Honda NSC MOT pass rate & common failures

At a glance

Recorded pass rate

10.7 points below the fleet average of 86.5%. The examples tested do not cover a wide enough spread of ages and mileages to compare fairly against the rest of the fleet, so no rank is claimed; the failure record below stands on its own.

DVSA recorded wording

Most common failure items

Share of failed Honda NSC tests in which each item was recorded. One failed test often lists several, so these do not sum to 100%.

1. 1.A shock absorber not functioning or leaking severely21.1%

   208 occurrences

2. 2.Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements18.2%

   179 occurrences

3. 3.Brake lining or pad worn below 1.0mm14.8%

   146 occurrences

4. 4.A shock absorber not functioning or leaking severely13.3%

   131 occurrences

5. 5.Brake efficiency below minimum requirement13.3%

   131 occurrences

6. 6.Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning11.9%

   117 occurrences

7. 7.A stop lamp(s) does not illuminate by the operation of both brake controls or remains on when the brakes are released11.5%

   113 occurrences

8. 8.Headlamp not securely attached8.6%

   85 occurrences

9. 9.Brake control has insufficient reserve travel8.5%

   84 occurrences

10. 10.A lamp missing or inoperative7.1%

    70 occurrences

11. 11.A stop lamp(s) remains on when the brakes are released6.7%

    66 occurrences

12. 12.A headlamp missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED5.8%

    57 occurrences

Warnings without a failure

Most common advisories

Share of all Honda NSC tests carrying each advisory.

1. 1.Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements7.7%

   489 tests

2. 2.A shock absorber not functioning or leaking severely5.8%

   368 tests

3. 3.Brake lining or pad worn below 1.0mm5.1%

   324 tests

4. 4.Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements4.0%

   254 tests

5. 5.Brake control so positioned, bent or shortened that the brake cannot be readily applied.3.9%

   247 tests

6. 6.A shock absorber not functioning or leaking severely3.8%

   242 tests

7. 7.Steering head bearings excessively stiff, notchy, or with excessive wear or play3.7%

   236 tests

8. 8.Steering head bearings have excessive wear or play2.9%

   182 tests

How wear changes the picture

NSC pass rate by age and registration year

What gets tested

The NSC fleet

Average mileage recorded at test

29,261

Test classes

class 1: 5,997 · class 2: 357

Compare within the range

Other Honda motorcycles

• Honda CBR85.7%
• Honda CB89.8%
• Honda WW85.1%
• Honda CBF82.5%
• Honda CRF91.3%
• Honda NC92.5%
• All Honda motorcycles

Common questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a Honda NSC?

75.8% unadjusted, from 6,354 DVSA tests. The average across all motorcycles is 86.5%.

What does a Honda NSC fail its MOT on?

"A shock absorber not functioning or leaking severely" is recorded in 21.1% of failed Honda NSC tests, followed by "Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements" (18.2%). One failed test often lists several items.

What mileage does a Honda NSC usually have at its MOT?

29,261 miles on average across every age tested, so a description of the fleet rather than an annual figure. Motorcycle mileages are low and vary enormously with use; a commuter bike and a weekend bike of the same age can differ by a factor of ten.