HONDA SHADOW

700cc Petrol Class 2

#3378 of 5426 overall #583 of 921 HONDAs #459 of 465 cruiser bikes

81.0%

first-time pass rate

11.2%

failed outright

18,246

median miles at test

6,066

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2005–2025

The SHADOW's first-time pass rate has fallen 4.1 points since 2005, 82.7% to 78.6%.

Pass rate by mileage

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

A low-mileage SHADOW passes first time 87.3% of the time; by 50k that's 72.8%.

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 SHADOW

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	315	23.9	0.9×
brakes	281	21.3	0.9×
steering and suspension	191	14.5	0.9×
tyres and wheels	186	14.1	1.3×
lamps and reflectors	116	8.8	0.8×
reg plates and vin	62	4.7	1.4×
fuel and exhaust	47	3.6	0.9×
suspension	41	3.1	0.7×
drive system	39	3	0.7×
tyres	39	3	0.9×

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 SHADOW beats 0 of its 4 closest rivals (TRIUMPH BONNEVILLE, TRIUMPH THUNDERBIRD, HARLEY-DAVIDSON XLH 883).

TRIUMPH BONNEVILLE 89.0% pass · 195k tests TRIUMPH THUNDERBIRD 87.8% pass · 56.3k tests HARLEY-DAVIDSON XLH 883 87.4% pass · 41.2k tests HARLEY-DAVIDSON XL 87.9% pass · 18.5k 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 SHADOW.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2007 (91.5% pass). Weakest: 1989 (74.0%).

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 SHADOW FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the HONDA SHADOW reliable?

The HONDA SHADOW is less reliable than average for its class: 81.0% of its 6,066 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #3378 of 5426 models.

What does a SHADOW fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 24% of all defects recorded against failed SHADOW tests.

What is the best year of SHADOW to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2007-registered examples do best (91.5%) and 1989 worst (74.0%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a SHADOW last?

The median SHADOW shows 18,246 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 72.8% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.