HONDA VT600CN

583cc Petrol Class 2

#3420 of 5426 overall #594 of 921 HONDAs #2183 of 2787 other bikes

80.8%

first-time pass rate

11.3%

failed outright

16,681

median miles at test

2,175

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2005–2020

The VT600CN's first-time pass rate has fallen 8.8 points since 2005, 88.1% to 79.3%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the VT600CN's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage VT600CN passes first time 85.9% of the time; by 50k that's 70.9%.

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 VT600CN

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	134	25.9	1.1×
steering and suspension	107	20.7	1.2×
brakes	103	19.9	0.9×
tyres and wheels	51	9.9	1.2×
reg plates and vin	34	6.6	1.9×
drive system	22	4.3	1.1×
lamps and reflectors	20	3.9	0.4×
fuel and exhaust	18	3.5	1.1×
suspension	15	2.9	0.7×
driving controls	13	2.5	2.5×

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 VT600CN beats 3 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 VT600CN.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1994 (86.1% pass). Weakest: 1996 (75.8%).

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 VT600CN FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the HONDA VT600CN reliable?

The HONDA VT600CN is less reliable than average for its class: 80.8% of its 2,175 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #3420 of 5426 models.

What does a VT600CN fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 26% of all defects recorded against failed VT600CN tests.

What is the best year of VT600CN to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1994-registered examples do best (86.1%) and 1996 worst (75.8%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a VT600CN last?

The median VT600CN shows 16,681 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 70.9% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.