MV Agusta Brutale S vs Honda CB600 Hornet

The MV Agusta Brutale S passes its MOT first time more often than the Honda CB600 Hornet: 89.2% vs 78.6%, a 10.6-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

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

Metric	MV Agusta Brutale S	Honda CB600 Hornet
First-time pass rate	89.2%	78.6%
Outright fail rate	5.9%	12.2%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted)	+2.0 pts	-4.8 pts
Engine size	749cc	599cc
Rank among all models	#1212 of 5428	#3832 of 5428
Median miles at test	6,746	20,837
MOT tests analysed	1,076	26,392
Most common failure	lighting and signalling	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.

"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	MV Agusta Brutale S	Honda CB600 Hornet
Lights & signalling	3.3%	5.8%
Brakes	0.5%	4.6%
Steering & suspension	1.5%	3.6%
Tyres & wheels	1.3%	3.0%
Structure & body	0.9%	0.9%
Drive system	0.2%	1.2%
Fuel & exhaust	0.1%	0.6%

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	MV Agusta Brutale S	Honda CB600 Hornet
2017	91.0%	78.1%
2018	86.2%	77.8%
2019	93.6%	78.9%
2020	76.9%	78.7%
2021	90.0%	80.2%
2022	86.7%	80.9%
2023	91.9%	77.5%
2025	91.2%	81.3%

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	MV Agusta Brutale S	Honda CB600 Hornet
0k-10k miles	91.9%	85.2%
10k-20k miles	85.4%	80.8%
20k-30k miles	89.7%	77.0%

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

MV Agusta Brutale S vs Honda CB600 Hornet FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Which is more reliable, the MV Agusta Brutale S or the Honda CB600 Hornet?

The MV Agusta Brutale S passes its MOT first time more often than the Honda CB600 Hornet: 89.2% vs 78.6%, a 10.6-point lead. Adjusted for age, mileage and test class, the MV Agusta Brutale S still comes out ahead: +2.0 points vs comparable bikes for the MV Agusta Brutale S, -4.8 for the Honda CB600 Hornet. An MOT checks roadworthiness items, not engine or gearbox internals.

What does the MV Agusta Brutale S fail its MOT on most?

Lights & signalling: 3.3% of MV Agusta Brutale S MOT tests failed on it, then steering & suspension (1.5%).

What does the Honda CB600 Hornet fail its MOT on most?

Lights & signalling: 5.8% of Honda CB600 Hornet MOT tests failed on it, then brakes (4.6%).

Which holds up better at high mileage, the MV Agusta Brutale S or the Honda CB600 Hornet?

At 20k-30k miles the MV Agusta Brutale S passes first time more often: 89.7% for the MV Agusta Brutale S vs 77.0% for the Honda CB600 Hornet.

MV AGUSTA BRUTALE S 89.2% pass · 1,076 tests HONDA CB600 HORNET 78.6% pass · 26.4k tests

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