HONDA VT

745cc Petrol Class 2

#2411 of 5426 overall #351 of 921 HONDAs #1507 of 2787 other bikes

85.3%

first-time pass rate

8.0%

failed outright

11,901

median miles at test

2,378

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

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

The VT's first-time pass rate has risen 6.3 points since 2006, 81.1% to 87.4%.

Pass rate by mileage

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

A low-mileage VT passes first time 89.3% of the time; by 40k that's 75.9%.

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 VT

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lamps and reflectors	90	24.3	1.7×
brakes	88	23.8	0.6×
lighting and signalling	52	14.1	0.3×
tyres	43	11.6	2.3×
structure and attachments	27	7.3	1.4×
steering and suspension	17	4.6	0.2×
suspension	16	4.3	0.7×
tyres and wheels	16	4.3	0.3×
Identification of the vehicle	14	3.8	2.5×
reg plates and vin	7	1.9	0.5×

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 VT beats 3 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 VT.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1998 (94.4% pass). Weakest: 2006 (73.0%).

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 VT FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the HONDA VT reliable?

The HONDA VT is about average for its class: 85.3% of its 2,378 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #2411 of 5426 models.

What does a VT fail its MOT on most?

lamps and reflectors — 24% of all defects recorded against failed VT tests.

What is the best year of VT to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1998-registered examples do best (94.4%) and 2006 worst (73.0%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a VT last?

The median VT shows 11,901 miles at test, and examples around 40k miles still pass 75.9% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.