HONDA VFR400

399cc Petrol Class 2

#4616 of 5426 overall #871 of 921 HONDAs #2762 of 2787 other bikes

71.4%

first-time pass rate

19.4%

failed outright

34,011

median miles at test

7,017

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

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

The VFR400's first-time pass rate has risen 23.7 points since 2005, 66.7% to 90.4%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the VFR400's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage VFR400 passes first time 81.0% of the time; by 50k that's 66.3%.

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 VFR400

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	1,124	28.2	2.3×
brakes	898	22.5	2.0×
steering and suspension	800	20.1	2.7×
tyres and wheels	310	7.8	1.9×
body and structure	220	5.5	5.1×
fuel and exhaust	193	4.8	3.1×
drive system	177	4.4	2.9×
reg plates and vin	136	3.4	2.7×
lamps and reflectors	80	2	0.4×
driving controls	50	1.3	3.0×

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 VFR400 beats 0 of its 4 closest rivals (KAWASAKI ER5, SUZUKI GS500, SUZUKI AN400).

KAWASAKI ER5 77.4% pass · 53.1k tests SUZUKI GS500 76.4% pass · 44.9k tests SUZUKI AN400 86.2% pass · 27.1k tests SUZUKI DR-Z400S 80.4% pass · 26.8k 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 VFR400.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1999 (85.6% pass). Weakest: 1987 (65.0%).

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 VFR400 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the HONDA VFR400 reliable?

The HONDA VFR400 is less reliable than average for its class: 71.4% of its 7,017 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #4616 of 5426 models.

What does a VFR400 fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 28% of all defects recorded against failed VFR400 tests.

What is the best year of VFR400 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1999-registered examples do best (85.6%) and 1987 worst (65.0%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a VFR400 last?

The median VFR400 shows 34,011 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 66.3% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.