HONDA XL600

589cc Petrol Class 2

#3253 of 5426 overall #550 of 921 HONDAs #2071 of 2787 other bikes

81.6%

first-time pass rate

9.7%

failed outright

37,355

median miles at test

3,925

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2005–2025

The XL600's first-time pass rate has risen 10.9 points since 2005, 77.1% to 88.0%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the XL600's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage XL600 passes first time 86.8% of the time; by 50k that's 79.5%.

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 XL600

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	249	28.9	0.9×
brakes	163	18.9	0.8×
lamps and reflectors	118	13.7	1.3×
steering and suspension	111	12.9	0.7×
tyres and wheels	69	8	0.8×
structure and attachments	39	4.5	1.0×
drive system	37	4.3	1.1×
suspension	28	3.2	0.8×
body and structure	25	2.9	1.0×
reg plates and vin	23	2.7	0.8×

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 XL600 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 XL600.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1995 (89.1% pass). Weakest: 1991 (70.4%).

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 XL600 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the HONDA XL600 reliable?

The HONDA XL600 is less reliable than average for its class: 81.6% of its 3,925 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #3253 of 5426 models.

What does a XL600 fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 29% of all defects recorded against failed XL600 tests.

What is the best year of XL600 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1995-registered examples do best (89.1%) and 1991 worst (70.4%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a XL600 last?

The median XL600 shows 37,355 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 79.5% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.