Honda VFR800 FI MOT pass rate and common failures
Honda VFR800 FI motorcycles pass the MOT 88.66% of the time, measured across 2,707 tests in the DVSA record. A further 3.88% passed only after a defect was put right at the test station.
What to check before the MOT
Built from this model's own failure record, not general advice.
- Start with not working - it accounts for 36.1% of failed tests on this model.
- Then check the less effective brake control does not achieve an efficiency of 25% and excessively binding, the next two most common reasons.
- The most common advisory is tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (5.5% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
- Average recorded mileage at test is 36,935 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 | 88.65% | 2,696 |
Why the Honda VFR800 FI 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 | 36.1% | 73 | |
| 2 | The less effective brake control does not achieve an efficiency of 25% | 15.3% | 31 | |
| 3 | Excessively binding | 12.9% | 26 | |
| 4 | Has a serious fluid leak | 11.4% | 23 | |
| 5 | Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm | 10.9% | 22 | |
| 6 | Does not illuminate by the operation of both brake controls | 9.9% | 20 | |
| 7 | Less than 1.0 mm thick | 8.9% | 18 | |
| 8 | Not working on dipped beam | 8.4% | 17 | |
| 9 | Too low | 8.4% | 17 | |
| 10 | Excessively stiff or notchy | 7.9% | 16 |
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 | Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm | 5.5% | 150 | |
| 2 | Less than 1.0 mm thick | 5.1% | 138 | |
| 3 | Noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar motorcycle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition | 5% | 136 | |
| 4 | Excessively binding | 3.7% | 99 | |
| 5 | Has a serious fluid leak | 3.4% | 92 | |
| 6 | Excessively stiff or notchy | 3.3% | 90 | |
| 7 | Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort | 2.7% | 72 | |
| 8 | Excessively loose | 2.3% | 62 | |
| 9 | Has a major leak of exhaust gases | 1.9% | 52 | |
| 10 | Tread not clearly visible | 1.7% | 46 |
Honda VFR800 FI for sale
No Honda VFR800 FI in stock at the moment - 74 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 S 1000 · 999cc | 8,445 | 91.96% | 15,282 | |
| Yamaha YZF R1 · 998cc | 6,022 | 88.01% | 23,152 | |
| Yamaha MT 800-1000cc · 800-1000cc | 5,720 | 90.98% | 16,130 | |
| Honda NC · 741cc | 5,311 | 89.53% | 22,765 |
Source: DVSA MOT testing data, 2025 · updated Aug 2026 · licence and method