BIKERELIABILITY Reg check
League table/ HONDA/VTX 1800C
Model report · 2005–2025

Data as of: DVSA MOT results to 2025

HONDA VTX 1800C

1795cc Petrol Class 2
#1750 of 5428 overall #227 of 920 HONDAs #1060 of 2788 other bikes
87.5%
first-time pass rate
6.7%
failed outright
14,730
median miles at test
4,643
MOT tests, 2005–2025
+2.6pp
vs expected · age & mileage

The pass rate is the MOT first-time pass: a roadworthiness check of the items an MOT covers (brakes, lights, tyres, steering, structure, emissions), not a full mechanical inspection of engine or gearbox internals. It is a reliability signal, not a complete measure of mechanical reliability. What this measures.

“vs expected” adjusts for age, mileage and test class, so a cherished classic and a hard-used commuter are compared fairly. How this works.

Pass rate over time

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

The VTX 1800C's first-time pass rate has held steady since 2006 (88.6% → 88.3%).

81%88%94%2006: 88.6% pass (158 tests)2007: 92.0% pass (200 tests)2008: 89.8% pass (236 tests)2009: 87.2% pass (258 tests)2010: 84.1% pass (271 tests)2011: 89.1% pass (274 tests)2012: 87.3% pass (252 tests)2013: 87.1% pass (264 tests)2014: 89.7% pass (252 tests)2015: 89.3% pass (243 tests)2016: 89.6% pass (260 tests)2017: 91.0% pass (256 tests)2018: 85.7% pass (217 tests)2019: 87.3% pass (212 tests)2020: 83.5% pass (194 tests)2021: 84.4% pass (243 tests)2022: 84.6% pass (234 tests)2023: 83.1% pass (236 tests)2024: 87.5% pass (176 tests)2025: 88.3% pass (188 tests)20062025

Pass rate by mileage

how the VTX 1800C's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage VTX 1800C passes first time 91.2% of the time; by 50k that's 75.7%.

73%83%94%0k: 91.2% pass (1,510 tests)10k: 86.2% pass (1,462 tests)20k: 85.6% pass (879 tests)30k: 87.5% pass (449 tests)40k: 85.2% pass (155 tests)50k: 75.7% pass (70 tests)0k30k50k

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 1800C

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded
Component group Share of defects Defects % of defects vs all bikes
brakes
143 24.9 0.5×
lighting and signalling
117 20.3 0.4×
lamps and reflectors
84 14.6 0.8×
tyres and wheels
66 11.5 0.6×
fuel and exhaust
47 8.2 1.3×
tyres
37 6.4 1.0×
reg plates and vin
27 4.7 0.9×
suspension
22 3.8 0.6×
steering and suspension
18 3.1 0.1×
structure and attachments
14 2.4 0.4×

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 1800C beats 1 of its 4 closest rivals (SUZUKI GSX1400, SUZUKI GSX1300R, HONDA ST1300).

SUZUKI GSX1400 88.3% pass · 56.8k tests Compare head-to-head →
SUZUKI GSX1300R 86.3% pass · 48.4k tests Compare head-to-head →
HONDA ST1300 89.7% pass · 32.1k tests Compare head-to-head →
YAMAHA FJR1300A 90.2% pass · 27.9k tests Compare head-to-head →

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 1800C.

Compare with any bike

rival not listed above? pick any model to see it head-to-head with the VTX 1800C

More HONDA models

other HONDA bikes ranked by MOT pass rate
HONDA CBR600F 81.7% pass · 202k tests
HONDA CBR900RR 83.2% pass · 166k tests
HONDA CBR1100XX 87.1% pass · 105k tests
HONDA CB500 83.3% pass · 105k tests
HONDA C90 79.3% pass · 92.8k tests
HONDA VFR800 FI 86.7% pass · 89.4k tests

See all HONDA models →

Pass rate by registration year

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

Highest pass rate: 2008 (93.2%). Lowest: 2006 (81.1%). Every VTX 1800C year compared →

79%87%96%2001: 85.1% pass (370 tests)2002: 86.4% pass (1,043 tests)2003: 88.5% pass (1,159 tests)2004: 90.1% pass (690 tests)2005: 85.5% pass (580 tests)2006: 81.1% pass (291 tests)2007: 90.8% pass (206 tests)2008: 93.2% pass (191 tests)200120052008

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 1800C FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the HONDA VTX 1800C reliable?

The HONDA VTX 1800C is more reliable than average for its class: 87.5% of its 4,643 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #1750 of 5428 models.

What does a VTX 1800C fail its MOT on most?

brakes: 25% of all defects recorded against failed VTX 1800C tests.

What is the best year of VTX 1800C to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2008-registered examples do best (93.2%) and 2006 worst (81.1%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a VTX 1800C last?

The median VTX 1800C shows 14,730 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 75.7% of the time, so mileage alone rarely decides the result.

Embed this bike

Free to embed on your site, blog or forum: a live Honda VTX 1800C reliability card that stays up to date and links back here. More on the free API page.