Honda CX500 vs Yamaha FZ6

The Yamaha FZ6 passes its MOT first time more often than the Honda CX500: 85.2% vs 79.9%, a 5.3-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

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

Metric	Honda CX500	Yamaha FZ6
First-time pass rate	79.9%	85.2%
Outright fail rate	12.6%	7.8%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted)	-3.2 pts	+0.3 pts
Engine size	496cc	599cc
Rank among all models	#3603 of 5428	#2445 of 5428
Median miles at test	38,134	15,484
MOT tests analysed	15,631	67,149
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.

"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 CX500	Yamaha FZ6
Lights & signalling	5.2%	3.1%
Steering & suspension	5.4%	2.4%
Brakes	4.8%	2.1%
Tyres & wheels	2.6%	2.3%
Structure & body	1.4%	0.6%
Fuel & exhaust	1.3%	0.1%
Drive system	0.0%	0.5%

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 CX500	Yamaha FZ6
2018	84.0%	84.5%
2019	82.9%	83.4%
2020	85.9%	82.8%
2021	84.3%	82.9%
2022	87.1%	84.0%
2023	86.0%	82.6%
2024	86.5%	83.6%
2025	88.3%	84.0%

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 CX500	Yamaha FZ6
0k-10k miles	79.1%	91.1%
10k-20k miles	83.8%	86.1%
20k-30k miles	81.9%	81.5%
30k-40k miles	79.2%	78.7%
40k-50k miles	79.1%	77.9%
50k-60k miles	78.2%	77.0%

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

Honda CX500 vs Yamaha FZ6 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Which is more reliable, the Honda CX500 or the Yamaha FZ6?

The Yamaha FZ6 passes its MOT first time more often than the Honda CX500: 85.2% vs 79.9%, a 5.3-point lead. Adjusted for age, mileage and test class, the Yamaha FZ6 still comes out ahead: -3.2 points vs comparable bikes for the Honda CX500, +0.3 for the Yamaha FZ6. An MOT checks roadworthiness items, not engine or gearbox internals.

What does the Honda CX500 fail its MOT on most?

Steering & suspension: 5.4% of Honda CX500 MOT tests failed on it, then lights & signalling (5.2%).

What does the Yamaha FZ6 fail its MOT on most?

Lights & signalling: 3.1% of Yamaha FZ6 MOT tests failed on it, then steering & suspension (2.4%).

Which holds up better at high mileage, the Honda CX500 or the Yamaha FZ6?

At 50k-60k miles the Honda CX500 passes first time more often: 78.2% for the Honda CX500 vs 77.0% for the Yamaha FZ6.

HONDA CX500 79.9% pass · 15.6k tests YAMAHA FZ6 85.2% pass · 67.1k tests

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