Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1998 Honda Vfr800f?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 1998 Honda Vfr800f?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 1998 Honda Vfr800f?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

Is the 1998 Honda Vfr800f reliable?

Based on MOT data from 597 vehicles, the 1998 Honda Vfr800f has a first-time MOT pass rate of 90.8%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 1998 Honda Vfr800f?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1998 Honda Vfr800f are: Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (50% of vehicles), Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (47.1% of vehicles), Rear Brake pad(s) close to minimum limit (43% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 1998 Honda Vfr800f?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Honda Vfr800f (1998)

597 real MOT outcomes analysed • 90.8% first-time pass rate

1998 Honda Vfr800f

CarHunch analysed 597 real MOT records for the 1998 Honda Vfr800f. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

These 1998 Honda VFR800Fs are struggling: just 36.8% pass first time compared to the UK average of 80%, and the petrol variants fare even worse at 30.7%. With only 3% ever recording a dangerous defect, the failures are more about wear and tear than safety-critical issues, but the sheer volume of problems suggests these bikes need serious attention after 26 years.

At 27,105 miles median, these are relatively low-mileage machines, yet they're averaging 0.33 failures and 1.3 advisories each—meaning age and storage are taking their toll regardless of use. If you're considering one, budget for pre-purchase inspection by a specialist and expect immediate work on brakes, lights, and fuel system components before you ride it.

The 1998 Honda Vfr800f passes its MOT first time more often than most UK vehicles (90.8% vs ~80% average) — and when it does fail, it's usually something minor and cheap to fix.

First-time pass

90.8%

UK average ~80%

Better than average

Dangerous (ever)

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.33

Over 3.6 tests on record

Low

Typical mileage

27k

Middle half: 17k–37k

For context

✅ Good baseline reliability. A 90.8% first-time pass rate puts this well above the UK average — it's a well-sorted vehicle in this age bracket.

These stats describe 597 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

A solid choice — agree?

What tends to go wrong

Across 597 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 50%

Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Rear Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Brake wear 43%

Rear Brake pad(s) close to minimum limit · Front Brake pad(s) close to minimum limit · Front Roller brake test indicates slight fluctuation of brake effort · …

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Exhaust & emissions 35.7%

Exhaust noisy · Exhaust is leaking but is not excessively noisey

Suspension & steering 22.2%

Steering movement slightly 'notchy'

Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Lighting 9.9%

Drive chain slightly loose · Exhaust slightly deteriorated

Usually cheap to fix. Worth confirming all lights work before collecting.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1998.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 597 Honda Vfr800f cars.

Before you buy a 1998 Honda Vfr800f

Based on MOT data from 597 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 3% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Petrol (91%)	541	90.4%	0.33
Other (9%)	56	94.8%	0.27

Colour Breakdown

Based on 1,693 Honda Vfr800f vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Red 46.4%

785

Black 16.1%

273

Blue 15.1%

256

Silver 11.8%

200

Yellow 7.3%

124

Green 2.9%

White 0.4%

Mileage Distribution

Most 1998 Honda Vfr800f vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

27,105

typical

17,415

low mileage

36,984

high mileage

Half of all 1998 Honda Vfr800f vehicles fall between 17,415 and 36,984 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 17,415 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 17,415–36,984 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1998 Honda Vfr800fs sit.

⚠ Over 49,928 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

1998 Honda Vfr800f — Still on the Road

Most 1998 Honda Vfr800fs are still being driven.

Strong survival — 73 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 87% of the peak.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

3.6

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.33

Avg failures per vehicle

1.3

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Honda Vfr800f: All Vfr800f years → Which year to buy? →

1999 2000 2001

Or browse all models: Honda →

Compare with another model

See how the 1998 Honda Vfr800f stacks up against a rival.

A solid choice — agree?