Honda VTX 1300S MOT pass rate and common failures

Honda VTX 1300S motorcycles pass the MOT 89.29% of the time, measured across 224 tests in the DVSA record. A further 3.57% passed only after a defect was put right at the test station.

About average - within 2.4 points of the 86.87% figure for all motorcycles tested.
Pass rate 89.29% 200 of 224
Fixed at the station 3.57% passed after an on-the-spot repair
Average mileage at test 25,223 miles
Average age at test 18.96 years old
Engine 1,311cc MOT class 2
For sale now 0 Honda VTX 1300S adverts

What to check before the MOT

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

  • Start with less than 1.0 mm thick - it accounts for 31.3% of failed tests on this model.
  • Then check missing and inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps, 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 (14.7% of all tests) - not a failure, but money you will spend sooner or later.
  • Average recorded mileage at test is 25,223 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 88.44% 199

Why the Honda VTX 1300S 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 Less than 1.0 mm thick 31.3% 5
2 Missing 31.3% 5
3 Inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps 25% 4
4 Not working 25% 4
5 Inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources 18.8% 3
6 Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 18.8% 3
7 Does not conform to the specified requirements 12.5% 2
8 Flashing more than 120 times a minute 12.5% 2
9 Has a serious fluid leak 12.5% 2
10 Noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar motorcycle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition 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 14.7% 33
2 Less than 1.0 mm thick 9.4% 21
3 Tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 6.3% 14
4 Has a serious fluid leak 1.8% 4
5 Corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced 1.3% 3
6 Corroded and seriously weakened 0.9% 2
7 Excessively binding 0.9% 2
8 Indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort 0.9% 2
9 Tread not clearly visible 0.9% 2
10 Component corroded and seriously weakened 0.4% 1

Honda VTX 1300S for sale

No Honda VTX 1300S 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
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 R1250 · 1,254cc 6,764 96.17% 17,373
BMW R 1200 · 1,170cc 6,170 95.28% 27,241

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

Honda VTX 1300S MOT questions

What is the MOT pass rate for the Honda VTX 1300S?+
89.29% of Honda VTX 1300S MOT tests end in a pass, based on 224 tests in the DVSA dataset.
What is the most common MOT failure on a Honda VTX 1300S?+
Less than 1.0 mm thick, which appears in 31.3% 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.
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