HONDA RVF

399cc Petrol Class 2

#3270 of 5426 overall #556 of 921 HONDAs #2081 of 2787 other bikes

81.5%

first-time pass rate

11.1%

failed outright

24,663

median miles at test

1,182

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

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

The RVF's first-time pass rate has risen 6.2 points since 2006, 83.0% to 89.2%.

Pass rate by mileage

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

A low-mileage RVF passes first time 86.4% of the time; by 40k that's 77.3%.

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 RVF

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	103	33.6	1.2×
steering and suspension	68	22.1	1.4×
brakes	45	14.7	0.6×
tyres and wheels	34	11.1	1.2×
drive system	16	5.2	1.3×
fuel and exhaust	13	4.2	1.3×
lamps and reflectors	9	2.9	0.3×
reg plates and vin	8	2.6	1.0×
suspension	6	2	0.7×
body and structure	5	1.6	0.7×

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 RVF beats 3 of its 4 closest rivals (KAWASAKI ER5, SUZUKI GS500, SUZUKI AN400).

KAWASAKI ER5 77.4% pass · 53.1k tests SUZUKI GS500 76.4% pass · 44.9k tests SUZUKI AN400 86.2% pass · 27.1k tests SUZUKI DR-Z400S 80.4% pass · 26.8k 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 RVF.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1998 (90.2% pass). Weakest: 1996 (70.7%).

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 RVF FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the HONDA RVF reliable?

The HONDA RVF is less reliable than average for its class: 81.5% of its 1,182 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #3270 of 5426 models.

What does a RVF fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 34% of all defects recorded against failed RVF tests.

What is the best year of RVF to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1998-registered examples do best (90.2%) and 1996 worst (70.7%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a RVF last?

The median RVF shows 24,663 miles at test, and examples around 40k miles still pass 77.3% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.