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Honda Vtx 1300S Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Honda Vtx 1300S car check

Is the Honda Vtx 1300S reliable? We analysed 5,362 real MOT tests across 487 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 5,362 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
88.0%
Typical Mileage
14,272mi
Annual Mileage
880mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
23yrs

The Honda Vtx 1300S 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 1300S.

Honda Vtx 1300S Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Honda Vtx 1300S. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Honda Vtx 1300S MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Honda Vtx 1300S to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

94.7%
2011
93.9%
2010
90.5%
2009
87.8%
2008
90.6%
2007
88.6%
2006
87.2%
2005
86.7%
2004
87.2%
2003

Honda Vtx 1300S Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Honda Vtx 1300S 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 88
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 40
Exhaust noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar motor bicycle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition 18
reflector on motorcycle missing 18
Brake pad(s) (sintered type) less than 1.0mm thick 13
Headlamp aim too high 13
Roller brake test indicates a binding brake 11

Honda Vtx 1300S Common Faults & Problems

These are the most common serious faults found on Honda Vtx 1300S models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.

Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 27
Brake pad(s) less than 1.0 mm thick 20

Honda Vtx 1300S Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Honda Vtx 1300S owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
312 mi/yr
Typical
880 mi/yr
Average
1,448 mi/yr
Heavy usage
1,887 mi/yr

Honda Vtx 1300S MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Honda Vtx 1300S year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2011 57 94.7% 9,755 14,442 18,182
2010 213 93.9% 4,290 10,423 17,483
2009 116 90.5% 9,635 22,710 30,272
2008 510 87.8% 5,698 9,804 17,867
2007 575 90.6% 7,027 15,144 23,218
2006 536 88.6% 8,615 13,997 22,251
2005 1,000 87.2% 7,307 14,329 23,553
2004 1,521 86.7% 8,943 14,518 23,194
2003 768 87.2% 9,705 16,900 23,656

How Long Does a Honda Vtx 1300S Last?

Based on 487 Honda Vtx 1300S vehicles on UK roads.

Average
14.8 years
Median
17.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
23 years

Honda Vtx 1300S Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Honda Vtx 1300S MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
14,272 mi
75th Percentile
22,560 mi
95th Percentile
43,942 mi
Max Recorded
300,081 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Honda Vtx 1300S

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

Best year
2011

94.7% MOT pass rate from 57 tests

Year to avoid
2004

86.7% MOT pass rate from 1,521 tests

The best year to buy a used Honda Vtx 1300S is 2011, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 94.7% across 57 tests. The 2004 model year has the lowest pass rate at 86.7% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Honda Vtx 1300S Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Honda Vtx 1300S THIS CAR 88.0% 5,362 14,272 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
Rolls Royce Silver Dawn 84.5% 2,281 52,950 mi 72 yrs

Compared to the Honda Civic (73.7% pass rate) and the Honda Jazz (81.0% pass rate), the Honda Vtx 1300S outperforms both on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Honda Vtx 1300S?

The Honda Vtx 1300S has an overall MOT pass rate of 88.0% across 5,362 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 1300S are tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (88 recorded failures), brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (40), and exhaust noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar motor bicycle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition (18). 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 tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a Honda Vtx 1300S 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 1300S owner drives around 880 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 1300S 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 1300S — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Honda Vtx 1300S reliable?
Based on 5,362 MOT tests, the Honda Vtx 1300S has a 88.0% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Honda Vtx 1300S?
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 1300S do per year?
The typical Honda Vtx 1300S does around 880 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Honda Vtx 1300S last?
Most Honda Vtx 1300S models stay on UK roads for around 23 years based on our analysis of 487 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Honda Vtx 1300S?
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 1300S?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Honda Vtx 1300S is 2011 with a 94.7% pass rate across 57 tests.