Honda XL 650 V-4
Real ownership data from 238 UK XL 650 V-4 motorcycles — mileage, MOT pass rates and the faults that actually come up, taken from DVSA test records rather than opinion.
Most common XL 650 V-4 problems
Ranked by how often each fault appears in this model's MOT history.
| Fault | Severity | Share of faults |
|---|---|---|
| Brake discs and pads | dangerous | 16.7% |
| Tyres | user entered | 12.2% |
| Chain and sprockets | major | 10.5% |
| Steering and head bearings | dangerous | 7.5% |
| Other | fail | 5.4% |
| Wheels | dangerous | 4.8% |
| Brakes | user entered | 3.1% |
| Suspension | major | 3.1% |
Advisories (wear noted but not failed) are excluded above; the most common is lights and indicators.
XL 650 V-4 mileage and reliability by year
Use this to judge whether a specific bike is high or low mileage for its age.
| YearYear | MedianMedian mileage | Mi/yrMiles/year | MOT passFirst-time pass | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 78 | 24,431 mi | 1,303 | 87.59% |
| 2004 | 148 | 25,194 mi | 1,338 | 83.92% |
| 2003 | 8 | 35,188 mi | 1,461 | 80.82% |
XL 650 V-4 questions, answered with data
What are the most common problems with the Honda XL 650 V-4?
Across 238 UK examples, the most frequently recorded MOT faults are brake discs and pads (16.7% of all recorded faults), tyres (12.2% of all recorded faults), chain and sprockets (10.5% of all recorded faults).
What is average mileage for a Honda XL 650 V-4?
The median Honda XL 650 V-4 in the UK has covered 24,724 miles, and typically rides about 1,303 miles a year. Half of all examples fall between 16,216 and 38,042 miles.
Is the Honda XL 650 V-4 reliable?
85.15% of Honda XL 650 V-4 MOT tests are passed first time, with an average of 0.11 faults recorded per test. This is measured from DVSA MOT records, not owner opinion.
Based on DVSA MOT test records for 238 Honda XL 650 V-4 motorcycles registered in Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.