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Honda Vtr 1000 S-2 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Honda Vtr 1000 S-2 car check

Is the Honda Vtr 1000 S-2 reliable? We analysed 1,708 real MOT tests across 171 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 1,708 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
89.8%
Typical Mileage
13,630mi
Annual Mileage
443mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
24yrs

The Honda Vtr 1000 S-2 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm, exhaust noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar motor bicycle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition and stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Honda Vtr 1000 S-2.

Honda Vtr 1000 S-2 Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Honda Vtr 1000 S-2. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Honda Vtr 1000 S-2 MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Honda Vtr 1000 S-2 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

90.6%
2003
88.7%
2002

Honda Vtr 1000 S-2 Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Honda Vtr 1000 S-2 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 23
Exhaust noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar motor bicycle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition 16
Stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies 13
shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil 9
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 8
reflector on motorcycle missing 7
Exhaust markings indicating not for road use or similar wording 5
Drive chain excessively loose 5
Headlamp at least one does not illuminate on dipped beam 4
Headlamp aim too high 4

Honda Vtr 1000 S-2 Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Honda Vtr 1000 S-2 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
156 mi/yr
Typical
443 mi/yr
Average
959 mi/yr
Heavy usage
1,289 mi/yr

Honda Vtr 1000 S-2 MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Honda Vtr 1000 S-2 year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2003 723 90.6% 7,677 11,720 18,296
2002 933 88.7% 9,104 14,672 21,234

How Long Does a Honda Vtr 1000 S-2 Last?

Based on 171 Honda Vtr 1000 S-2 vehicles on UK roads.

Average
15.7 years
Median
18.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
24 years

Honda Vtr 1000 S-2 Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Honda Vtr 1000 S-2 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
13,630 mi
75th Percentile
20,015 mi
95th Percentile
34,157 mi
Max Recorded
114,825 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Honda Vtr 1000 S-2

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

Best year
2003

90.6% MOT pass rate from 723 tests

Year to avoid
2002

88.7% MOT pass rate from 933 tests

The best year to buy a used Honda Vtr 1000 S-2 is 2003, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 90.6% across 723 tests. The 2002 model year has the lowest pass rate at 88.7% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Honda Vtr 1000 S-2 Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Honda Vtr 1000 S-2 THIS CAR 89.8% 1,708 13,630 mi 24 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 I30 Active 86.3% 2,314 58,171 mi — yrs

Compared to the Honda Civic (73.7% pass rate) and the Honda Jazz (81.0% pass rate), the Honda Vtr 1000 S-2 outperforms both on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Honda Vtr 1000 S-2?

The Honda Vtr 1000 S-2 has an overall MOT pass rate of 89.8% across 1,708 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 Vtr 1000 S-2 are tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (23 recorded failures), exhaust noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar motor bicycle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition (16), and stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies (13). 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 Vtr 1000 S-2 owner drives around 443 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 Vtr 1000 S-2 models stay on UK roads for around 24 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 Vtr 1000 S-2 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Honda Vtr 1000 S-2 reliable?
Based on 1,708 MOT tests, the Honda Vtr 1000 S-2 has a 89.8% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Honda Vtr 1000 S-2?
The most common MOT failures are tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm, exhaust noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar motor bicycle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition, and stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Honda Vtr 1000 S-2 do per year?
The typical Honda Vtr 1000 S-2 does around 443 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Honda Vtr 1000 S-2 last?
Most Honda Vtr 1000 S-2 models stay on UK roads for around 24 years based on our analysis of 171 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Honda Vtr 1000 S-2?
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 Vtr 1000 S-2?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Honda Vtr 1000 S-2 is 2003 with a 90.6% pass rate across 723 tests.