HONDA VFR400R-L
Pass rate over time
The VFR400R-L's first-time pass rate has fallen 9.0 points since 2006, 79.7% to 70.7%.
Pass rate by mileage
A low-mileage VFR400R-L passes first time 80.5% of the time; by 40k that's 71.7%.
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 VFR400R-L
| Component group | Share of defects | Defects | % of defects |
|---|---|---|---|
| steering and suspension |
|
61 | 26.5 |
| lighting and signalling |
|
56 | 24.3 |
| brakes |
|
39 | 17 |
| fuel and exhaust |
|
19 | 8.3 |
| body and structure |
|
18 | 7.8 |
| tyres and wheels |
|
15 | 6.5 |
| reg plates and vin |
|
11 | 4.8 |
| drive system |
|
8 | 3.5 |
| lamps and reflectors |
|
2 | 0.9 |
| Items Not Tested |
|
1 | 0.4 |
Defects recorded against failed normal tests, 2005–2025, grouped by DVSA inspection section. One test can record multiple defects.
How rivals compare
On first-time pass rate the VFR400R-L beats 0 of its 4 closest rivals (KAWASAKI ER5, SUZUKI GS500, SUZUKI AN400).
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 VFR400R-L.
Pass rate by registration year
Best year to buy used: 1989 (79.5% pass). Weakest: 1991 (70.4%).
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.