Honda CMX 500 A-L vs Suzuki GSF600

The Honda CMX 500 A-L passes its MOT first time more often than the Suzuki GSF600: 94.0% vs 77.3%, a 16.7-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

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

Metric	Honda CMX 500 A-L	Suzuki GSF600
First-time pass rate	94.0%	77.3%
Outright fail rate	2.4%	14.2%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted)	+4.6 pts	-6.1 pts
Engine size	471cc	599cc
Rank among all models	#172 of 5428	#4013 of 5428
Median miles at test	4,157	21,080
MOT tests analysed	714	143,023
Most common failure	structure and attachments	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.

"Vs comparable bikes" is the first-time pass rate minus the rate expected for each bike's own mix of age, mileage and test class, in percentage points: positive means better than comparable bikes. How this works.

What fails, side by side

share of each bike's MOT tests that failed on the component · lower is better

Component	Honda CMX 500 A-L	Suzuki GSF600
Lights & signalling	0.6%	6.7%
Brakes	0.7%	6.1%
Tyres & wheels	0.7%	3.3%
Steering & suspension	0.1%	3.6%
Structure & body	1.1%	1.5%
Drive system	0%	1.4%
Fuel & exhaust	0%	1.2%

A test that fails on two components counts once in each. Component links go to the bikes most likely to fail on it.

Pass rate by test year

first-time MOT pass rate in each calendar year both bikes were tested

Test year	Honda CMX 500 A-L	Suzuki GSF600
2023	96.9%	78.2%
2024	91.2%	78.9%
2025	95.5%	79.6%

Each year mixes bikes of different ages, so a fleet that is getting older tends to slip.

Pass rate by mileage

first-time MOT pass rate by miles on the clock at test

Mileage	Honda CMX 500 A-L	Suzuki GSF600
0k-10k miles	95.3%	86.8%
10k-20k miles	87.8%	80.1%

Bands with fewer than 30 tests for either bike are left out.

Honda CMX 500 A-L vs Suzuki GSF600 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Which is more reliable, the Honda CMX 500 A-L or the Suzuki GSF600?

The Honda CMX 500 A-L passes its MOT first time more often than the Suzuki GSF600: 94.0% vs 77.3%, a 16.7-point lead. Adjusted for age, mileage and test class, the Honda CMX 500 A-L still comes out ahead: +4.6 points vs comparable bikes for the Honda CMX 500 A-L, -6.1 for the Suzuki GSF600. An MOT checks roadworthiness items, not engine or gearbox internals.

What does the Honda CMX 500 A-L fail its MOT on most?

Structure & body: 1.1% of Honda CMX 500 A-L MOT tests failed on it, then brakes (0.7%).

What does the Suzuki GSF600 fail its MOT on most?

Lights & signalling: 6.7% of Suzuki GSF600 MOT tests failed on it, then brakes (6.1%).

HONDA CMX 500 A-L 94.0% pass · 714 tests SUZUKI GSF600 77.3% pass · 143k tests

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