Honda Gl650 MOT Pass Rate
Overall pass rate across all manufacture years, based on 131 real MOT test results. Failure rate: 26.0%.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
Honda Gl650 MOT Reliability Overview
The Honda Gl650 is a rare vehicle in the UK, with 131 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 1 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 74.0% and a failure rate of 26.0%, which is above the UK average of approximately 37%.
Based on this data, the Honda Gl650 earns a "Very Good" reliability rating. The average Honda Gl650 presents for MOT with approximately 36,610 miles on the clock. The 1983 manufacture year performs best with a 79.6% pass rate.
The most common MOT failure for the Honda Gl650 is Motorcycle brakes, affecting 14.5% of all tests. Brake-related failures include worn brake pads, corroded brake discs, leaking brake lines, and faulty brake servos. These are safety-critical components — any brake deficiency will result in an MOT fail. The second most common issue is Motorcycle suspension at 13.7%. Motorcycle lamps and reflectors rounds out the top three at 11.5%. Together, these top 3 failure categories account for a significant portion of all MOT failures for this model.
Top failures across all manufacture years combined. Individual year pages may show different top failures.
What Fails Most
Pass Rate by Manufacture Year
* High Fail Rate badge indicates an MOT pass rate below 65% (failure rate above 35%).
What Fails on This Car?
Click a category to see specific failure items.
View as table
| Rank | Failure Category | Rate (%) | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Motorcycle Brakes | 14.5% | 19 |
| 2 | Motorcycle Suspension | 13.7% | 18 |
| 3 | Motorcycle Lamps And Reflectors | 11.5% | 15 |
| 4 | Motorcycle Steering And Suspension | 6.9% | 9 |
| 5 | Suspension | 4.6% | 6 |
| 6 | Brakes | 3.1% | 4 |
| 7 | Motorcycle Tyres And Wheels | 3.1% | 4 |
| 8 | Motorcycle Lighting And Signalling | 2.3% | 3 |
| 9 | Motorcycle Tyres | 2.3% | 3 |
| 10 | Motorcycle Reg Plates And Vin | 1.5% | 2 |
| 11 | Identification Of The Vehicle | 1.5% | 2 |
| 12 | Motorcycle Steering | 1.5% | 2 |
| 13 | Lamps, Reflectors And Electrical Equipment | 1.5% | 2 |
| 14 | Motorcycle Structure And Attachments | 1.5% | 2 |
| 15 | Body, Chassis, Structure | 1.5% | 2 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 36,610 miFor every 10,000 miles driven, this shows what percentage of MOT tests fail for each category. This accounts for how far cars are actually driven, not just raw pass/fail counts.
View as table
| Category | Rate / 10K mi | Raw % | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Motorcycle brakes | 3.96 | 14.5% | 19 |
| Motorcycle suspension | 3.75 | 13.7% | 18 |
| Motorcycle lamps and reflectors | 3.13 | 11.5% | 15 |
| Motorcycle steering and suspension | 1.88 | 6.9% | 9 |
| Suspension | 1.25 | 4.6% | 6 |
| Brakes | 0.83 | 3.1% | 4 |
| Motorcycle tyres and wheels | 0.83 | 3.1% | 4 |
| Motorcycle lighting and signalling | 0.63 | 2.3% | 3 |
| Motorcycle tyres | 0.63 | 2.3% | 3 |
| Motorcycle reg plates and vin | 0.42 | 1.5% | 2 |
| Identification of the vehicle | 0.42 | 1.5% | 2 |
| Motorcycle steering | 0.42 | 1.5% | 2 |
| Lamps & Electrical | 0.42 | 1.5% | 2 |
| Motorcycle structure and attachments | 0.42 | 1.5% | 2 |
| Body & Structure | 0.42 | 1.5% | 2 |
🚗 Similar Cars to Consider
Mileage at MOT
The average Honda Gl650 has 36,610 miles when tested for MOT.
📊 Mileage-Adjusted Failure Rate
How often this car fails MOT relative to how much it's driven — a fairer comparison than raw pass rate.
The Honda Gl650 has a mileage-adjusted failure rate of 7.10% per 10,000 miles driven. The average across all makes is 5.38%, so this model is worse than average.
About Honda Gl650 MOT Data
The Honda Gl650 is a rare vehicle in the UK, with 131 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 1 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 74.0% and a failure rate of 26.0%, which is above the UK average of approximately 37%.
For Honda Gl650 owners, these results suggest a reliable vehicle that generally passes its MOT without major issues. Focus your pre-MOT checks on motorcycle brakes and motorcycle suspension for the best chance of a first-time pass. Use our detailed year-by-year breakdown and failure analysis below to understand how your specific Gl650 is likely to perform.
Motorcycle brakes — 14.5% of failures
Motorcycle brakes issues account for 14.5% of MOT failures on the Honda Gl650. Brake-related failures include worn brake pads, corroded brake discs, leaking brake lines, and faulty brake servos. These are safety-critical components — any brake deficiency will result in an MOT fail. Typical repair costs: £150–400. Pre-MOT check: Listen for squealing or grinding noises. Check brake pedal feel — if it feels spongy or goes to the floor, have the system inspected immediately. Look at brake pad thickness through the wheel spokes (minimum 3mm).
Motorcycle suspension — 13.7% of failures
Motorcycle suspension issues account for 13.7% of MOT failures on the Honda Gl650. Suspension failures typically involve worn bushes, leaking shock absorbers, broken coil springs, and damaged suspension arms. These affect ride quality, tyre wear, and road holding. Typical repair costs: £200–500. Pre-MOT check: Look for uneven tyre wear, listen for clunking over bumps, and check if the car pulls to one side. A bouncy ride suggests worn shock absorbers. Visually inspect coil springs for cracks.
Motorcycle lamps and reflectors — 11.5% of failures
Motorcycle lamps and reflectors issues account for 11.5% of MOT failures on the Honda Gl650. Lighting failures cover all external lights: headlights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, fog lights, and reflectors. A single blown bulb will cause an MOT fail. This is one of the most preventable failure categories. Typical repair costs: £5–50. Pre-MOT check: Walk around the car and check every light — headlights (dipped and main beam), side lights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, hazard lights, reverse light, rear fog light, and number plate lights. Replace any blown bulbs before the test.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Honda Gl650?
Based on 131 MOT tests in our database, the Honda Gl650 has an overall pass rate of 74.0% (26.0% fail rate).
What are the most common MOT failures on a Honda Gl650?
The top 3 reasons a Honda Gl650 fails its MOT are: 1. Motorcycle brakes (14.5%), 2. Motorcycle suspension (13.7%), 3. Motorcycle lamps and reflectors (11.5%). Check these areas before booking your MOT.
Is the Honda Gl650 reliable?
With a 26.0% MOT failure rate, the Gl650 is more reliable than average compared to the UK average of ~40%.
What should I check before an MOT on my Honda Gl650?
Based on failure data, focus on: Motorcycle brakes (14.5%); Motorcycle suspension (13.7%); Motorcycle lamps and reflectors (11.5%). These are the areas most likely to cause a fail. Also check all lights, tyres (minimum 1.6mm tread), and windscreen condition — these are quick wins that apply to all cars.
Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.