HONDA GL1000

999cc Petrol Class 2

#3253 of 5426 overall #550 of 921 HONDAs #2071 of 2787 other bikes

81.6%

first-time pass rate

10.3%

failed outright

38,596

median miles at test

1,896

MOT tests, 2005–2025

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%.

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%.

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	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 BMW R1150 88.5% pass · 171k tests TRIUMPH SPRINT 85.6% pass · 133k tests SUZUKI GSF1200 82.4% pass · 97.6k 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 GL1000.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1975 (86.3% pass). Weakest: 1979 (77.3%).

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 #3253 of 5426 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 — mileage alone rarely kills one.