BMW G 650 GS vs Honda VFR800 Fi

The BMW G 650 GS passes its MOT first time more often than the Honda VFR800 Fi: 88.2% vs 86.7%, a 1.5-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

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

Metric	BMW G 650 GS	Honda VFR800 Fi
First-time pass rate	88.2%	86.7%
Outright fail rate	6.3%	8.5%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted)	+0.4 pts	+4.5 pts
Engine size	652cc	781cc
Rank among all models	#1544 of 5428	#1985 of 5428
Median miles at test	8,176	26,212
MOT tests analysed	2,236	89,421
Most common failure	brakes	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 G 650 GS	Honda VFR800 Fi
Brakes	2.5%	3.2%
Lights & signalling	2.1%	2.4%
Steering & suspension	1.5%	2.6%
Tyres & wheels	0.9%	2.3%
Drive system	0.9%	0.4%
Structure & body	0.3%	0.4%
Fuel & exhaust	0.1%	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 G 650 GS	Honda VFR800 Fi
2014	89.3%	85.0%
2015	89.2%	86.5%
2016	87.9%	86.9%
2017	88.1%	86.5%
2018	81.8%	86.1%

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 G 650 GS	Honda VFR800 Fi
0k-10k miles	90.5%	92.5%
10k-20k miles	85.6%	89.4%
20k-30k miles	85.6%	87.3%
30k-40k miles	75.4%	85.5%

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

BMW G 650 GS vs Honda VFR800 Fi FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Which is more reliable, the BMW G 650 GS or the Honda VFR800 Fi?

The BMW G 650 GS passes its MOT first time more often than the Honda VFR800 Fi: 88.2% vs 86.7%, a 1.5-point lead. Adjusted for age, mileage and test class, the Honda VFR800 Fi still comes out ahead: +0.4 points vs comparable bikes for the BMW G 650 GS, +4.5 for the Honda VFR800 Fi. An MOT checks roadworthiness items, not engine or gearbox internals.

What does the BMW G 650 GS fail its MOT on most?

Brakes: 2.5% of BMW G 650 GS MOT tests failed on it, then lights & signalling (2.1%).

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 G 650 GS or the Honda VFR800 Fi?

At 30k-40k miles the Honda VFR800 Fi passes first time more often: 75.4% for the BMW G 650 GS vs 85.5% for the Honda VFR800 Fi.

BMW G 650 GS 88.2% pass · 2,236 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.