BMW R90S vs Honda VFR800 Fi

The BMW R90S passes its MOT first time more often than the Honda VFR800 Fi: 90.0% vs 86.7%, a 3.3-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

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

Metric	BMW R90S	Honda VFR800 Fi
First-time pass rate	90.0%	86.7%
Outright fail rate	4.3%	8.5%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted)	+6.2 pts	+4.5 pts
Engine size	898cc	781cc
Rank among all models	#960 of 5428	#1985 of 5428
Median miles at test	38,296	26,212
MOT tests analysed	1,503	89,421
Most common failure	lighting and signalling	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 R90S	Honda VFR800 Fi
Brakes	1.3%	3.2%
Lights & signalling	1.9%	2.4%
Steering & suspension	1.6%	2.6%
Tyres & wheels	0.5%	2.3%
Fuel & exhaust	0.2%	0.5%
Structure & body	0.2%	0.4%
Drive system	0%	0.4%

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 R90S	Honda VFR800 Fi
2011	90.4%	85.4%
2012	87.4%	85.5%
2013	86.0%	85.1%
2014	88.1%	85.0%
2015	89.9%	86.5%
2016	90.7%	86.9%
2017	94.0%	86.5%
2018	88.0%	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 R90S	Honda VFR800 Fi
0k-10k miles	87.6%	92.5%
10k-20k miles	95.3%	89.4%
20k-30k miles	87.9%	87.3%
30k-40k miles	90.0%	85.5%
40k-50k miles	93.3%	83.5%
50k-60k miles	86.9%	81.4%

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

BMW R90S vs Honda VFR800 Fi FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Which is more reliable, the BMW R90S or the Honda VFR800 Fi?

The BMW R90S passes its MOT first time more often than the Honda VFR800 Fi: 90.0% vs 86.7%, a 3.3-point lead. Adjusted for age, mileage and test class, the BMW R90S still comes out ahead: +6.2 points vs comparable bikes for the BMW R90S, +4.5 for the Honda VFR800 Fi. An MOT checks roadworthiness items, not engine or gearbox internals.

What does the BMW R90S fail its MOT on most?

Lights & signalling: 1.9% of BMW R90S MOT tests failed on it, then steering & suspension (1.6%).

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 R90S or the Honda VFR800 Fi?

At 50k-60k miles the BMW R90S passes first time more often: 86.9% for the BMW R90S vs 81.4% for the Honda VFR800 Fi.

BMW R90S 90.0% pass · 1,503 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.