HONDA VFR 800-3

782cc Petrol Class 2

#1541 of 5426 overall #197 of 921 HONDAs #936 of 2787 other bikes

88.2%

first-time pass rate

6.3%

failed outright

16,474

median miles at test

382

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2006–2009

The VFR 800-3's first-time pass rate has fallen 4.3 points since 2006, 94.3% to 90.0%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the VFR 800-3's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage VFR 800-3 passes first time 92.8% of the time; by 30k that's 87.8%.

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 VFR 800-3

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects
brakes	11	30.6
steering and suspension	6	16.7
tyres and wheels	5	13.9
lighting and signalling	4	11.1
drive system	3	8.3
suspension	2	5.6
fuel and exhaust	2	5.6
reg plates and vin	1	2.8
lamps and reflectors	1	2.8
driving controls	1	2.8

Defects recorded against failed normal tests, 2005–2025, grouped by DVSA inspection section. One test can record multiple defects.

How rivals compare

same type, similar capacity, high test volume

On first-time pass rate the VFR 800-3 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 800-3.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2004 (91.7% pass). Weakest: 2003 (87.5%).

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.