Norton SS vs Honda VFR800 Fi

The Norton SS 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	Norton SS	Honda VFR800 Fi
First-time pass rate	88.2%	86.7%
Outright fail rate	3.4%	8.5%
Engine size	650cc	781cc
Rank among all models	#1544 of 5428	#1985 of 5428
Median miles at test	10,495	26,212
MOT tests analysed	204	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.

Pass rate by mileage

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

Mileage	Norton SS	Honda VFR800 Fi
0k-10k miles	86.5%	92.5%
10k-20k miles	84.6%	89.4%

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

NORTON SS 88.2% pass · 204 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.