CarVerify

Honda CB1 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Honda CB1 car check

Is the Honda CB1 reliable? We analysed 2,419 real MOT tests across 307 vehicles to find out.

Got a specific Honda CB1? Enter the reg for a free check:

Free basic check Reports from £4.99 Results in seconds
Data last updated: · Based on 2,419 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
80.8%
Typical Mileage
35,824mi
Annual Mileage
779mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
37yrs

The Honda CB1 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil, tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm and stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Honda CB1.

Honda CB1 Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Honda CB1. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Honda CB1 MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Honda CB1 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

81%
2001
80.6%
2000
82.9%
1999
79.9%
1998
83.1%
1997
79.9%
1996
84.4%
1995
85.5%
1993
73.6%
1992
84%
1991
78.2%
1990
79.1%
1989

Honda CB1 Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Honda CB1 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil 53
Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 48
Stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies 37
Roller brake test indicates a binding brake 23
wheel bearings have excessive free play 22
Tyre valve stem damaged which could cause sudden tyre deflation 21
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 21
wheel bearings have excessive free play 19
shock absorber has inadequate damping effect. 17
reflector on motorcycle missing 16

Honda CB1 Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Honda CB1 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
245 mi/yr
Typical
779 mi/yr
Average
1,799 mi/yr
Heavy usage
1,993 mi/yr

Honda CB1 MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Honda CB1 year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2001 100 81.0% 19,479 33,126 45,512
2000 129 80.6% 24,603 40,431 58,995
1999 170 82.9% 28,405 34,174 50,367
1998 349 79.9% 31,960 41,655 58,360
1997 503 83.1% 24,814 33,058 45,833
1996 318 79.9% 28,516 40,772 52,155
1995 64 84.4% 12,473 23,205 31,903
1993 55 85.5% 7,440 10,387 28,805
1992 87 73.6% 30,665 40,316 48,792
1991 125 84.0% 19,702 31,256 47,278
1990 119 78.2% 20,575 37,152 56,697
1989 253 79.1% 27,535 38,759 53,721

How Long Does a Honda CB1 Last?

Based on 307 Honda CB1 vehicles on UK roads.

Average
18.5 years
Median
18.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
37 years

Honda CB1 Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Honda CB1 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
35,824 mi
75th Percentile
50,548 mi
95th Percentile
82,156 mi
Max Recorded
792,108 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Honda CB1

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

Best year
1993

85.5% MOT pass rate from 55 tests

Year to avoid
1992

73.6% MOT pass rate from 87 tests

The best year to buy a used Honda CB1 is 1993, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 85.5% across 55 tests. The 1992 model year has the lowest pass rate at 73.6% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Honda CB1 Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Honda CB1 THIS CAR 80.8% 2,419 35,824 mi 37 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
Lexus IS200 SE 74.8% 3,133 90,856 mi 27 yrs

Compared to the Honda Civic (73.7% pass rate) and the Honda Jazz (81.0% pass rate), the Honda CB1 sits in the middle of the pack on MOT reliability.

Found a Honda CB1 you like?

Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.

Check a specific Honda CB1

Should you buy a used Honda CB1?

The Honda CB1 has an overall MOT pass rate of 80.8% across 2,419 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 CB1 are shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil (53 recorded failures), tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (48), and stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies (37). 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 CB1 owner drives around 779 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 CB1 models stay on UK roads for around 37 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 CB1 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Honda CB1 reliable?
Based on 2,419 MOT tests, the Honda CB1 has a 80.8% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Honda CB1?
The most common MOT failures are shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil, tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm, and stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Honda CB1 do per year?
The typical Honda CB1 does around 779 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Honda CB1 last?
Most Honda CB1 models stay on UK roads for around 37 years based on our analysis of 307 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Honda CB1?
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 CB1?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Honda CB1 is 1993 with a 85.5% pass rate across 55 tests.