Data as of: DVSA MOT results to 2025
Honda XL500: MOT pass rate by registration year
Which XL500 years pass first time, and which fall short of the model's 81.4% average, from 1,667 DVSA tests.
Pass rate by registration year
Highest pass rate: 1980 (87.6% of 121 tests). Lowest: 1981 (75.2% of 222). Years more than two points below the model average: 1981.
| Registered | Tests | First-time pass | vs model (81.4%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | 110 | 81.8% | +0.4 pp |
| 1980 | 121 | 87.6% | +6.2 pp |
| 1981 | 222 | 75.2% | -6.2 pp |
| 1982 | 443 | 79.7% | -1.7 pp |
| 1983 | 346 | 81.2% | -0.2 pp |
| 1984 | 188 | 83.0% | +1.6 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 XL500 years have the lowest MOT pass rate?
- 1981 registered examples pass first time less often than the Honda XL500 overall (81.4%); the 1981 cohort is lowest at 75.2% from 222 tests.
- Which XL500 year has the highest MOT pass rate?
- 1980, at 87.6% of 121 first tests (2005–2025).
- How much does the XL500 pass rate vary by year?
- 12.4 percentage points between the highest (1980, 87.6%) and lowest (1981, 75.2%) 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 XL500 reliability, failures and mileage · ranked #3291 of 5428 models· other Honda models: CBR600F, CBR900RR, CBR1100XX, CB500, C90, VFR800 Fi