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Honda Africa Twin Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Honda Africa Twin car check

Is the Honda Africa Twin reliable? We analysed 3,073 real MOT tests across 282 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 3,073 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
86.7%
Typical Mileage
34,739mi
Annual Mileage
866mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
38yrs

The Honda Africa Twin is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include roller brake test indicates a binding brake, tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm and stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Honda Africa Twin.

Honda Africa Twin Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Honda Africa Twin. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Honda Africa Twin MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Honda Africa Twin to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

93.2%
2003
86.4%
2002
88.1%
2001
91.1%
2000
83.9%
1999
85.2%
1998
91.3%
1997
85.2%
1996
82.3%
1995
86.9%
1994
88.2%
1993
77.6%
1992
83.1%
1989
88%
1988

Honda Africa Twin Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Honda Africa Twin fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Roller brake test indicates a binding brake 36
Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 24
Stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies 22
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 16
Headlamp aim beam image kick up to the offside 13
Steering movement excessively 'notchy' with the wheel raised 12
Roller brake test indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort 11
wheel bearings have excessive free play 11
Floor brake test indicates a binding brake 9

Honda Africa Twin Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Honda Africa Twin owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
276 mi/yr
Typical
866 mi/yr
Average
1,705 mi/yr
Heavy usage
2,132 mi/yr

Honda Africa Twin MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Honda Africa Twin year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2003 59 93.2% 8,163 40,265 49,300
2002 411 86.4% 12,394 23,015 32,476
2001 269 88.1% 22,152 30,763 41,945
2000 269 91.1% 16,843 27,176 42,629
1999 404 83.9% 25,158 34,878 44,858
1998 365 85.2% 20,078 39,513 58,747
1997 333 91.3% 17,971 37,449 51,185
1996 243 85.2% 27,819 41,451 53,740
1995 79 82.3% 27,896 42,815 76,826
1994 130 86.9% 27,975 38,980 53,994
1993 76 88.2% 34,734 50,942 66,061
1992 67 77.6% 41,837 54,603 72,527
1989 77 83.1% 33,684 40,886 73,938
1988 75 88.0% 22,984 51,499 81,286

How Long Does a Honda Africa Twin Last?

Based on 282 Honda Africa Twin vehicles on UK roads.

Average
22.1 years
Median
23.5 years
Estimated max lifespan
38 years

Honda Africa Twin Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Honda Africa Twin MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
34,739 mi
75th Percentile
52,436 mi
95th Percentile
79,687 mi
Max Recorded
780,080 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Honda Africa Twin

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
2003

93.2% MOT pass rate from 59 tests

Year to avoid
1992

77.6% MOT pass rate from 67 tests

The best year to buy a used Honda Africa Twin is 2003, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 93.2% across 59 tests. The 1992 model year has the lowest pass rate at 77.6% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Honda Africa Twin Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Honda Africa Twin THIS CAR 86.7% 3,073 34,739 mi 38 yrs
Honda Civic 73.7% 9,391,580 74,987 mi 34 yrs
Honda Jazz 81% 5,740,892 48,635 mi 24 yrs
Honda Cr-v 78.5% 4,177,643 80,499 mi 29 yrs
Volkswagen Transporter T26 Startline TDI 84.5% 1,268 39,710 mi — yrs

Compared to the Honda Civic (73.7% pass rate) and the Honda Jazz (81.0% pass rate), the Honda Africa Twin outperforms both on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Honda Africa Twin?

The Honda Africa Twin has an overall MOT pass rate of 86.7% across 3,073 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.

The most common problems on the Honda Africa Twin are roller brake test indicates a binding brake (36 recorded failures), tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (24), and stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies (22). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.

A typical Honda Africa Twin owner drives around 866 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.

In terms of longevity, most Honda Africa Twin models stay on UK roads for around 38 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.

Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.

Honda Africa Twin — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Honda Africa Twin reliable?
Based on 3,073 MOT tests, the Honda Africa Twin has a 86.7% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Honda Africa Twin?
The most common MOT failures are roller brake test indicates a binding brake, tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm, and stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Honda Africa Twin do per year?
The typical Honda Africa Twin does around 866 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Honda Africa Twin last?
Most Honda Africa Twin models stay on UK roads for around 38 years based on our analysis of 282 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Honda Africa Twin?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Honda Africa Twin?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Honda Africa Twin is 2003 with a 93.2% pass rate across 59 tests.