HONDA VTX 1300 S-6

1312cc Petrol Class 2

#1784 of 5426 overall #231 of 921 HONDAs #1084 of 2787 other bikes

87.4%

first-time pass rate

6.7%

failed outright

12,128

median miles at test

613

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2010–2023

The VTX 1300 S-6's first-time pass rate has fallen 2.6 points since 2010, 89.7% to 87.1%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the VTX 1300 S-6's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage VTX 1300 S-6 passes first time 92.5% of the time; by 30k that's 76.5%.

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 VTX 1300 S-6

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
brakes	18	24.7	0.5×
tyres and wheels	17	23.3	1.2×
lighting and signalling	12	16.4	0.3×
lamps and reflectors	10	13.7	0.8×
structure and attachments	4	5.5	1.0×
tyres	4	5.5	1.0×
body and structure	3	4.1	1.0×
suspension	3	4.1	0.7×
driving controls	1	1.4	0.7×
audible warning (Horn)	1	1.4	0.9×

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 VTX 1300 S-6 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 VTX 1300 S-6.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2006 (89.9% pass). Weakest: 2008 (78.5%).

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 VTX 1300 S-6 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the HONDA VTX 1300 S-6 reliable?

The HONDA VTX 1300 S-6 is more reliable than average for its class: 87.4% of its 613 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #1784 of 5426 models.

What does a VTX 1300 S-6 fail its MOT on most?

brakes — 25% of all defects recorded against failed VTX 1300 S-6 tests.

What is the best year of VTX 1300 S-6 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2006-registered examples do best (89.9%) and 2008 worst (78.5%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a VTX 1300 S-6 last?

The median VTX 1300 S-6 shows 12,128 miles at test, and examples around 30k miles still pass 76.5% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.