HONDA VFR

782cc Petrol Class 2

#1047 of 5426 overall #120 of 921 HONDAs #641 of 2787 other bikes

89.7%

first-time pass rate

6.8%

failed outright

17,161

median miles at test

34.0k

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

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

The VFR's first-time pass rate has risen 11.2 points since 2005, 81.3% to 92.5%.

Pass rate by mileage

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

A low-mileage VFR passes first time 95.5% of the time; by 50k that's 80.7%.

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 VFR

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
brakes	1,248	31.2	0.7×
lighting and signalling	639	16	0.3×
steering and suspension	537	13.4	0.4×
tyres and wheels	343	8.6	0.4×
tyres	313	7.8	1.2×
suspension	297	7.4	1.0×
lamps and reflectors	219	5.5	0.3×
fuel and exhaust	153	3.8	0.5×
structure and attachments	136	3.4	0.5×
drive system	111	2.8	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 VFR beats 4 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 TRIUMPH SPRINT 85.6% pass · 133k 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 VFR.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2021 (96.3% pass). Weakest: 1987 (70.6%).

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 VFR FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the HONDA VFR reliable?

The HONDA VFR is more reliable than average for its class: 89.7% of its 34,045 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #1047 of 5426 models.

What does a VFR fail its MOT on most?

brakes — 31% of all defects recorded against failed VFR tests.

What is the best year of VFR to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2021-registered examples do best (96.3%) and 1987 worst (70.6%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a VFR last?

The median VFR shows 17,161 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 80.7% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.