HONDA CB400 vs HONDA CB500

The HONDA CB500 passes its MOT first time more often than the HONDA CB400 — 83.3% vs 80.9%, a 2.4-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

first-time pass rate, outright fail rate and tests analysed · 2005–2025

Metric	HONDA CB400	HONDA CB500
First-time pass rate	80.9%	83.3%
Outright fail rate	11.0%	10.1%
Median miles at test	30,796	20,653
MOT tests analysed	9,072	104,748
Most common failure	steering and suspension	brakes

First-time outcomes on normal tests, 2005–2025. "Most common failure" is the component group with the most recorded defects on failed tests. Read pass rates against test counts: a smaller sample is noisier. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT results.

HONDA CB400 80.9% pass · 9,072 tests HONDA CB500 83.3% pass · 105k tests

See each bike's full report — trend, mileage curve, failure breakdown and rivals — on its own page.