HONDA GL 1800SE

1832cc Petrol Class 2

#414 of 5426 overall #49 of 921 HONDAs #256 of 2787 other bikes

92.3%

first-time pass rate

5.0%

failed outright

27,370

median miles at test

5,781

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

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

The GL 1800SE's first-time pass rate has fallen 4.7 points since 2006, 95.5% to 90.8%.

Pass rate by mileage

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

A low-mileage GL 1800SE passes first time 93.5% of the time; by 50k that's 92.5%.

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 1800SE

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
brakes	104	22.9	0.3×
tyres and wheels	79	17.4	0.5×
lighting and signalling	66	14.5	0.2×
steering and suspension	64	14.1	0.3×
lamps and reflectors	42	9.2	0.4×
suspension	41	9	0.8×
tyres	39	8.6	0.8×
reg plates and vin	10	2.2	0.3×
driving controls	6	1.3	0.4×
steering	4	0.9	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 1800SE 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 1800SE.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2011 (96.6% pass). Weakest: 2012 (89.4%).

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 1800SE FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the HONDA GL 1800SE reliable?

The HONDA GL 1800SE is more reliable than average for its class: 92.3% of its 5,781 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #414 of 5426 models.

What does a GL 1800SE fail its MOT on most?

brakes — 23% of all defects recorded against failed GL 1800SE tests.

What is the best year of GL 1800SE to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2011-registered examples do best (96.6%) and 2012 worst (89.4%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a GL 1800SE last?

The median GL 1800SE shows 27,370 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 92.5% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.