BIKERELIABILITY Reg check
League table/ HONDA/GL1000
Model report · 2005–2025

Data as of: DVSA MOT results to 2025

HONDA GL1000

999cc Petrol Class 2
#3254 of 5428 overall #550 of 920 HONDAs #2072 of 2788 other bikes
81.6%
first-time pass rate
10.3%
failed outright
38,596
median miles at test
1,896
MOT tests, 2005–2025
-2.0pp
vs expected · age & mileage

The pass rate is the MOT first-time pass: a roadworthiness check of the items an MOT covers (brakes, lights, tyres, steering, structure, emissions), not a full mechanical inspection of engine or gearbox internals. It is a reliability signal, not a complete measure of mechanical reliability. What this measures.

“vs expected” adjusts for age, mileage and test class, so a cherished classic and a hard-used commuter are compared fairly. How this works.

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2005–2019

The GL1000's first-time pass rate has risen 10.2 points since 2005, 84.4% to 94.6%.

72%85%99%2005: 84.4% pass (45 tests)2006: 85.4% pass (178 tests)2007: 78.1% pass (137 tests)2008: 80.0% pass (160 tests)2009: 81.4% pass (140 tests)2010: 79.4% pass (141 tests)2011: 78.3% pass (143 tests)2012: 77.0% pass (139 tests)2013: 76.2% pass (147 tests)2014: 80.6% pass (129 tests)2015: 86.4% pass (132 tests)2016: 85.9% pass (128 tests)2017: 85.5% pass (110 tests)2018: 79.0% pass (62 tests)2019: 94.6% pass (37 tests)20052019

Pass rate by mileage

how the GL1000's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage GL1000 passes first time 84.7% of the time; by 50k that's 81.9%.

80%83%86%0k: 84.7% pass (98 tests)10k: 80.6% pass (175 tests)20k: 83.2% pass (291 tests)30k: 80.9% pass (450 tests)40k: 83.0% pass (364 tests)50k: 81.9% pass (254 tests)0k30k50k

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 GL1000

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded
Component group Share of defects Defects % of defects vs all bikes
brakes
151 34.2 1.3×
lighting and signalling
110 24.9 0.9×
steering and suspension
71 16.1 1.0×
tyres and wheels
44 10 1.0×
body and structure
19 4.3 1.8×
fuel and exhaust
17 3.9 0.9×
lamps and reflectors
9 2 0.2×
suspension
8 1.8 0.4×
reg plates and vin
6 1.4 0.5×
driving controls
6 1.4 1.3×

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 GL1000 beats 0 of its 4 closest rivals (BMW R1200, BMW R1150, TRIUMPH SPRINT).

BMW R1200 92.9% pass · 299k tests Compare head-to-head →
BMW R1150 88.5% pass · 171k tests Compare head-to-head →
TRIUMPH SPRINT 85.6% pass · 133k tests Compare head-to-head →
SUZUKI GSF1200 82.4% pass · 97.6k tests Compare head-to-head →

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 GL1000.

Compare with any bike

rival not listed above? pick any model to see it head-to-head with the GL1000

More HONDA models

other HONDA bikes ranked by MOT pass rate
HONDA CBR600F 81.7% pass · 202k tests
HONDA CBR900RR 83.2% pass · 166k tests
HONDA CBR1100XX 87.1% pass · 105k tests
HONDA CB500 83.3% pass · 105k tests
HONDA C90 79.3% pass · 92.8k tests
HONDA VFR800 FI 86.7% pass · 89.4k tests

See all HONDA models →

Pass rate by registration year

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

Highest pass rate: 1975 (86.3%). Lowest: 1979 (77.3%). Every GL1000 year compared →

76%82%88%1975: 86.3% pass (182 tests)1976: 81.8% pass (411 tests)1977: 85.8% pass (346 tests)1978: 78.9% pass (342 tests)1979: 77.3% pass (454 tests)1980: 78.3% pass (83 tests)197519781980

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 GL1000 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the HONDA GL1000 reliable?

The HONDA GL1000 is less reliable than average for its class: 81.6% of its 1,896 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #3254 of 5428 models.

What does a GL1000 fail its MOT on most?

brakes: 34% of all defects recorded against failed GL1000 tests.

What is the best year of GL1000 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1975-registered examples do best (86.3%) and 1979 worst (77.3%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a GL1000 last?

The median GL1000 shows 38,596 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 81.9% of the time, so mileage alone rarely decides the result.

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