HONDA GL 1800 A-8

1832cc Petrol Class 2

#468 of 5426 overall #55 of 921 HONDAs #287 of 2787 other bikes

92.0%

first-time pass rate

5.2%

failed outright

21,467

median miles at test

1,125

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2011–2025

The GL 1800 A-8's first-time pass rate has fallen 3.8 points since 2011, 97.9% to 94.1%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the GL 1800 A-8's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage GL 1800 A-8 passes first time 94.3% of the time; by 50k that's 97.1%.

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-8

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
brakes	25	28.1	0.4×
tyres and wheels	15	16.9	0.6×
suspension	11	12.4	1.3×
lamps and reflectors	11	12.4	0.5×
steering and suspension	9	10.1	0.3×
lighting and signalling	8	9	0.2×
tyres	5	5.6	0.5×
reg plates and vin	3	3.4	0.3×
wheels	1	1.1	1.5×
Items Not Tested	1	1.1	1.0×

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-8 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-8.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2010 (94.9% pass). Weakest: 2009 (91.0%).

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 GL 1800 A-8 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the HONDA GL 1800 A-8 reliable?

The HONDA GL 1800 A-8 is more reliable than average for its class: 92.0% of its 1,125 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #468 of 5426 models.

What does a GL 1800 A-8 fail its MOT on most?

brakes — 28% of all defects recorded against failed GL 1800 A-8 tests.

What is the best year of GL 1800 A-8 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2010-registered examples do best (94.9%) and 2009 worst (91.0%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a GL 1800 A-8 last?

The median GL 1800 A-8 shows 21,467 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 97.1% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.