HONDA XL650

648cc Petrol Class 2

#2820 of 5426 overall #438 of 921 HONDAs #1779 of 2787 other bikes

83.7%

first-time pass rate

10.7%

failed outright

26,936

median miles at test

2,573

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2010–2025

The XL650's first-time pass rate has risen 7.1 points since 2010, 76.9% to 84.0%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the XL650's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage XL650 passes first time 84.9% of the time; by 50k that's 81.0%.

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 XL650

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
brakes	162	30.5	1.1×
lamps and reflectors	124	23.4	2.1×
steering	47	8.9	3.6×
structure and attachments	47	8.9	2.4×
tyres	40	7.5	2.2×
suspension	32	6	1.4×
steering and suspension	28	5.3	0.3×
lighting and signalling	26	4.9	0.2×
tyres and wheels	15	2.8	0.3×
wheels	10	1.9	6.5×

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 XL650 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 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 XL650.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2002 (87.1% pass). Weakest: 2006 (78.7%).

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 XL650 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the HONDA XL650 reliable?

The HONDA XL650 is about average for its class: 83.7% of its 2,573 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #2820 of 5426 models.

What does a XL650 fail its MOT on most?

brakes — 31% of all defects recorded against failed XL650 tests.

What is the best year of XL650 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2002-registered examples do best (87.1%) and 2006 worst (78.7%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a XL650 last?

The median XL650 shows 26,936 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 81.0% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.