HONDA FIRESTORM

998cc Petrol Class 2

#3334 of 5426 overall #572 of 921 HONDAs #2126 of 2787 other bikes

81.2%

first-time pass rate

12.0%

failed outright

25,839

median miles at test

1,314

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2006–2024

The FIRESTORM's first-time pass rate has risen 3.1 points since 2006, 83.0% to 86.1%.

Pass rate by mileage

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

A low-mileage FIRESTORM passes first time 88.5% of the time; by 50k that's 83.8%.

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 FIRESTORM

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	87	25.6	1.0×
brakes	69	20.3	0.9×
steering and suspension	47	13.8	1.0×
lamps and reflectors	30	8.8	1.3×
tyres and wheels	22	6.5	0.7×
reg plates and vin	20	5.9	2.1×
suspension	19	5.6	1.7×
structure and attachments	19	5.6	1.9×
fuel and exhaust	14	4.1	1.3×
tyres	13	3.8	1.2×

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 FIRESTORM beats 0 of its 4 closest rivals (BMW R1200, BMW R1150, TRIUMPH SPRINT).

BMW R1200 92.9% pass · 299k tests BMW R1150 88.5% pass · 171k tests TRIUMPH SPRINT 85.6% pass · 133k tests SUZUKI GSF1200 82.4% pass · 97.6k 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 FIRESTORM.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1999 (85.4% pass). Weakest: 1998 (76.8%).

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 FIRESTORM FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the HONDA FIRESTORM reliable?

The HONDA FIRESTORM is less reliable than average for its class: 81.2% of its 1,314 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #3334 of 5426 models.

What does a FIRESTORM fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 26% of all defects recorded against failed FIRESTORM tests.

What is the best year of FIRESTORM to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1999-registered examples do best (85.4%) and 1998 worst (76.8%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a FIRESTORM last?

The median FIRESTORM shows 25,839 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 83.8% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.