Honda FIREBLADE MOT pass rate and common failures

Honda FIREBLADE motorcycles pass the MOT 87.98% of the time, measured across 258 tests in the DVSA record. A further 4.65% passed only after a defect was put right at the test station.

About average - within 1.1 points of the 86.87% figure for all motorcycles tested.
Pass rate 87.98% 227 of 258
Fixed at the station 4.65% passed after an on-the-spot repair
Average mileage at test 30,641 miles
Average age at test 26.46 years old
Engine 918cc MOT class 2
For sale now 0 Honda FIREBLADE adverts

What to check before the MOT

Built from this model's own failure record, not general advice.

  • Start with not working - it accounts for 52.6% of failed tests on this model.
  • Then check tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm and excessively binding, the next two most common reasons.
  • The most common advisory is noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar motorcycle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition (9.3% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
  • Average recorded mileage at test is 30,641 miles, which is the number to compare any advert against.

Pass rate by age

A single pass rate hides the most useful thing in this data: how the same model behaves at three years old and at fifteen.

Age at test Pass rate   Tests
16+ years 87.4% 246

Why the Honda FIREBLADE fails

Share of failed tests on this model where the item was recorded. One test can fail on several items, so the column does not add up to 100%.

# Item Of failures   Tests
1 Not working 52.6% 10
2 Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 26.3% 5
3 Excessively binding 15.8% 3
4 Has a serious fluid leak 15.8% 3
5 Insecure 15.8% 3
6 Remains on when the brakes are released 15.8% 3
7 Does not conform to the specified requirements 10.5% 2
8 Does not illuminate by the operation of both brake controls 10.5% 2
9 Flashing more than 120 times a minute 10.5% 2
10 Fluid level below minimum level 10.5% 2

Most common advisories

Not a failure and not a legal requirement to fix - but an advisory that repeats year after year is money the next owner spends.

# Item Of all tests   Tests
1 Noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar motorcycle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition 9.3% 24
2 Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 6.2% 16
3 Less than 1.0 mm thick 3.5% 9
4 Excessively stiff or notchy 2.3% 6
5 Has a serious fluid leak 2.3% 6
6 Has negligible damping effect 2.3% 6
7 Tread not clearly visible 2.3% 6
8 Excessively loose 1.9% 5
9 Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort 1.9% 5
10 Excessively distorted 1.2% 3

Honda FIREBLADE for sale

No Honda FIREBLADE in stock at the moment - 73 other Honda bikes are advertised.

Similar bikes compared

Models of comparable capacity, so the comparison means something.

Model Tests Pass rate   Avg mileage
Triumph TIGER · 969cc 16,144 91.27% 22,934
Triumph BONNEVILLE 642-904cc · 642-904cc 12,456 90.8% 12,824
BMW R SERIES · 1,152cc 9,796 91.92% 40,594
BMW R1200 · 1,170cc 9,521 94.43% 28,830
BMW S 1000 · 999cc 8,445 91.96% 15,282
BMW R 1200 · 1,170cc 6,170 95.28% 27,241

Source: DVSA MOT testing data, 2025 · updated Aug 2026 · licence and method

Honda FIREBLADE MOT questions

What is the MOT pass rate for the Honda FIREBLADE?+
87.98% of Honda FIREBLADE MOT tests end in a pass, based on 258 tests in the DVSA dataset.
What is the most common MOT failure on a Honda FIREBLADE?+
Not working, which appears in 52.6% of failed tests on this model.
Where does this data come from?+
From the DVSA anonymised MOT testing dataset, which records every MOT carried out in England, Scotland and Wales. It is published under the Open Government Licence and covers 2025.
Does a high pass rate mean the bike is reliable?+
Not by itself. The MOT checks safety items - brakes, tyres, lights, structure - and says nothing about engines, gearboxes or electrics. Read it as a maintenance signal, not a reliability score.
Top