HONDA VTR1000 SP

999cc Petrol Class 2

#1986 of 5426 overall #265 of 921 HONDAs #1204 of 2787 other bikes

86.7%

first-time pass rate

7.0%

failed outright

16,008

median miles at test

21.8k

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2005–2025

The VTR1000 SP's first-time pass rate has risen 2.7 points since 2005, 88.6% to 91.3%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the VTR1000 SP's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage VTR1000 SP passes first time 89.8% of the time; by 50k that's 85.0%.

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 VTR1000 SP

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	934	31.5	0.7×
steering and suspension	435	14.7	0.6×
brakes	407	13.7	0.3×
tyres and wheels	340	11.5	0.7×
reg plates and vin	272	9.2	1.7×
fuel and exhaust	241	8.1	1.3×
lamps and reflectors	145	4.9	0.3×
drive system	92	3.1	0.4×
suspension	54	1.8	0.3×
tyres	44	1.5	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 VTR1000 SP beats 2 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 VTR1000 SP.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2007 (94.5% pass). Weakest: 1999 (80.5%).

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 VTR1000 SP FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the HONDA VTR1000 SP reliable?

The HONDA VTR1000 SP is about average for its class: 86.7% of its 21,834 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #1986 of 5426 models.

What does a VTR1000 SP fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 32% of all defects recorded against failed VTR1000 SP tests.

What is the best year of VTR1000 SP to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2007-registered examples do best (94.5%) and 1999 worst (80.5%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a VTR1000 SP last?

The median VTR1000 SP shows 16,008 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 85.0% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.