HONDA XL 650 V-5

647cc Petrol Class 2

#2120 of 5426 overall #293 of 921 HONDAs #1301 of 2787 other bikes

86.3%

first-time pass rate

8.1%

failed outright

19,949

median miles at test

1,151

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2008–2025

The XL 650 V-5's first-time pass rate has held steady since 2008 (87.0% → 87.5%).

Pass rate by mileage

how the XL 650 V-5's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage XL 650 V-5 passes first time 91.1% of the time; by 50k that's 88.1%.

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 XL 650 V-5

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
brakes	65	33	0.9×
lighting and signalling	28	14.2	0.6×
structure and attachments	21	10.7	1.6×
tyres and wheels	19	9.6	0.7×
steering and suspension	16	8.1	0.4×
lamps and reflectors	11	5.6	0.5×
drive system	11	5.6	1.0×
suspension	10	5.1	0.9×
steering	9	4.6	1.7×
fuel and exhaust	7	3.6	0.6×

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 XL 650 V-5 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 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 XL 650 V-5.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2007 (91.0% pass). Weakest: 2005 (85.9%).

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 XL 650 V-5 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the HONDA XL 650 V-5 reliable?

The HONDA XL 650 V-5 is about average for its class: 86.3% of its 1,151 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #2120 of 5426 models.

What does a XL 650 V-5 fail its MOT on most?

brakes — 33% of all defects recorded against failed XL 650 V-5 tests.

What is the best year of XL 650 V-5 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2007-registered examples do best (91.0%) and 2005 worst (85.9%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a XL 650 V-5 last?

The median XL 650 V-5 shows 19,949 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 88.1% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.