Honda CMX 500 A2-L vs Suzuki GSF600

The Honda CMX 500 A2-L passes its MOT first time more often than the Suzuki GSF600: 94.8% vs 77.3%, a 17.5-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

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

Metric	Honda CMX 500 A2-L	Suzuki GSF600
First-time pass rate	94.8%	77.3%
Outright fail rate	3.6%	14.2%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted)	+5.3 pts	-6.1 pts
Engine size	471cc	599cc
Rank among all models	#93 of 5428	#4013 of 5428
Median miles at test	3,762	21,080
MOT tests analysed	905	143,023
Most common failure	lamps and reflectors	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 A2-L	Suzuki GSF600
Lights & signalling	1.1%	6.7%
Brakes	1.1%	6.1%
Tyres & wheels	0.8%	3.3%
Steering & suspension	0.3%	3.6%
Structure & body	1.4%	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 A2-L	Suzuki GSF600
2023	95.4%	78.2%
2024	94.7%	78.9%
2025	94.6%	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 A2-L	Suzuki GSF600
0k-10k miles	96.1%	86.8%
10k-20k miles	87.1%	80.1%

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

Honda CMX 500 A2-L vs Suzuki GSF600 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Which is more reliable, the Honda CMX 500 A2-L or the Suzuki GSF600?

The Honda CMX 500 A2-L passes its MOT first time more often than the Suzuki GSF600: 94.8% vs 77.3%, a 17.5-point lead. Adjusted for age, mileage and test class, the Honda CMX 500 A2-L still comes out ahead: +5.3 points vs comparable bikes for the Honda CMX 500 A2-L, -6.1 for the Suzuki GSF600. An MOT checks roadworthiness items, not engine or gearbox internals.

What does the Honda CMX 500 A2-L fail its MOT on most?

Structure & body: 1.4% of Honda CMX 500 A2-L MOT tests failed on it, then lights & signalling (1.1%).

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 A2-L 94.8% pass · 905 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.