BIKERELIABILITY Reg check
League table/ HONDA/GL1500SE
Model report · 2005–2025

Data as of: DVSA MOT results to 2025

HONDA GL1500SE

1520cc Petrol Class 2
#1370 of 5428 overall #162 of 920 HONDAs #840 of 2788 other bikes
88.7%
first-time pass rate
8.2%
failed outright
36,303
median miles at test
7,764
MOT tests, 2005–2025
+7.5pp
vs expected · age & mileage

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

first-time pass rate by test year · 2005–2020

The GL1500SE's first-time pass rate has fallen 2.7 points since 2005, 93.2% to 90.5%.

84%90%95%2005: 93.2% pass (118 tests)2006: 88.6% pass (684 tests)2007: 87.1% pass (667 tests)2008: 88.2% pass (620 tests)2009: 89.1% pass (599 tests)2010: 86.1% pass (568 tests)2011: 88.6% pass (572 tests)2012: 90.2% pass (531 tests)2013: 89.3% pass (543 tests)2014: 86.2% pass (516 tests)2015: 89.9% pass (505 tests)2016: 90.8% pass (477 tests)2017: 87.4% pass (437 tests)2018: 90.2% pass (338 tests)2019: 89.1% pass (321 tests)2020: 90.5% pass (253 tests)20052020

Pass rate by mileage

how the GL1500SE's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage GL1500SE passes first time 89.3% of the time; by 50k that's 87.8%.

87%89%92%0k: 89.3% pass (484 tests)10k: 90.9% pass (1,121 tests)20k: 90.6% pass (1,461 tests)30k: 88.6% pass (1,321 tests)40k: 87.5% pass (1,212 tests)50k: 87.8% pass (887 tests)0k30k50k

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 GL1500SE

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded
Component group Share of defects Defects % of defects vs all bikes
brakes
421 39.1 0.9×
lighting and signalling
207 19.2 0.5×
tyres and wheels
202 18.8 1.1×
steering and suspension
144 13.4 0.5×
fuel and exhaust
30 2.8 0.5×
reg plates and vin
26 2.4 0.5×
tyres
17 1.6 0.3×
suspension
12 1.1 0.2×
driving controls
10 0.9 0.5×
body and structure
7 0.7 0.2×

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 GL1500SE beats 3 of its 4 closest rivals (BMW R1200, BMW R1150, SUZUKI GSF1200).

BMW R1200 92.9% pass · 299k tests Compare head-to-head →
BMW R1150 88.5% pass · 171k tests Compare head-to-head →
SUZUKI GSF1200 82.4% pass · 97.6k tests Compare head-to-head →
YAMAHA XJR1300 87.4% pass · 95.1k tests Compare head-to-head →

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 GL1500SE.

Compare with any bike

rival not listed above? pick any model to see it head-to-head with the GL1500SE

More HONDA models

other HONDA bikes ranked by MOT pass rate
HONDA CBR600F 81.7% pass · 202k tests
HONDA CBR900RR 83.2% pass · 166k tests
HONDA CBR1100XX 87.1% pass · 105k tests
HONDA CB500 83.3% pass · 105k tests
HONDA C90 79.3% pass · 92.8k tests
HONDA VFR800 FI 86.7% pass · 89.4k tests

See all HONDA models →

Pass rate by registration year

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

Highest pass rate: 1998 (90.4%). Lowest: 1988 (83.1%). Every GL1500SE year compared →

82%87%92%1988: 83.1% pass (77 tests)1989: 88.7% pass (53 tests)1990: 84.2% pass (120 tests)1991: 88.0% pass (308 tests)1992: 86.9% pass (513 tests)1993: 86.2% pass (312 tests)1994: 90.3% pass (463 tests)1995: 87.0% pass (547 tests)1996: 87.8% pass (343 tests)1997: 88.2% pass (899 tests)1998: 90.4% pass (1,021 tests)1999: 88.6% pass (1,093 tests)2000: 90.3% pass (1,698 tests)2001: 88.0% pass (258 tests)198819952001

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 GL1500SE FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the HONDA GL1500SE reliable?

The HONDA GL1500SE is more reliable than average for its class: 88.7% of its 7,764 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #1370 of 5428 models.

What does a GL1500SE fail its MOT on most?

brakes: 39% of all defects recorded against failed GL1500SE tests.

What is the best year of GL1500SE to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1998-registered examples do best (90.4%) and 1988 worst (83.1%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a GL1500SE last?

The median GL1500SE shows 36,303 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 87.8% of the time, so mileage alone rarely decides the result.

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