Yamaha XSR 700 (MTM690) vs Honda CB500

The Yamaha XSR 700 (MTM690) passes its MOT first time more often than the Honda CB500: 91.7% vs 83.3%, a 8.4-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

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

Metric	Yamaha XSR 700 (MTM690)	Honda CB500
First-time pass rate	91.7%	83.3%
Outright fail rate	3.6%	10.1%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted)	+2.4 pts	-0.8 pts
Engine size	689cc	499cc
Rank among all models	#524 of 5428	#2895 of 5428
Median miles at test	3,998	20,653
MOT tests analysed	302	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 mileage

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

Mileage	Yamaha XSR 700 (MTM690)	Honda CB500
0k-10k miles	93.8%	92.5%
10k-20k miles	81.1%	86.3%

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

YAMAHA XSR 700 (MTM690) 91.7% pass · 302 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.