HONDA XL 700 VA-B

680cc Petrol Class 2

#1332 of 5426 overall #158 of 921 HONDAs #816 of 2787 other bikes

88.8%

first-time pass rate

6.7%

failed outright

12,615

median miles at test

1,283

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2014–2025

The XL 700 VA-B's first-time pass rate has held steady since 2014 (88.5% → 88.5%).

Pass rate by mileage

how the XL 700 VA-B's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage XL 700 VA-B passes first time 93.7% of the time; by 40k that's 85.5%.

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 700 VA-B

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
brakes	27	18.2	0.4×
lamps and reflectors	24	16.2	1.1×
suspension	18	12.2	1.8×
steering and suspension	18	12.2	0.3×
structure and attachments	13	8.8	1.3×
drive system	13	8.8	1.2×
tyres	12	8.1	1.3×
lighting and signalling	10	6.8	0.1×
steering	8	5.4	1.3×
tyres and wheels	5	3.4	0.2×

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 700 VA-B beats 4 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 700 VA-B.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2012 (89.7% pass). Weakest: 2013 (87.6%).

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 700 VA-B FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the HONDA XL 700 VA-B reliable?

The HONDA XL 700 VA-B is more reliable than average for its class: 88.8% of its 1,283 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #1332 of 5426 models.

What does a XL 700 VA-B fail its MOT on most?

brakes — 18% of all defects recorded against failed XL 700 VA-B tests.

What is the best year of XL 700 VA-B to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2012-registered examples do best (89.7%) and 2013 worst (87.6%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a XL 700 VA-B last?

The median XL 700 VA-B shows 12,615 miles at test, and examples around 40k miles still pass 85.5% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.