BIKERELIABILITY
MOT DATA · GREAT BRITAIN · 2005–2025
League table/ HONDA/GL1200DE
Model report · 2005–2025

HONDA GL1200DE

1198cc Petrol Class 2
81.2%
first-time pass rate
13.2%
failed outright
56,155
median miles at test
494
MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2006–2013

The GL1200DE's first-time pass rate has fallen 3.0 points since 2006, 78.8% to 75.8%.

64%77%90%2006: 78.8% pass (52 tests)2007: 85.7% pass (56 tests)2008: 85.7% pass (49 tests)2009: 68.3% pass (41 tests)2010: 82.9% pass (41 tests)2011: 78.8% pass (33 tests)2012: 84.4% pass (32 tests)2013: 75.8% pass (33 tests)20062013

Pass rate by mileage

how the GL1200DE's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage GL1200DE passes first time 94.0% of the time; by 50k that's 77.4%.

74%86%97%30k: 94.0% pass (50 tests)40k: 87.6% pass (97 tests)50k: 77.4% pass (93 tests)30k40k50k

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 GL1200DE

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded
Component group Share of defects Defects % of defects
brakes
57 38.3
lighting and signalling
31 20.8
steering and suspension
29 19.5
tyres and wheels
21 14.1
lamps and reflectors
3 2
fuel and exhaust
3 2
reg plates and vin
2 1.3
body and structure
2 1.3
Identification of the vehicle
1 0.7

Defects recorded against failed normal tests, 2005–2025, grouped by DVSA inspection section. One test can record multiple defects.

How rivals compare

same type, similar capacity, high test volume

On first-time pass rate the GL1200DE 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 GL1200DE.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1985 (84.8% pass). Weakest: 1984 (78.7%).

77%82%86%1984: 78.7% pass (282 tests)1985: 84.8% pass (158 tests)19841985

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.