HONDA VFR800A

781cc Petrol Class 2

#2050 of 5426 overall #277 of 921 HONDAs #1247 of 2787 other bikes

86.5%

first-time pass rate

7.7%

failed outright

17,861

median miles at test

15.0k

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2006–2025

The VFR800A's first-time pass rate has fallen 7.1 points since 2006, 92.0% to 84.9%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the VFR800A's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage VFR800A passes first time 92.3% of the time; by 50k that's 76.7%.

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 VFR800A

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
brakes	481	25.6	0.6×
tyres and wheels	287	15.3	0.8×
lighting and signalling	269	14.3	0.4×
lamps and reflectors	257	13.7	0.8×
steering and suspension	180	9.6	0.3×
suspension	133	7.1	1.0×
tyres	125	6.7	1.1×
drive system	56	3	0.4×
structure and attachments	51	2.7	0.4×
reg plates and vin	38	2	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 VFR800A 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 VFR800A.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2000 (93.0% pass). Weakest: 2005 (82.2%).

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 VFR800A FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the HONDA VFR800A reliable?

The HONDA VFR800A is about average for its class: 86.5% of its 15,011 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #2050 of 5426 models.

What does a VFR800A fail its MOT on most?

brakes — 26% of all defects recorded against failed VFR800A tests.

What is the best year of VFR800A to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2000-registered examples do best (93.0%) and 2005 worst (82.2%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a VFR800A last?

The median VFR800A shows 17,861 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 76.7% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.