Honda VT MOT pass rate and common failures

Honda VT motorcycles pass the MOT 87.87% of the time, measured across 239 tests in the DVSA record. A further 5.44% passed only after a defect was put right at the test station.

About average - within 1 point of the 86.87% figure for all motorcycles tested.

Pass rate 87.87% 210 of 239

Fixed at the station 5.44% passed after an on-the-spot repair

Average mileage at test 17,199 miles

Average age at test 16.39 years old

Engine 845cc MOT class 1 and 2

For sale now 0 Honda VT 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 50% of failed tests on this model.
Then check too high and less than 1.0 mm thick, the next two most common reasons.
Age matters here: 92.31% of 6-10 year old examples pass, against 78.82% at 16+ years - a gap of 13.5 points.
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 (13.4% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
Average recorded mileage at test is 17,199 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
6-10 years	92.31%	78
11-15 years	93.24%	74
16+ years	78.82%	85

Why the Honda VT 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	50%	8
2	Too high	31.3%	5
3	Less than 1.0 mm thick	25%	4
4	Does not conform to the specified requirements	18.8%	3
5	Does not illuminate simultaneously with the position lamp(s)	18.8%	3
6	Insecure	18.8%	3
7	Flashing more than 120 times a minute	12.5%	2
8	Missing	12.5%	2
9	Noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar motorcycle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition	12.5%	2
10	Too low	12.5%	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	13.4%	32
2	Less than 1.0 mm thick	4.2%	10
3	Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm	4.2%	10
4	Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort	1.7%	4
5	Corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced	0.8%	2
6	Excessively deformed	0.8%	2
7	Excessively loose	0.8%	2
8	Grabbing severely	0.8%	2
9	Has a serious fluid leak	0.8%	2
10	Has excessive play	0.8%	2

Honda VT for sale

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

Used Honda VT Used Honda All Honda Honda MOT statistics

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

Honda VT MOT questions

What is the MOT pass rate for the Honda VT?+

87.87% of Honda VT MOT tests end in a pass, based on 239 tests in the DVSA dataset.

What is the most common MOT failure on a Honda VT?+

Not working, which appears in 50% of failed tests on this model.

Does the Honda VT get harder to pass as it ages?+

At 16+ years old the pass rate is 78.82%, against 92.31% for examples 6-10 years old.

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.