Ajs Model 31 vs Honda VFR800 Fi

The Ajs Model 31 passes its MOT first time more often than the Honda VFR800 Fi: 91.4% vs 86.7%, a 4.7-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

first-time pass rate, outright fail rate and tests analysed · 2005–2025

Metric	Ajs Model 31	Honda VFR800 Fi
First-time pass rate	91.4%	86.7%
Outright fail rate	1.6%	8.5%
Engine size	650cc	781cc
Rank among all models	#588 of 5428	#1985 of 5428
Median miles at test	23,465	26,212
MOT tests analysed	314	89,421
Most common failure	steering and suspension	brakes

First-time outcomes on normal tests, 2005–2025. "Most common failure" is the component group with the most recorded defects on failed tests. Read pass rates against test counts: a smaller sample is noisier. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT results.

Pass rate by test year

first-time MOT pass rate in each calendar year both bikes were tested

Test year	Ajs Model 31	Honda VFR800 Fi
2006	90.3%	89.0%
2007	83.9%	87.3%
2008	90.0%	86.3%
2009	93.9%	86.3%
2010	87.5%	85.7%

Each year mixes bikes of different ages, so a fleet that is getting older tends to slip.

Pass rate by mileage

first-time MOT pass rate by miles on the clock at test

Mileage	Ajs Model 31	Honda VFR800 Fi
0k-10k miles	90.8%	92.5%
10k-20k miles	92.7%	89.4%
20k-30k miles	92.1%	87.3%
30k-40k miles	92.3%	85.5%
40k-50k miles	92.6%	83.5%

Bands with fewer than 30 tests for either bike are left out.

AJS MODEL 31 91.4% pass · 314 tests HONDA VFR800 FI 86.7% pass · 89.4k tests

See each bike's full report (trend, mileage curve, failure breakdown and rivals) on its own page.