Husqvarna Svartpilen 701 2019 vs Honda CB500

The Husqvarna Svartpilen 701 2019 passes its MOT first time more often than the Honda CB500: 92.1% vs 83.3%, a 8.8-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

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

Metric	Husqvarna Svartpilen 701 2019	Honda CB500
First-time pass rate	92.1%	83.3%
Outright fail rate	4.0%	10.1%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted)	+2.8 pts	-0.8 pts
Engine size	693cc	499cc
Median miles at test	4,632	20,653
MOT tests analysed	151	104,748
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.

Pass rate by test year

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

Test year	Husqvarna Svartpilen 701 2019	Honda CB500
2022	90.0%	89.1%
2023	93.9%	89.5%
2024	90.9%	90.1%
2025	92.3%	90.3%

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

HUSQVARNA SVARTPILEN 701 2019 92.1% pass · 151 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.