Honda Gold Wing MOT Pass Rate
Overall pass rate across all manufacture years, based on 1,086 real MOT test results. Failure rate: 14.7%.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
Honda Gold Wing MOT Reliability Overview
The Honda Gold Wing is a niche vehicle in the UK, with 1,086 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 15 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 85.3% and a failure rate of 14.7%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.
Based on this data, the Honda Gold Wing earns a "Excellent" reliability rating. The average Honda Gold Wing presents for MOT with approximately 49,499 miles on the clock. Manufacture year matters: 2008 models achieve the highest pass rate at 97.8%, while 1993 models have the lowest at 67.7%. This 30.1 percentage point difference suggests notable variation in build quality or component durability across production years.
The most common MOT failure for the Honda Gold Wing is Motorcycle brakes, affecting 6.2% 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 lighting and signalling at 5.4%. Motorcycle tyres and wheels rounds out the top three at 4.1%. 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 | 7.3% | 79 |
| 2 | Motorcycle Lighting And Signalling | 6.0% | 65 |
| 3 | Motorcycle Tyres And Wheels | 4.8% | 52 |
| 4 | Brakes | 4.0% | 43 |
| 5 | Motorcycle Steering And Suspension | 3.7% | 40 |
| 6 | Lamps, Reflectors And Electrical Equipment | 2.6% | 28 |
| 7 | Motorcycle Fuel And Exhaust | 1.6% | 17 |
| 8 | Motorcycle Lamps And Reflectors | 0.8% | 9 |
| 9 | Tyres | 0.7% | 8 |
| 10 | Motorcycle Body And Structure | 0.7% | 8 |
| 11 | Suspension | 0.7% | 8 |
| 12 | Exhaust, Fuel And Emissions | 0.5% | 5 |
| 13 | Body, Structure And General Items | 0.4% | 4 |
| 14 | Motorcycle Suspension | 0.4% | 4 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 49,499 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 | 1.47 | 7.3% | 79 |
| Motorcycle lighting and signalling | 1.21 | 6.0% | 65 |
| Motorcycle tyres and wheels | 0.97 | 4.8% | 52 |
| Brakes | 0.80 | 4.0% | 43 |
| Motorcycle steering and suspension | 0.74 | 3.7% | 40 |
| Lamps & Electrical | 0.52 | 2.6% | 28 |
| Motorcycle fuel and exhaust | 0.32 | 1.6% | 17 |
| Motorcycle lamps and reflectors | 0.17 | 0.8% | 9 |
| Tyres | 0.15 | 0.7% | 8 |
| Motorcycle body and structure | 0.15 | 0.7% | 8 |
| Suspension | 0.15 | 0.7% | 8 |
| Emissions & Exhaust | 0.09 | 0.5% | 5 |
| Body & Structure | 0.07 | 0.4% | 4 |
| Motorcycle suspension | 0.07 | 0.4% | 4 |
🚗 Similar Cars to Consider
Mileage at MOT
The average Honda Gold Wing has 49,499 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 Gold Wing has a mileage-adjusted failure rate of 2.97% per 10,000 miles driven. The average across all makes is 5.38%, so this model is better than average.
About Honda Gold Wing MOT Data
The Honda Gold Wing is a niche vehicle in the UK, with 1,086 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 15 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 85.3% and a failure rate of 14.7%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.
For Honda Gold Wing 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 lighting and signalling 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 Gold Wing is likely to perform.
Motorcycle brakes — 6.2% of failures
Motorcycle brakes issues account for 6.2% of MOT failures on the Honda Gold Wing. 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 lighting and signalling — 5.4% of failures
Motorcycle lighting and signalling issues account for 5.4% of MOT failures on the Honda Gold Wing. Motorcycle lighting and signalling issues are a common cause of MOT failure. Regular inspection and maintenance of these components helps ensure your vehicle passes its MOT. Typical repair costs: £100–400. Pre-MOT check: Have this system checked during regular servicing. Look for warning signs like unusual noises, vibrations, or dashboard warning lights.
Motorcycle tyres and wheels — 4.1% of failures
Motorcycle tyres and wheels issues account for 4.1% of MOT failures on the Honda Gold Wing. Tyre failures include tread depth below the legal minimum of 1.6mm, cuts, bulges, exposed cords, and incorrect tyre pressure. Tyres are one of the most common and easiest-to-prevent MOT failures. Typical repair costs: £50–200 per tyre. Pre-MOT check: Check tread depth with a 20p coin — if the outer band is visible, the tyre is too worn. Look for bulges, cuts, or embedded objects. Ensure all tyres match the recommended size and load rating.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Honda Gold Wing?
Based on 1,086 MOT tests in our database, the Honda Gold Wing has an overall pass rate of 85.3% (14.7% fail rate).
What are the most common MOT failures on a Honda Gold Wing?
The top 3 reasons a Honda Gold Wing fails its MOT are: 1. Motorcycle brakes (6.2%), 2. Motorcycle lighting and signalling (5.4%), 3. Motorcycle tyres and wheels (4.1%). Check these areas before booking your MOT.
Is the Honda Gold Wing reliable?
With a 14.7% MOT failure rate, the Gold Wing is more reliable than average compared to the UK average of ~40%.
What should I check before an MOT on my Honda Gold Wing?
Based on failure data, focus on: Motorcycle brakes (6.2%); Motorcycle lighting and signalling (5.4%); Motorcycle tyres and wheels (4.1%). 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.