HONDA NT 700 VA-8

680cc Petrol Class 2

#2264 of 5426 overall #322 of 921 HONDAs #1406 of 2787 other bikes

85.8%

first-time pass rate

8.3%

failed outright

21,767

median miles at test

3,875

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2011–2025

The NT 700 VA-8's first-time pass rate has fallen 5.9 points since 2011, 88.8% to 82.9%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the NT 700 VA-8's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage NT 700 VA-8 passes first time 92.3% of the time; by 50k that's 78.4%.

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 NT 700 VA-8

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
brakes	247	39.6	1.0×
lamps and reflectors	84	13.5	1.0×
tyres and wheels	66	10.6	0.7×
lighting and signalling	56	9	0.3×
suspension	49	7.9	1.5×
steering and suspension	45	7.2	0.3×
tyres	41	6.6	1.4×
steering	21	3.4	1.2×
structure and attachments	11	1.8	0.3×
Identification of the vehicle	4	0.6	0.4×

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 NT 700 VA-8 beats 3 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 NT 700 VA-8.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2009 (86.0% pass). Weakest: 2008 (85.5%).

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 NT 700 VA-8 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the HONDA NT 700 VA-8 reliable?

The HONDA NT 700 VA-8 is about average for its class: 85.8% of its 3,875 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #2264 of 5426 models.

What does a NT 700 VA-8 fail its MOT on most?

brakes — 40% of all defects recorded against failed NT 700 VA-8 tests.

What is the best year of NT 700 VA-8 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2009-registered examples do best (86.0%) and 2008 worst (85.5%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a NT 700 VA-8 last?

The median NT 700 VA-8 shows 21,767 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 78.4% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.