HONDA VTR

998cc Petrol Class 2

#2893 of 5426 overall #459 of 921 HONDAs #1829 of 2787 other bikes

83.3%

first-time pass rate

9.7%

failed outright

22,282

median miles at test

1,716

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

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

The VTR's first-time pass rate has risen 13.5 points since 2006, 81.7% to 95.2%.

Pass rate by mileage

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

A low-mileage VTR passes first time 91.8% of the time; by 50k that's 69.8%.

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 VTR

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	81	23.5	0.9×
steering and suspension	72	20.9	1.1×
brakes	64	18.6	0.7×
tyres and wheels	37	10.7	1.0×
reg plates and vin	20	5.8	1.6×
drive system	20	5.8	1.3×
fuel and exhaust	17	4.9	1.2×
lamps and reflectors	16	4.6	0.3×
suspension	10	2.9	0.7×
driving controls	8	2.3	2.0×

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 VTR beats 1 of its 4 closest rivals (BMW R1200, BMW R1150, TRIUMPH SPRINT).

BMW R1200 92.9% pass · 299k tests BMW R1150 88.5% pass · 171k tests TRIUMPH SPRINT 85.6% pass · 133k tests SUZUKI GSF1200 82.4% pass · 97.6k 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 VTR.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2003 (88.2% pass). Weakest: 1998 (78.2%).

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 VTR FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the HONDA VTR reliable?

The HONDA VTR is about average for its class: 83.3% of its 1,716 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #2893 of 5426 models.

What does a VTR fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 23% of all defects recorded against failed VTR tests.

What is the best year of VTR to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2003-registered examples do best (88.2%) and 1998 worst (78.2%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a VTR last?

The median VTR shows 22,282 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 69.8% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.