HONDA VT600

583cc Petrol Class 2

#3733 of 5426 overall #677 of 921 HONDAs #2372 of 2787 other bikes

79.2%

first-time pass rate

10.6%

failed outright

16,715

median miles at test

1,588

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2006–2025

The VT600's first-time pass rate has held steady since 2006 (84.8% → 84.1%).

Pass rate by mileage

how the VT600's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage VT600 passes first time 82.2% of the time; by 50k that's 84.4%.

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 VT600

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lamps and reflectors	84	23.1	1.9×
brakes	66	18.2	0.7×
lighting and signalling	46	12.7	0.5×
steering and suspension	41	11.3	0.7×
suspension	28	7.7	2.0×
structure and attachments	26	7.2	2.3×
tyres and wheels	21	5.8	0.6×
Identification of the vehicle	17	4.7	4.4×
reg plates and vin	17	4.7	1.5×
tyres	17	4.7	1.3×

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 VT600 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 VT600.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1998 (85.7% pass). Weakest: 1988 (69.2%).

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 VT600 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the HONDA VT600 reliable?

The HONDA VT600 is less reliable than average for its class: 79.2% of its 1,588 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #3733 of 5426 models.

What does a VT600 fail its MOT on most?

lamps and reflectors — 23% of all defects recorded against failed VT600 tests.

What is the best year of VT600 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1998-registered examples do best (85.7%) and 1988 worst (69.2%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a VT600 last?

The median VT600 shows 16,715 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 84.4% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.