HONDA VT500ED

499cc Petrol Class 2

80.2%

first-time pass rate

11.8%

failed outright

48,490

median miles at test

187

MOT tests, 2005–2025

What fails on a VT500ED

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects
steering and suspension	13	34.2
lighting and signalling	12	31.6
brakes	7	18.4
driving controls	2	5.3
body and structure	2	5.3
fuel and exhaust	1	2.6
tyres and wheels	1	2.6

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 VT500ED 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 VT500ED.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1983 (85.7% pass). Weakest: 1984 (73.5%).

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.