HONDA GL650D2E

673cc Petrol Class 2

#3601 of 5426 overall #640 of 921 HONDAs #2295 of 2787 other bikes

79.9%

first-time pass rate

13.9%

failed outright

40,013

median miles at test

541

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2006–2017

The GL650D2E's first-time pass rate has risen 9.3 points since 2006, 70.7% to 80.0%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the GL650D2E's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage GL650D2E passes first time 85.3% of the time; by 50k that's 78.9%.

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 GL650D2E

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
steering and suspension	62	37.8	2.6×
brakes	36	22	1.1×
lighting and signalling	34	20.7	1.3×
tyres and wheels	19	11.6	1.5×
fuel and exhaust	4	2.4	0.7×
body and structure	3	1.8	1.2×
driving controls	2	1.2	1.6×
steering	2	1.2	0.4×
suspension	1	0.6	0.3×
tyres	1	0.6	0.3×

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 GL650D2E beats 2 of its 4 closest rivals (KAWASAKI ZX-6R, SUZUKI GSF600, YAMAHA FZS600).

KAWASAKI ZX-6R 78.1% pass · 174k tests SUZUKI GSF600 77.3% pass · 143k tests YAMAHA FZS600 82.6% pass · 137k tests HONDA VFR800 FI 86.7% pass · 89.4k 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 GL650D2E.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1983 (86.2% pass). Weakest: 1986 (72.2%).

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 GL650D2E FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the HONDA GL650D2E reliable?

The HONDA GL650D2E is less reliable than average for its class: 79.9% of its 541 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #3601 of 5426 models.

What does a GL650D2E fail its MOT on most?

steering and suspension — 38% of all defects recorded against failed GL650D2E tests.

What is the best year of GL650D2E to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1983-registered examples do best (86.2%) and 1986 worst (72.2%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a GL650D2E last?

The median GL650D2E shows 40,013 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 78.9% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.