BMW F650 vs Honda VFR800 Fi

The Honda VFR800 Fi passes its MOT first time more often than the BMW F650: 86.7% vs 79.0%, a 7.7-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

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

Metric	BMW F650	Honda VFR800 Fi
First-time pass rate	79.0%	86.7%
Outright fail rate	14.1%	8.5%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted)	-3.4 pts	+4.5 pts
Engine size	650cc	781cc
Rank among all models	#3771 of 5428	#1985 of 5428
Median miles at test	25,925	26,212
MOT tests analysed	19,346	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.

"Vs comparable bikes" is the first-time pass rate minus the rate expected for each bike's own mix of age, mileage and test class, in percentage points: positive means better than comparable bikes. How this works.

What fails, side by side

share of each bike's MOT tests that failed on the component · lower is better

Component	BMW F650	Honda VFR800 Fi
Lights & signalling	6.4%	2.4%
Steering & suspension	6.1%	2.6%
Brakes	4.4%	3.2%
Tyres & wheels	2.2%	2.3%
Drive system	1.5%	0.4%
Structure & body	0.9%	0.4%
Fuel & exhaust	0.5%	0.5%

A test that fails on two components counts once in each. Component links go to the bikes most likely to fail on it.

Pass rate by test year

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

Test year	BMW F650	Honda VFR800 Fi
2018	81.1%	86.1%
2019	80.1%	86.6%
2020	80.3%	87.0%
2021	81.3%	87.3%
2022	80.7%	87.1%
2023	79.5%	88.9%
2024	80.5%	88.9%
2025	83.1%	88.2%

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	BMW F650	Honda VFR800 Fi
0k-10k miles	86.1%	92.5%
10k-20k miles	81.9%	89.4%
20k-30k miles	79.4%	87.3%
30k-40k miles	77.2%	85.5%
40k-50k miles	73.4%	83.5%
50k-60k miles	73.5%	81.4%

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

BMW F650 vs Honda VFR800 Fi FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Which is more reliable, the BMW F650 or the Honda VFR800 Fi?

The Honda VFR800 Fi passes its MOT first time more often than the BMW F650: 86.7% vs 79.0%, a 7.7-point lead. Adjusted for age, mileage and test class, the Honda VFR800 Fi still comes out ahead: -3.4 points vs comparable bikes for the BMW F650, +4.5 for the Honda VFR800 Fi. An MOT checks roadworthiness items, not engine or gearbox internals.

What does the BMW F650 fail its MOT on most?

Lights & signalling: 6.4% of BMW F650 MOT tests failed on it, then steering & suspension (6.1%).

What does the Honda VFR800 Fi fail its MOT on most?

Brakes: 3.2% of Honda VFR800 Fi MOT tests failed on it, then steering & suspension (2.6%).

Which holds up better at high mileage, the BMW F650 or the Honda VFR800 Fi?

At 50k-60k miles the Honda VFR800 Fi passes first time more often: 73.5% for the BMW F650 vs 81.4% for the Honda VFR800 Fi.

BMW F650 79.0% pass · 19.3k 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.