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Honda SLR650 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Honda SLR650 car check

Is the Honda SLR650 reliable? We analysed 6,464 real MOT tests across 629 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 6,464 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
83.7%
Typical Mileage
19,185mi
Annual Mileage
541mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
29yrs

The Honda SLR650 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil, stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies and tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Honda SLR650.

Honda SLR650 Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Honda SLR650. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Honda SLR650 MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Honda SLR650 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

89.4%
2000
84.8%
1999
83.9%
1998
82.5%
1997
94.4%
1996

Honda SLR650 Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Honda SLR650 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil 84
Stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies 69
Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 60
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 43
Roller brake test indicates a binding brake 30
reflector on motorcycle missing 30
Stop lamp remains on when the brake is released 26
shock absorber has inadequate damping effect. 24
position lamp does not illuminate immediately when it is switched on 23
wheel bearings have excessive free play 23

Honda SLR650 Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Honda SLR650 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
172 mi/yr
Typical
541 mi/yr
Average
1,168 mi/yr
Heavy usage
1,431 mi/yr

Honda SLR650 MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Honda SLR650 year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2000 123 89.4% 5,139 14,314 29,145
1999 1,485 84.8% 11,538 17,935 24,645
1998 2,013 83.9% 12,804 19,738 28,860
1997 2,724 82.5% 12,123 19,930 28,512
1996 54 94.4% 16,511 18,693 25,950

How Long Does a Honda SLR650 Last?

Based on 629 Honda SLR650 vehicles on UK roads.

Average
19.7 years
Median
21.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
29 years

Honda SLR650 Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Honda SLR650 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
19,185 mi
75th Percentile
27,815 mi
95th Percentile
45,697 mi
Max Recorded
422,010 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Honda SLR650

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

Best year
1996

94.4% MOT pass rate from 54 tests

Year to avoid
1997

82.5% MOT pass rate from 2,724 tests

The best year to buy a used Honda SLR650 is 1996, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 94.4% across 54 tests. The 1997 model year has the lowest pass rate at 82.5% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Honda SLR650 Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Honda SLR650 THIS CAR 83.7% 6,464 19,185 mi 29 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
Hyundai Ioniq SE Connect HEV S-a 86.7% 3,675 42,969 mi — yrs

Compared to the Honda Civic (73.7% pass rate) and the Honda Jazz (81.0% pass rate), the Honda SLR650 outperforms both on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Honda SLR650?

The Honda SLR650 has an overall MOT pass rate of 83.7% across 6,464 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 SLR650 are shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil (84 recorded failures), stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies (69), and tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (60). 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 SLR650 owner drives around 541 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 SLR650 models stay on UK roads for around 29 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 SLR650 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Honda SLR650 reliable?
Based on 6,464 MOT tests, the Honda SLR650 has a 83.7% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Honda SLR650?
The most common MOT failures are shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil, stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies, and tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Honda SLR650 do per year?
The typical Honda SLR650 does around 541 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Honda SLR650 last?
Most Honda SLR650 models stay on UK roads for around 29 years based on our analysis of 629 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Honda SLR650?
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 SLR650?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Honda SLR650 is 1996 with a 94.4% pass rate across 54 tests.