BIKERELIABILITY Reg check
League table/ VINCENT/HRD
Model report · 2005–2025

VINCENT HRD

998cc Petrol Class 2
#619 of 5428 overall #4 of 4 VINCENTs #377 of 2788 other bikes
91.3%
first-time pass rate
4.8%
failed outright
9,465
median miles at test
207
MOT tests, 2005–2025

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.

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2006–2007

The HRD's first-time pass rate has fallen 6.6 points since 2006, 87.9% to 81.3%.

80%85%90%2006: 87.9% pass (33 tests)2007: 81.3% pass (32 tests)20062007

What fails on a HRD

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded
Component group Share of defects Defects % of defects
lighting and signalling
9 56.2
tyres and wheels
3 18.8
brakes
2 12.5
steering and suspension
2 12.5

Defects recorded against failed normal tests, 2005–2025, grouped by DVSA inspection section. One test can record multiple defects.

How rivals compare

same type, similar capacity, high test volume

On first-time pass rate the HRD beats 3 of its 4 closest rivals (BMW R1200, BMW R1150, TRIUMPH SPRINT).

BMW R1200 92.9% pass · 299k tests Compare head-to-head →
BMW R1150 88.5% pass · 171k tests Compare head-to-head →
TRIUMPH SPRINT 85.6% pass · 133k tests Compare head-to-head →
SUZUKI GSF1200 82.4% pass · 97.6k 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 HRD.

Compare with any bike

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

More VINCENT models

other VINCENT bikes ranked by MOT pass rate
VINCENT COMET 92.3% pass · 1,628 tests
VINCENT RAPIDE 94.7% pass · 1,574 tests
VINCENT BLACK SHADOW 94.0% pass · 822 tests
VINCENT 1000 89.2% pass · 111 tests

See all VINCENT models →

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1949 (88.9% pass). Weakest: 1949 (88.9%).

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.

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