HONDA GL1800

1800cc Petrol Class 2

#433 of 5426 overall #51 of 921 HONDAs #267 of 2787 other bikes

92.2%

first-time pass rate

5.6%

failed outright

27,870

median miles at test

2,136

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2006–2025

The GL1800's first-time pass rate has risen 1.4 points since 2006, 90.4% to 91.8%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the GL1800's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage GL1800 passes first time 94.5% of the time; by 50k that's 92.4%.

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 GL1800

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
brakes	43	22.3	0.4×
steering and suspension	39	20.2	0.5×
tyres and wheels	35	18.1	0.6×
lighting and signalling	30	15.5	0.3×
tyres	14	7.3	0.5×
lamps and reflectors	9	4.7	0.2×
suspension	9	4.7	0.4×
reg plates and vin	5	2.6	0.3×
steering	5	2.6	0.6×
driving controls	4	2.1	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

same type, similar capacity, high test volume

On first-time pass rate the GL1800 beats 4 of its 4 closest rivals (SUZUKI GSX1400, SUZUKI GSX1300R, HONDA ST1300).

SUZUKI GSX1400 88.3% pass · 56.8k tests SUZUKI GSX1300R 86.3% pass · 48.4k tests HONDA ST1300 89.7% pass · 32.1k tests YAMAHA FJR1300A 90.2% pass · 27.9k 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 GL1800.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2008 (95.9% pass). Weakest: 2005 (86.8%).

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 GL1800 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the HONDA GL1800 reliable?

The HONDA GL1800 is more reliable than average for its class: 92.2% of its 2,136 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #433 of 5426 models.

What does a GL1800 fail its MOT on most?

brakes — 22% of all defects recorded against failed GL1800 tests.

What is the best year of GL1800 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2008-registered examples do best (95.9%) and 2005 worst (86.8%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a GL1800 last?

The median GL1800 shows 27,870 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 92.4% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.