HONDA CB500 vs KAWASAKI Z650

The HONDA CB500 passes its MOT first time more often than the KAWASAKI Z650 — 83.3% vs 81.6%, a 1.7-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

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

Metric	HONDA CB500	KAWASAKI Z650
First-time pass rate	83.3%	81.6%
Outright fail rate	10.1%	9.2%
Median miles at test	20,653	32,631
MOT tests analysed	104,748	7,430
Most common failure	brakes	lighting and signalling

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 CB500 83.3% pass · 105k tests KAWASAKI Z650 81.6% pass · 7,430 tests

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