HONDA VFR 800 A-9

782cc Petrol Class 2

#2306 of 5426 overall #327 of 921 HONDAs #1441 of 2787 other bikes

85.7%

first-time pass rate

7.5%

failed outright

14,374

median miles at test

2,919

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2012–2025

The VFR 800 A-9's first-time pass rate has fallen 2.3 points since 2012, 89.3% to 87.0%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the VFR 800 A-9's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage VFR 800 A-9 passes first time 91.2% of the time; by 50k that's 78.3%.

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 VFR 800 A-9

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lamps and reflectors	92	25.1	1.6×
brakes	89	24.3	0.5×
tyres	44	12	1.9×
tyres and wheels	35	9.6	0.6×
lighting and signalling	31	8.5	0.2×
suspension	25	6.8	1.1×
steering and suspension	18	4.9	0.2×
structure and attachments	14	3.8	0.7×
drive system	9	2.5	0.3×
steering	9	2.5	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 VFR 800 A-9 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 A-9.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2009 (87.3% pass). Weakest: 2011 (83.6%).

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 800 A-9 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the HONDA VFR 800 A-9 reliable?

The HONDA VFR 800 A-9 is about average for its class: 85.7% of its 2,919 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #2306 of 5426 models.

What does a VFR 800 A-9 fail its MOT on most?

lamps and reflectors — 25% of all defects recorded against failed VFR 800 A-9 tests.

What is the best year of VFR 800 A-9 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2009-registered examples do best (87.3%) and 2011 worst (83.6%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a VFR 800 A-9 last?

The median VFR 800 A-9 shows 14,374 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 78.3% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.