BIKERELIABILITY
MOT DATA · GREAT BRITAIN · 2005–2025
League table/ HONDA/GL1200DG
Model report · 2005–2025

HONDA GL1200DG

1182cc Petrol Class 2
#2835 of 5426 overall #443 of 921 HONDAs #1790 of 2787 other bikes
83.6%
first-time pass rate
13.6%
failed outright
52,063
median miles at test
397
MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2006–2010

The GL1200DG's first-time pass rate has risen 6.4 points since 2006, 81.4% to 87.8%.

76%85%94%2006: 81.4% pass (43 tests)2007: 90.7% pass (43 tests)2008: 78.9% pass (38 tests)2009: 80.0% pass (35 tests)2010: 87.8% pass (41 tests)20062010

Pass rate by mileage

how the GL1200DG's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage GL1200DG passes first time 78.0% of the time; by 50k that's 81.6%.

76%83%90%30k: 78.0% pass (82 tests)40k: 88.2% pass (76 tests)50k: 81.6% pass (76 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 GL1200DG

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded
Component group Share of defects Defects % of defects
brakes
59 46.5
lighting and signalling
19 15
tyres and wheels
15 11.8
steering and suspension
15 11.8
body and structure
8 6.3
fuel and exhaust
6 4.7
Items Not Tested
2 1.6
sidecar
1 0.8
suspension
1 0.8
driving controls
1 0.8

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 GL1200DG beats 1 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 GL1200DG.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1987 (83.0% pass). Weakest: 1986 (80.9%).

80%82%84%1986: 80.9% pass (204 tests)1987: 83.0% pass (112 tests)19861987

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.