6.7 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 VT500 years have the lowest MOT pass rate?
- none: no registration year of the Honda VT500 falls more than two points under the model's 78.1% overall pass rate.
- Which VT500 year has the highest MOT pass rate?
- 1989, at 84.8% of 92 first tests (2005–2025). Years more than two points above the model average: 1988, 1989.
- How much does the VT500 pass rate vary by year?
- 8.4 percentage points between the highest (1989, 84.8%) and lowest (1983, 76.4%) 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 VT500 reliability, failures and mileage · ranked #3895 of 5428 models· other Honda models: CBR600F, CBR900RR, CBR1100XX, CB500, C90, VFR800 Fi