CarVerify

Honda CB100 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Honda CB100 car check

Is the Honda CB100 reliable? We analysed 1,666 real MOT tests across 431 vehicles to find out.

Got a specific Honda CB100? Enter the reg for a free check:

Free basic check Reports from £4.99 Results in seconds
Data last updated: · Based on 1,666 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
78.3%
Typical Mileage
17,017mi
Annual Mileage
207mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
47yrs

The Honda CB100 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies, shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil and direction indicators affected by the operation of another lamp. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Honda CB100.

Honda CB100 Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Honda CB100. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Honda CB100 MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Honda CB100 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

75.2%
1986
76.1%
1985
84.3%
1984
79.3%
1983
79.6%
1982
76.9%
1981
75.8%
1980
77.2%
1979

Honda CB100 Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Honda CB100 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies 26
shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil 25
Direction indicators affected by the operation of another lamp 19
Stop lamp affected by the operation of another lamp 16
Headlamp at least one does not illuminate on dipped beam 14
Horn not loud enough to be heard by another road user 14
Roller brake test The less effective brake control does not achieve an efficiency of 25%. 14
Direction indicator affected by the operation of another lamp 13
position lamp adversely affected by the operation of another lamp 13
Direction indicators not working 13

Honda CB100 Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Honda CB100 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
46 mi/yr
Typical
207 mi/yr
Average
636 mi/yr
Heavy usage
662 mi/yr

Honda CB100 MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Honda CB100 year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
1986 149 75.2% 12,143 16,373 24,055
1985 117 76.1% 13,069 22,868 35,580
1984 140 84.3% 11,001 18,310 23,278
1983 251 79.3% 9,778 15,570 25,072
1982 270 79.6% 11,054 16,677 23,845
1981 160 76.9% 12,110 17,852 24,854
1980 260 75.8% 10,638 17,147 25,356
1979 136 77.2% 11,206 16,395 21,166

How Long Does a Honda CB100 Last?

Based on 431 Honda CB100 vehicles on UK roads.

Average
31.3 years
Median
32.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
47 years

Honda CB100 Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Honda CB100 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
17,017 mi
75th Percentile
24,170 mi
95th Percentile
42,168 mi
Max Recorded
243,254 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Honda CB100

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

Best year
1984

84.3% MOT pass rate from 140 tests

Year to avoid
1986

75.2% MOT pass rate from 149 tests

The best year to buy a used Honda CB100 is 1984, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 84.3% across 140 tests. The 1986 model year has the lowest pass rate at 75.2% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Honda CB100 Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Honda CB100 THIS CAR 78.3% 1,666 17,017 mi 47 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
Sym AV05W Symply 50 83% 1,118 10,776 mi 15 yrs

Compared to the Honda Civic (73.7% pass rate) and the Honda Jazz (81.0% pass rate), the Honda CB100 sits in the middle of the pack on MOT reliability.

Found a Honda CB100 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 CB100

Should you buy a used Honda CB100?

The Honda CB100 has an overall MOT pass rate of 78.3% across 1,666 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 CB100 are stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies (26 recorded failures), shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil (25), and direction indicators affected by the operation of another lamp (19). 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 CB100 owner drives around 207 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 CB100 models stay on UK roads for around 47 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 CB100 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Honda CB100 reliable?
Based on 1,666 MOT tests, the Honda CB100 has a 78.3% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Honda CB100?
The most common MOT failures are stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies, shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil, and direction indicators affected by the operation of another lamp. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Honda CB100 do per year?
The typical Honda CB100 does around 207 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Honda CB100 last?
Most Honda CB100 models stay on UK roads for around 47 years based on our analysis of 431 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Honda CB100?
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 CB100?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Honda CB100 is 1984 with a 84.3% pass rate across 140 tests.