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Honda XL750 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Honda XL750 car check

Is the Honda XL750 reliable? We analysed 10,052 real MOT tests across 1,040 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 10,052 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
86.5%
Typical Mileage
32,703mi
Annual Mileage
951mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
36yrs

The Honda XL750 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include roller brake test indicates a binding brake, 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 XL750.

Honda XL750 Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Honda XL750. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Honda XL750 MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Honda XL750 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

85.7%
2015
88.9%
2003
88.1%
2002
88.3%
2001
85.3%
2000
87.1%
1999
86.8%
1998
88.6%
1997
85.5%
1996
86.9%
1995
84.9%
1994
83.4%
1993
84.9%
1992
83.3%
1991
84.2%
1990

Honda XL750 Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Honda XL750 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Roller brake test indicates a binding brake 141
Stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies 82
Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 70
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 61
Throttle operating incorrectly 46
Steering movement excessively 'notchy' with the wheel raised 45
Roller brake test indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort 41
wheel bearings have excessive free play 40
Floor brake test indicates a binding brake 39

Honda XL750 Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Honda XL750 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
308 mi/yr
Typical
951 mi/yr
Average
1,918 mi/yr
Heavy usage
2,403 mi/yr

Honda XL750 MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Honda XL750 year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2015 63 85.7% 55,094 72,900 81,642
2003 633 88.9% 12,782 21,789 40,427
2002 957 88.1% 12,946 21,740 35,131
2001 1,328 88.3% 13,570 22,837 40,241
2000 1,122 85.3% 17,850 28,976 46,342
1999 745 87.1% 17,781 29,821 42,990
1998 895 86.8% 21,124 30,289 46,496
1997 787 88.6% 19,582 28,764 42,700
1996 545 85.5% 23,926 40,726 56,087
1995 291 86.9% 28,976 39,349 50,770
1994 292 84.9% 39,105 53,029 68,730
1993 283 83.4% 26,148 42,552 54,396
1992 471 84.9% 33,138 42,843 52,944
1991 639 83.3% 29,573 41,347 55,889
1990 602 84.2% 33,415 45,005 56,582

How Long Does a Honda XL750 Last?

Based on 1,040 Honda XL750 vehicles on UK roads.

Average
19.2 years
Median
21.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
36 years

Honda XL750 Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Honda XL750 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
32,703 mi
75th Percentile
49,443 mi
95th Percentile
79,456 mi
Max Recorded
899,339 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Honda XL750

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

Best year
2003

88.9% MOT pass rate from 633 tests

Year to avoid
1991

83.3% MOT pass rate from 639 tests

The best year to buy a used Honda XL750 is 2003, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 88.9% across 633 tests. The 1991 model year has the lowest pass rate at 83.3% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Honda XL750 Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Honda XL750 THIS CAR 86.5% 10,052 32,703 mi 36 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
Kia Sportage 3 Isg CRDI 91.4% 3,212 70,884 mi — yrs

Compared to the Honda Civic (73.7% pass rate) and the Honda Jazz (81.0% pass rate), the Honda XL750 outperforms both on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Honda XL750?

The Honda XL750 has an overall MOT pass rate of 86.5% across 10,052 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 XL750 are roller brake test indicates a binding brake (141 recorded failures), stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies (82), and tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (70). 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 XL750 owner drives around 951 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 XL750 models stay on UK roads for around 36 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 XL750 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Honda XL750 reliable?
Based on 10,052 MOT tests, the Honda XL750 has a 86.5% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Honda XL750?
The most common MOT failures are roller brake test indicates a binding brake, 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 XL750 do per year?
The typical Honda XL750 does around 951 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Honda XL750 last?
Most Honda XL750 models stay on UK roads for around 36 years based on our analysis of 1,040 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Honda XL750?
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 XL750?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Honda XL750 is 2003 with a 88.9% pass rate across 633 tests.