1991 Honda VFR750F 0.7L Petrol · J168 CNG

A defining feature of this 1991 Honda VFR750F's MOT record is a clear, recurring focus on the steering head bearing, which has been flagged intermittently across several test cycles. The most recent assessment on 23 September 2025 was a clean pass with no defects recorded, and the 2024 and 2023 tests also returned clean results, suggesting the bearing concern was addressed rather than allowed to deteriorate further. However, the underlying history shows a notchy or stiff steering head bearing noted as an advisory in 2017 and 2018, followed by a failure on 23 August 2019 specifically for excessive wear or free play in the steering head bearing, before a clean pass was recorded the same day. This pattern indicates that while the immediate issue was rectified, the component has demonstrated a propensity for wear on this chassis and should not be dismissed as a one-off finding. With 28,847 miles recorded over approximately 35 years, this VFR750F averages around 824 miles annually, which is notably low for the platform and consistent with either limited recreational use or extended periods of inactivity. The MOT testing history itself shows a gap between the 2020 test and the next recorded assessment in 2023, and before that, tests appear roughly annually. There is no mileage recorded at each individual MOT within the data provided, so specific year-on-year accumulation cannot be traced, but the overall low annual figure points to a machine that has spent significant time stationary. For a motorcycle of this vintage, such low usage typically means attention should be directed towards items affected by ageing rather than wear: rubber components, brake seals, fuel system internals, and electrical connections, alongside the steering and suspension items already highlighted in the test record. For a prospective buyer, the steering head bearing should be the primary focus of any physical inspection. On a test ride, listen and feel for any notchiness through the steering as the handlebars move from lock to lock, particularly at slow speed and around straight-ahead, as this was the precise symptom recorded in 2017 and 2018. With the front wheel lifted, check for any notchiness, roughness, or detents by hand, as the 2019 test recorded excessive free play rather than just stiffness. Beyond the headstock, inspect the steering stem bearing surfaces for pitting or corrosion, particularly given the gaps in testing which suggest the bike may have stood uncovered, and check that the steering lock area beneath the yoke is free from surface corrosion that could bind movement. Other items worth probing given the platform age and recorded history include the front and rear suspension linkages, brake discs for warping or corrosion pitting around the edges, and the braided or rubber brake lines for any deterioration, none of which appear as advisories but are typical wear points on a low-mileage motorcycle of this era. On the road, pay particular attention to any clonks through the front end over uneven ground, any judder or pulsing through the front brake lever, and any wandering or instability at speed, all of which would warrant closer scrutiny of the running gear. Given the recurring steering bearing narrative and the low annual mileage, a pre-purchase inspection by a Honda specialist familiar with VFR chassis geometry would be a prudent measure to verify that the 2019 rectification remains effective and that no latent wear has developed since.