Data as of: DVSA MOT results to 2025
Honda XL185: MOT pass rate by registration year
Which XL185 years pass first time, and which fall short of the model's 79.9% average, from 1,013 DVSA tests.
Pass rate by registration year
Highest pass rate: 1982 (84.4% of 154 tests). Lowest: 1980 (76.0% of 246). Years more than two points below the model average: 1980.
| Registered | Tests | First-time pass | vs model (79.9%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | 183 | 81.4% | +1.5 pp |
| 1980 | 246 | 76.0% | -3.9 pp |
| 1981 | 373 | 79.1% | -0.8 pp |
| 1982 | 154 | 84.4% | +4.5 pp |
Older cohorts are survivors: the worst examples have already left the road, which tends to lift the earliest years. A first-time MOT pass is a roadworthiness check, not a full mechanical inspection.
Pass rate over time
Questions
- Which XL185 years have the lowest MOT pass rate?
- 1980 registered examples pass first time less often than the Honda XL185 overall (79.9%); the 1980 cohort is lowest at 76.0% from 246 tests.
- Which XL185 year has the highest MOT pass rate?
- 1982, at 84.4% of 154 first tests (2005–2025).
- How much does the XL185 pass rate vary by year?
- 8.4 percentage points between the highest (1982, 84.4%) and lowest (1980, 76.0%) cohorts with at least 50 tests. Older cohorts are survivors: the worst examples have already left the road, which tends to lift the earliest years.
Full report: Honda XL185 reliability, failures and mileage · ranked #3603 of 5428 models· other Honda models: CBR600F, CBR900RR, CBR1100XX, CB500, C90, VFR800 Fi