HONDA GL1200AF
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
The GL1200AF's first-time pass rate has risen 4.6 points since 2006, 84.0% to 88.6%.
Pass rate by mileage
A low-mileage GL1200AF passes first time 82.5% of the time; by 50k that's 82.6%.
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 GL1200AF
| Component group | Share of defects | Defects | % of defects | vs all bikes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| brakes |
|
74 | 43.3 | 2.0× |
| steering and suspension |
|
32 | 18.7 | 1.9× |
| lighting and signalling |
|
27 | 15.8 | 1.0× |
| tyres and wheels |
|
23 | 13.5 | 1.7× |
| fuel and exhaust |
|
4 | 2.3 | 0.8× |
| lamps and reflectors |
|
3 | 1.8 | 0.1× |
| body and structure |
|
3 | 1.8 | 1.2× |
| reg plates and vin |
|
2 | 1.2 | 0.7× |
| tyres |
|
2 | 1.2 | 0.6× |
| driving controls |
|
1 | 0.6 | 0.8× |
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
On first-time pass rate the GL1200AF beats 0 of its 4 closest rivals (BMW R1200, BMW R1150, TRIUMPH SPRINT).
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 GL1200AF.
Compare with any bike
More HONDA models
Pass rate by registration year
Best year to buy used: 1986 (81.0% pass). Weakest: 1985 (79.4%).
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 GL1200AF FAQ
Is the HONDA GL1200AF reliable?
The HONDA GL1200AF is less reliable than average for its class: 80.0% of its 525 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #3578 of 5428 models.
What does a GL1200AF fail its MOT on most?
brakes — 43% of all defects recorded against failed GL1200AF tests.
How many miles will a GL1200AF last?
The median GL1200AF shows 58,882 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 82.6% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.
Embed this bike
Free to embed on your site, blog or forum — a live Honda GL1200AF reliability card that stays up to date and links back here. More on the free API page.