BIKERELIABILITY
MOT DATA · GREAT BRITAIN · 2005–2025
League table/ HONDA/VFR 1200 F-D
Model report · 2005–2025

HONDA VFR 1200 F-D

1237cc Petrol Class 2
#489 of 5426 overall #59 of 921 HONDAs #299 of 2787 other bikes
91.9%
first-time pass rate
4.5%
failed outright
17,069
median miles at test
1,092
MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2016–2025

The VFR 1200 F-D's first-time pass rate has risen 4.8 points since 2016, 88.4% to 93.2%.

87%92%98%2016: 88.4% pass (138 tests)2017: 89.7% pass (126 tests)2018: 93.3% pass (105 tests)2019: 92.6% pass (94 tests)2020: 96.0% pass (99 tests)2021: 94.3% pass (122 tests)2022: 92.0% pass (113 tests)2023: 92.0% pass (112 tests)2024: 88.6% pass (79 tests)2025: 93.2% pass (88 tests)20162025

Pass rate by mileage

how the VFR 1200 F-D's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage VFR 1200 F-D passes first time 95.7% of the time; by 40k that's 91.7%.

87%92%97%0k: 95.7% pass (230 tests)10k: 92.8% pass (428 tests)20k: 89.5% pass (239 tests)30k: 88.4% pass (112 tests)40k: 91.7% pass (48 tests)0k20k40k

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 1200 F-D

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded
Component group Share of defects Defects % of defects vs all bikes
brakes
35 43.8 0.6×
steering
10 12.5 1.8×
tyres
9 11.2 1.2×
tyres and wheels
7 8.8 0.2×
steering and suspension
6 7.5 0.2×
suspension
4 5 0.4×
lamps and reflectors
3 3.8 0.1×
lighting and signalling
2 2.5
reg plates and vin
2 2.5 0.2×
structure and attachments
2 2.5 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 VFR 1200 F-D beats 3 of its 4 closest rivals (BMW R1200, BMW R1150, TRIUMPH SPRINT).

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 1200 F-D.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2013 (92.4% pass). Weakest: 2012 (87.0%).

86%90%93%2012: 87.0% pass (54 tests)2013: 92.4% pass (961 tests)20122013

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 1200 F-D FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the HONDA VFR 1200 F-D reliable?

The HONDA VFR 1200 F-D is more reliable than average for its class: 91.9% of its 1,092 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #489 of 5426 models.

What does a VFR 1200 F-D fail its MOT on most?

brakes — 44% of all defects recorded against failed VFR 1200 F-D tests.

How many miles will a VFR 1200 F-D last?

The median VFR 1200 F-D shows 17,069 miles at test, and examples around 40k miles still pass 91.7% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.