HONDA XR600R

595cc Petrol Class 2

#3130 of 5426 overall #512 of 921 HONDAs #1991 of 2787 other bikes

82.3%

first-time pass rate

9.6%

failed outright

12,405

median miles at test

679

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2006–2016

The XR600R's first-time pass rate has fallen 7.9 points since 2006, 86.7% to 78.8%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the XR600R's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage XR600R passes first time 83.3% of the time; by 20k that's 84.3%.

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 XR600R

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	63	33.5	1.3×
brakes	30	16	0.8×
steering and suspension	23	12.2	0.8×
tyres and wheels	21	11.2	1.0×
lamps and reflectors	20	10.6	0.6×
reg plates and vin	10	5.3	1.8×
suspension	8	4.3	1.0×
drive system	7	3.7	1.4×
audible warning (Horn)	3	1.6	2.4×
Items Not Tested	3	1.6	4.8×

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 XR600R 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 XR600R.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1998 (84.9% pass). Weakest: 1997 (81.0%).

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 XR600R FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the HONDA XR600R reliable?

The HONDA XR600R is less reliable than average for its class: 82.3% of its 679 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #3130 of 5426 models.

What does a XR600R fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 34% of all defects recorded against failed XR600R tests.

What is the best year of XR600R to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1998-registered examples do best (84.9%) and 1997 worst (81.0%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a XR600R last?

The median XR600R shows 12,405 miles at test, and examples around 20k miles still pass 84.3% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.