BIKERELIABILITY Reg check
League table/ VICTORY/HIGH BALL
Model report · 2005–2025

VICTORY HIGH BALL

1731cc Petrol Class 2
#1180 of 5428 overall #8 of 13 VICTORYs #723 of 2788 other bikes
89.3%
first-time pass rate
5.1%
failed outright
9,152
median miles at test
710
MOT tests, 2005–2025
+2.2pp
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 · 2016–2025

The HIGH BALL's first-time pass rate has fallen 7.6 points since 2016, 94.1% to 86.5%.

85%90%96%2016: 94.1% pass (34 tests)2017: 89.7% pass (58 tests)2018: 87.8% pass (49 tests)2019: 89.7% pass (68 tests)2020: 90.1% pass (71 tests)2021: 89.4% pass (94 tests)2022: 88.1% pass (84 tests)2023: 89.3% pass (84 tests)2024: 91.8% pass (61 tests)2025: 86.5% pass (74 tests)20162025

Pass rate by mileage

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

A low-mileage HIGH BALL passes first time 91.2% of the time; by 20k that's 84.5%.

83%88%93%0k: 91.2% pass (376 tests)10k: 87.0% pass (246 tests)20k: 84.5% pass (58 tests)0k10k20k

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 HIGH BALL

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded
Component group Share of defects Defects % of defects vs all bikes
lamps and reflectors
16 27.1 1.0×
tyres
8 13.6 1.4×
Identification of the vehicle
7 11.9 4.3×
brakes
7 11.9 0.2×
structure and attachments
6 10.2 1.2×
suspension
5 8.5 1.0×
wheels
4 6.8 7.0×
steering
2 3.4 0.7×
lighting and signalling
2 3.4 0.1×
audible warning (Horn)
2 3.4 1.5×

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 HIGH BALL beats 3 of its 4 closest rivals (YAMAHA XJR1300, SUZUKI GSX1400, SUZUKI GSX1300R).

YAMAHA XJR1300 87.4% pass · 95.1k tests Compare head-to-head →
SUZUKI GSX1400 88.3% pass · 56.8k tests Compare head-to-head →
SUZUKI GSX1300R 86.3% pass · 48.4k tests Compare head-to-head →
BMW R1250 95.8% pass · 33.6k 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 HIGH BALL.

Compare with any bike

rival not listed above? pick any model to see it head-to-head with the High Ball

More VICTORY models

other VICTORY bikes ranked by MOT pass rate
VICTORY HAMMER 90.6% pass · 3,155 tests
VICTORY VEGAS 90.5% pass · 2,675 tests
VICTORY JACKPOT 88.6% pass · 957 tests
VICTORY KINGPIN 88.3% pass · 892 tests
VICTORY 8 BALL 82.5% pass · 663 tests
VICTORY JUDGE 93.5% pass · 477 tests

See all VICTORY models →

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2012 (93.7% pass). Weakest: 2013 (82.2%).

80%88%96%2011: 92.0% pass (50 tests)2012: 93.7% pass (158 tests)2013: 82.2% pass (157 tests)2014: 92.3% pass (91 tests)2015: 89.3% pass (112 tests)2016: 91.3% pass (80 tests)2017: 87.1% pass (62 tests)201120142017

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.

VICTORY HIGH BALL FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the VICTORY HIGH BALL reliable?

The VICTORY HIGH BALL is more reliable than average for its class: 89.3% of its 710 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #1180 of 5428 models.

What does a HIGH BALL fail its MOT on most?

lamps and reflectors — 27% of all defects recorded against failed HIGH BALL tests.

What is the best year of HIGH BALL to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2012-registered examples do best (93.7%) and 2013 worst (82.2%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a HIGH BALL last?

The median HIGH BALL shows 9,152 miles at test, and examples around 20k miles still pass 84.5% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.

Embed this bike

Free to embed on your site, blog or forum — a live Victory High Ball reliability card that stays up to date and links back here. More on the free API page.