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Honda Vtx Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Honda Vtx car check

Is the Honda Vtx reliable? We analysed 794 real MOT tests across 101 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 794 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
87.8%
Typical Mileage
15,940mi
Annual Mileage
827mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
23yrs

The Honda Vtx is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm, brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick and exhaust noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar motor bicycle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Honda Vtx.

Honda Vtx Number Plates

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

Honda Vtx MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

88.3%
2007
90.8%
2006
90.9%
2005
88.2%
2004
82.2%
2003

Honda Vtx Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Honda Vtx 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 7
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 5
Exhaust noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar motor bicycle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition 3
Roller brake test The less effective brake control does not achieve an efficiency of 25%. 2

Honda Vtx Common Faults & Problems

These are the most common serious faults found on Honda Vtx models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.

Brake pad(s) less than 1.0 mm thick 8
Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 6

Honda Vtx Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
273 mi/yr
Typical
827 mi/yr
Average
1,447 mi/yr
Heavy usage
2,106 mi/yr

Honda Vtx MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2007 154 88.3% 10,306 15,994 25,244
2006 153 90.8% 9,905 14,142 21,915
2005 121 90.9% 12,577 21,644 34,288
2004 187 88.2% 8,492 17,138 24,887
2003 73 82.2% 3,984 8,571 15,668

How Long Does a Honda Vtx Last?

Based on 101 Honda Vtx vehicles on UK roads.

Average
17.3 years
Median
18.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
23 years

Honda Vtx Mileage Distribution

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

Median
15,940 mi
75th Percentile
24,907 mi
95th Percentile
42,029 mi
Max Recorded
68,568 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Honda Vtx

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

Best year
2005

90.9% MOT pass rate from 121 tests

Year to avoid
2003

82.2% MOT pass rate from 73 tests

The best year to buy a used Honda Vtx is 2005, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 90.9% across 121 tests. The 2003 model year has the lowest pass rate at 82.2% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Honda Vtx Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Honda Vtx THIS CAR 87.8% 794 15,940 mi 23 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
Citroen Berlingo Multispace Forte 70.3% 364 116,116 mi — yrs

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

Found a Honda Vtx you like?

Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.

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Should you buy a used Honda Vtx?

The Honda Vtx has an overall MOT pass rate of 87.8% across 794 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 Vtx are tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (7 recorded failures), brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (5), and exhaust noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar motor bicycle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition (3). 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.

On the safety side, the most frequently flagged dangerous fault is brake pad(s) less than 1.0 mm thick. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a Honda Vtx with an expired or recently passed MOT, ask the seller whether any dangerous faults were found and fixed during the last test.

A typical Honda Vtx owner drives around 827 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 Vtx models stay on UK roads for around 23 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 Vtx — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Honda Vtx reliable?
Based on 794 MOT tests, the Honda Vtx has a 87.8% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Honda Vtx?
The most common MOT failures are tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm, brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick, and exhaust noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar motor bicycle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Honda Vtx do per year?
The typical Honda Vtx does around 827 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Honda Vtx last?
Most Honda Vtx models stay on UK roads for around 23 years based on our analysis of 101 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Honda Vtx?
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 Vtx?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Honda Vtx is 2005 with a 90.9% pass rate across 121 tests.