The picture
Cb 500 Xa-K: a strong MOT record by UK norms
Across 968 MOT tests, the Cb 500 Xa-K returns 93.9% first-time pass — comfortably ahead of the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is tyre tread under the limit. Brake pads worn below 1.0 mm and uneven braking force round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 9,424, which is the lens to read those failure rankings through. If you own one and the next test is close, the ranked list below is a sensible pre-test checklist.
Top ten reasons for rejection.
- 01
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
7 occurrences · 0.7% of tests
- 02
Brake lining or pad worn below 1.0mm
6 occurrences · 0.6% of tests
- 03
Excessive fluctuation in brake effort through each wheel revolution
6 occurrences · 0.6% of tests
- 04
A shock absorber not functioning or leaking severely
6 occurrences · 0.6% of tests
- 05
A transmission belt, chain, sprocket or pulley excessively loose or worn
5 occurrences · 0.5% of tests
- 06
A transmission belt, chain, sprocket or pulley excessively loose or worn
5 occurrences · 0.5% of tests
- 07
Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
3 occurrences · 0.3% of tests
- 08
A stop lamp(s) remains on when the brakes are released
3 occurrences · 0.3% of tests
- 09
Restriction in the movement of the handlebars from lock to lock
2 occurrences · 0.2% of tests
- 10
Handlebar grip insecure to handlebar
2 occurrences · 0.2% of tests
Counts cover Major and Dangerous defects logged at test. Advisory items excluded so this shows why a car was rejected, not just what the tester flagged in passing.
Worst-case fix budget · top 2 failures
£140–£255
If every one of this CB 500 XA K's most-logged Major fails hit at the same MOT, that's the real-world UK garage range. Reality is usually one or two items, not all of them. Open the estimator →
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Build your own retest budget.
Tools that pre-empt a retest.
Picked against this car's top failure patterns. Affiliate links to Amazon UK — we earn a small cut at no cost to you. Disclosed up-front, doesn't shape the data.
Item 01 · Amazon UK
Digital tyre-tread depth gauge
Five quid for a gauge beats £150 for a retest. UK MOT minimum is 1.6mm — most testers fail anything below 2mm to be safe.
Search Amazon UK
Item 02 · Amazon UK
Brake pad measurement gauge
Testers fail pads under 1.5mm. A wear gauge tells you if you've got two months left or two weeks.
Search Amazon UK
Buying or keeping a CB 500 XA K?
Use the failure ranking as a pre-test checklist or a haggling lever. Treat the headline pass rate as a fleet-wide trend, not a guarantee on any individual car.
If you own a CB 500 XA K and your last MOT looked nothing like the ranked failures above, that's normal — individual cars vary widely. The ranking shows the patterns testers flag most often across the country.