Honda Xl1000v MOT Pass Rate
Overall pass rate across all manufacture years, based on 16,019 real MOT test results. Failure rate: 15.7%.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
Honda Xl1000v MOT Reliability Overview
The Honda Xl1000v is a relatively common sight on UK roads, with 16,019 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 14 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 84.3% and a failure rate of 15.7%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.
Based on this data, the Honda Xl1000v earns a "Excellent" reliability rating. The average Honda Xl1000v presents for MOT with approximately 28,578 miles on the clock. Manufacture year matters: 2012 models achieve the highest pass rate at 91.9%, while 1999 models have the lowest at 81.4%. This 10.5 percentage point difference suggests notable variation in build quality or component durability across production years.
The most common MOT failure for the Honda Xl1000v is Motorcycle brakes, affecting 11.5% 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 lighting and signalling at 5.0%. Motorcycle steering and suspension rounds out the top three at 4.4%. 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
Best Year to Buy
📈 How Each Vintage Ages
Tracking how each manufacture year's MOT pass rate changes as the car ages. Showing 7 vintages — click year chips to highlight.
Multi-line chart showing how different Honda Xl1000v vintages degrade over time, from age 3 to 25 years.
Only vintages with 100+ tests in at least 3 different test years are shown. Fleet average is the UK-wide pass rate for all cars at each age.
📉 How Age Affects Reliability
MOT failure rate by vehicle age for the Honda Xl1000v. The dashed red line marks when the manufacturer warranty typically expires (3 years).
Line chart showing MOT failure rate by vehicle age from 3 to 20 years, with warranty expiry marked at 3 years.
💡 What does the warranty cliff mean?
The Honda Xl1000v shows a moderate increase in MOT failures after warranty. The 32% increase is typical — plan for gradual maintenance cost increases. Peak failure occurs at age 14 (20.7% fail rate).
Note: pass rates may improve for very old vehicles due to survivorship bias — only well-maintained cars remain on the road.
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 | 12.8% | 2,046 |
| 2 | Motorcycle Lighting And Signalling | 5.4% | 866 |
| 3 | Motorcycle Steering And Suspension | 5.0% | 806 |
| 4 | Motorcycle Tyres And Wheels | 4.2% | 665 |
| 5 | Motorcycle Lamps And Reflectors | 3.1% | 495 |
| 6 | Motorcycle Drive System | 2.3% | 365 |
| 7 | Motorcycle Structure And Attachments | 1.7% | 278 |
| 8 | Motorcycle Fuel And Exhaust | 1.5% | 248 |
| 9 | Motorcycle Suspension | 1.5% | 243 |
| 10 | Motorcycle Tyres | 1.4% | 225 |
| 11 | Motorcycle Steering | 0.8% | 128 |
| 12 | Motorcycle Driving Controls | 0.4% | 61 |
| 13 | Motorcycle Reg Plates And Vin | 0.3% | 55 |
| 14 | Motorcycle Body And Structure | 0.3% | 41 |
| 15 | Identification Of The Vehicle | 0.1% | 20 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 28,578 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 | 4.47 | 12.8% | 2,046 |
| Motorcycle lighting and signalling | 1.89 | 5.4% | 866 |
| Motorcycle steering and suspension | 1.76 | 5.0% | 806 |
| Motorcycle tyres and wheels | 1.45 | 4.2% | 665 |
| Motorcycle lamps and reflectors | 1.08 | 3.1% | 495 |
| Motorcycle drive system | 0.80 | 2.3% | 365 |
| Motorcycle structure and attachments | 0.61 | 1.7% | 278 |
| Motorcycle fuel and exhaust | 0.54 | 1.5% | 248 |
| Motorcycle suspension | 0.53 | 1.5% | 243 |
| Motorcycle tyres | 0.49 | 1.4% | 225 |
| Motorcycle steering | 0.28 | 0.8% | 128 |
| Motorcycle driving controls | 0.13 | 0.4% | 61 |
| Motorcycle reg plates and vin | 0.12 | 0.3% | 55 |
| Motorcycle body and structure | 0.09 | 0.3% | 41 |
| Identification of the vehicle | 0.04 | 0.1% | 20 |
🚗 Similar Cars to Consider
Mileage at MOT
The average Honda Xl1000v has 28,578 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 Xl1000v has a mileage-adjusted failure rate of 5.49% per 10,000 miles driven. The average across all makes is 5.38%, so this model is worse than average.
About Honda Xl1000v MOT Data
The Honda Xl1000v is a relatively common sight on UK roads, with 16,019 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 14 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 84.3% and a failure rate of 15.7%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.
For Honda Xl1000v 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 Xl1000v is likely to perform.
Motorcycle brakes — 11.5% of failures
Motorcycle brakes issues account for 11.5% of MOT failures on the Honda Xl1000v. 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 — 5.0% of failures
Motorcycle lighting and signalling issues account for 5.0% of MOT failures on the Honda Xl1000v. 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 steering and suspension — 4.4% of failures
Motorcycle steering and suspension issues account for 4.4% of MOT failures on the Honda Xl1000v. 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Honda Xl1000v?
Based on 16,019 MOT tests in our database, the Honda Xl1000v has an overall pass rate of 84.3% (15.7% fail rate).
What are the most common MOT failures on a Honda Xl1000v?
The top 3 reasons a Honda Xl1000v fails its MOT are: 1. Motorcycle brakes (11.5%), 2. Motorcycle lighting and signalling (5.0%), 3. Motorcycle steering and suspension (4.4%). Check these areas before booking your MOT.
Is the Honda Xl1000v reliable?
With a 15.7% MOT failure rate, the Xl1000v is more reliable than average compared to the UK average of ~40%.
What should I check before an MOT on my Honda Xl1000v?
Based on failure data, focus on: Motorcycle brakes (11.5%); Motorcycle lighting and signalling (5.0%); Motorcycle steering and suspension (4.4%). 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.