HONDA GL 1800 A-2

1832cc Petrol Class 2

#657 of 5426 overall #74 of 921 HONDAs #401 of 2787 other bikes

91.1%

first-time pass rate

5.7%

failed outright

34,239

median miles at test

1,108

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

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

The GL 1800 A-2's first-time pass rate has risen 5.5 points since 2006, 91.4% to 96.9%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the GL 1800 A-2's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage GL 1800 A-2 passes first time 89.9% of the time; by 50k that's 93.5%.

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 1800 A-2

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
brakes	25	25.5	0.3×
steering and suspension	20	20.4	0.5×
tyres and wheels	17	17.3	0.7×
lighting and signalling	13	13.3	0.3×
steering	5	5.1	0.9×
lamps and reflectors	5	5.1	0.3×
tyres	5	5.1	0.5×
reg plates and vin	4	4.1	0.3×
structure and attachments	2	2	0.3×
suspension	2	2	0.1×

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 1800 A-2 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 1800 A-2.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2004 (94.0% pass). Weakest: 2003 (89.7%).

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 1800 A-2 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the HONDA GL 1800 A-2 reliable?

The HONDA GL 1800 A-2 is more reliable than average for its class: 91.1% of its 1,108 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #657 of 5426 models.

What does a GL 1800 A-2 fail its MOT on most?

brakes — 26% of all defects recorded against failed GL 1800 A-2 tests.

What is the best year of GL 1800 A-2 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2004-registered examples do best (94.0%) and 2003 worst (89.7%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a GL 1800 A-2 last?

The median GL 1800 A-2 shows 34,239 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 93.5% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.