HONDA XL750

742cc Petrol Class 2

#1400 of 5426 overall #166 of 921 HONDAs #854 of 2787 other bikes

88.6%

first-time pass rate

7.0%

failed outright

37,085

median miles at test

1,440

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2021–2025

The XL750's first-time pass rate has held steady since 2021 (89.9% → 89.3%).

Pass rate by mileage

how the XL750's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage XL750 passes first time 91.3% of the time; by 50k that's 85.9%.

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 XL750

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lamps and reflectors	73	33	2.2×
brakes	52	23.5	0.5×
structure and attachments	34	15.4	2.8×
steering	23	10.4	3.2×
suspension	17	7.7	1.5×
tyres	9	4.1	0.8×
wheels	8	3.6	6.9×
Identification of the vehicle	4	1.8	1.2×
audible warning (Horn)	1	0.5	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 XL750 beats 4 of its 4 closest rivals (KAWASAKI ZX-6R, SUZUKI GSF600, YAMAHA FZS600).

KAWASAKI ZX-6R 78.1% pass · 174k tests SUZUKI GSF600 77.3% pass · 143k tests YAMAHA FZS600 82.6% pass · 137k tests TRIUMPH SPRINT 85.6% pass · 133k 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 XL750.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2003 (96.4% pass). Weakest: 1992 (82.4%).

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 XL750 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the HONDA XL750 reliable?

The HONDA XL750 is more reliable than average for its class: 88.6% of its 1,440 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #1400 of 5426 models.

What does a XL750 fail its MOT on most?

lamps and reflectors — 33% of all defects recorded against failed XL750 tests.

What is the best year of XL750 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2003-registered examples do best (96.4%) and 1992 worst (82.4%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a XL750 last?

The median XL750 shows 37,085 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 85.9% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.