HONDA XL650V

647cc Petrol Class 2

#3242 of 5426 overall #544 of 921 HONDAs #2065 of 2787 other bikes

81.7%

first-time pass rate

12.1%

failed outright

17,318

median miles at test

224

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate by mileage

how the XL650V's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage XL650V passes first time 92.7% of the time; by 20k that's 75.5%.

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 XL650V

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects
brakes	16	26.2
lamps and reflectors	14	23
steering and suspension	8	13.1
tyres and wheels	6	9.8
drive system	4	6.6
lighting and signalling	4	6.6
steering	3	4.9
tyres	3	4.9
fuel and exhaust	2	3.3
structure and attachments	1	1.6

Defects recorded against failed normal tests, 2005–2025, grouped by DVSA inspection section. One test can record multiple defects.

How rivals compare

same type, similar capacity, high test volume

On first-time pass rate the XL650V beats 2 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 XL650V.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2007 (90.6% pass). Weakest: 2007 (90.6%).

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.