HONDA DOMINATOR

644cc Petrol Class 2

#3805 of 5426 overall #699 of 921 HONDAs #2415 of 2787 other bikes

78.8%

first-time pass rate

13.0%

failed outright

23,123

median miles at test

1,127

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2006–2025

The DOMINATOR's first-time pass rate has risen 12.7 points since 2006, 76.2% to 88.9%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the DOMINATOR's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage DOMINATOR passes first time 81.7% of the time; by 50k that's 83.3%.

First-time pass rate by odometer reading at test, 10,000-mile bands for this model. Mileage is the strongest reliability signal. See the full curve.

What fails on a DOMINATOR

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	87	24.6	1.2×
brakes	80	22.7	1.3×
steering and suspension	73	20.7	1.7×
drive system	32	9.1	2.1×
tyres and wheels	22	6.2	0.8×
lamps and reflectors	20	5.7	0.6×
fuel and exhaust	15	4.2	1.5×
body and structure	10	2.8	1.5×
reg plates and vin	8	2.3	1.1×
driving controls	6	1.7	2.3×

Defects recorded against failed normal tests, 2005–2025, grouped by DVSA inspection section. One test can record multiple defects. "vs all bikes" is how often this model's tests record a defect in the group, as a multiple of the all-bike rate.

How rivals compare

same type, similar capacity, high test volume

On first-time pass rate the DOMINATOR beats 2 of its 4 closest rivals (KAWASAKI ZX-6R, SUZUKI GSF600, YAMAHA FZS600).

KAWASAKI ZX-6R 78.1% pass · 174k tests SUZUKI GSF600 77.3% pass · 143k tests YAMAHA FZS600 82.6% pass · 137k tests HONDA VFR800 FI 86.7% pass · 89.4k tests

Rivals share this bike's type and sit within ±30% of its engine capacity, ≥ 5,000 tests. Card colour = better/worse first-time pass rate than the DOMINATOR.

Pass rate by registration year

how each model-year cohort fares · registration year from first use date

Best year to buy used: 1989 (86.2% pass). Weakest: 1996 (75.0%).

First-time pass rate by the year each bike was first registered (cohorts with ≥ 50 tests). Older cohorts are survivors: the worst examples have already left the road, which tends to lift the earliest years.

HONDA DOMINATOR FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the HONDA DOMINATOR reliable?

The HONDA DOMINATOR is less reliable than average for its class: 78.8% of its 1,127 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #3805 of 5426 models.

What does a DOMINATOR fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 25% of all defects recorded against failed DOMINATOR tests.

What is the best year of DOMINATOR to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1989-registered examples do best (86.2%) and 1996 worst (75.0%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a DOMINATOR last?

The median DOMINATOR shows 23,123 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 83.3% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.