HONDA XL600R

589cc Petrol Class 2

#4108 of 5426 overall #787 of 921 HONDAs #2579 of 2787 other bikes

76.6%

first-time pass rate

11.2%

failed outright

34,932

median miles at test

1,170

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2005–2020

The XL600R's first-time pass rate has risen 12.6 points since 2005, 68.4% to 81.0%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the XL600R's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage XL600R passes first time 78.6% of the time; by 50k that's 73.6%.

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 XL600R

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	148	38.7	1.7×
brakes	75	19.6	1.0×
steering and suspension	57	14.9	1.3×
tyres and wheels	23	6	0.9×
drive system	19	5	1.9×
body and structure	14	3.7	2.0×
lamps and reflectors	13	3.4	0.5×
fuel and exhaust	11	2.9	1.1×
reg plates and vin	11	2.9	1.3×
driving controls	11	2.9	4.0×

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 XL600R beats 0 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 XL600R.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1987 (83.0% pass). Weakest: 1988 (72.1%).

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 XL600R FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the HONDA XL600R reliable?

The HONDA XL600R is less reliable than average for its class: 76.6% of its 1,170 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #4108 of 5426 models.

What does a XL600R fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 39% of all defects recorded against failed XL600R tests.

What is the best year of XL600R to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1987-registered examples do best (83.0%) and 1988 worst (72.1%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a XL600R last?

The median XL600R shows 34,932 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 73.6% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.