HONDA GL1100

1085cc Petrol Class 2

#3666 of 5426 overall #661 of 921 HONDAs #2333 of 2787 other bikes

79.6%

first-time pass rate

14.1%

failed outright

45,054

median miles at test

4,295

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2005–2023

The GL1100's first-time pass rate has risen 2.7 points since 2005, 80.0% to 82.7%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the GL1100's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage GL1100 passes first time 87.6% of the time; by 50k that's 76.4%.

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 GL1100

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
brakes	554	38.8	1.9×
lighting and signalling	275	19.3	1.1×
steering and suspension	242	17	1.4×
tyres and wheels	136	9.5	1.3×
body and structure	66	4.6	2.4×
lamps and reflectors	60	4.2	0.5×
fuel and exhaust	27	1.9	0.7×
driving controls	25	1.8	2.5×
suspension	21	1.5	0.6×
structure and attachments	21	1.5	0.6×

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 GL1100 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 GL1100.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1980 (82.0% pass). Weakest: 1982 (78.1%).

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 GL1100 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the HONDA GL1100 reliable?

The HONDA GL1100 is less reliable than average for its class: 79.6% of its 4,295 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #3666 of 5426 models.

What does a GL1100 fail its MOT on most?

brakes — 39% of all defects recorded against failed GL1100 tests.

What is the best year of GL1100 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1980-registered examples do best (82.0%) and 1982 worst (78.1%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a GL1100 last?

The median GL1100 shows 45,054 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 76.4% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.