HONDA VTR 1000 S-4

999cc Petrol Class 2

#657 of 5426 overall #74 of 921 HONDAs #401 of 2787 other bikes

91.1%

first-time pass rate

4.3%

failed outright

11,625

median miles at test

649

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2007–2017

The VTR 1000 S-4's first-time pass rate has risen 7.7 points since 2007, 92.3% to 100.0%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the VTR 1000 S-4's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage VTR 1000 S-4 passes first time 92.6% of the time; by 20k that's 94.6%.

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 1000 S-4

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	18	34.6	0.4×
brakes	7	13.5	0.1×
reg plates and vin	6	11.5	1.3×
tyres and wheels	5	9.6	0.4×
steering and suspension	5	9.6	0.3×
fuel and exhaust	3	5.8	0.4×
drive system	3	5.8	0.4×
wheels	2	3.8	2.6×
lamps and reflectors	2	3.8	0.2×
tyres	1	1.9	0.2×

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 1000 S-4 beats 3 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 1000 S-4.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2004 (92.9% pass). Weakest: 2005 (88.2%).

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 1000 S-4 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the HONDA VTR 1000 S-4 reliable?

The HONDA VTR 1000 S-4 is more reliable than average for its class: 91.1% of its 649 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #657 of 5426 models.

What does a VTR 1000 S-4 fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 35% of all defects recorded against failed VTR 1000 S-4 tests.

How many miles will a VTR 1000 S-4 last?

The median VTR 1000 S-4 shows 11,625 miles at test, and examples around 20k miles still pass 94.6% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.