HONDA GL

1832cc Petrol Class 2

#213 of 5426 overall #35 of 921 HONDAs #130 of 2787 other bikes

93.7%

first-time pass rate

3.9%

failed outright

16,239

median miles at test

3,311

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

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

The GL's first-time pass rate has risen 13.3 points since 2006, 81.8% to 95.1%.

Pass rate by mileage

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

A low-mileage GL passes first time 97.8% of the time; by 50k that's 82.6%.

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 GL

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
brakes	102	36.3	0.4×
lighting and signalling	46	16.4	0.2×
steering and suspension	37	13.2	0.3×
tyres	32	11.4	1.2×
tyres and wheels	25	8.9	0.3×
lamps and reflectors	16	5.7	0.3×
suspension	9	3.2	0.4×
structure and attachments	7	2.5	0.2×
driving controls	4	1.4	0.5×
steering	3	1.1	0.2×

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 GL beats 4 of its 4 closest rivals (SUZUKI GSX1400, SUZUKI GSX1300R, YAMAHA FJR1300A).

SUZUKI GSX1400 88.3% pass · 56.8k tests SUZUKI GSX1300R 86.3% pass · 48.4k tests YAMAHA FJR1300A 90.2% pass · 27.9k tests YAMAHA FJR1300 87.5% pass · 25.9k 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 GL.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2017 (98.6% pass). Weakest: 1984 (79.5%).

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 GL FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the HONDA GL reliable?

The HONDA GL is more reliable than average for its class: 93.7% of its 3,311 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #213 of 5426 models.

What does a GL fail its MOT on most?

brakes — 36% of all defects recorded against failed GL tests.

What is the best year of GL to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2019-registered examples do best (98.6%) and 1984 worst (79.5%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a GL last?

The median GL shows 16,239 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 82.6% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.