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Honda CB1000 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Honda CB1000 car check

Is the Honda CB1000 reliable? We analysed 8,993 real MOT tests across 842 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 8,993 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
86.8%
Typical Mileage
19,726mi
Annual Mileage
724mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
43yrs

The Honda CB1000 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm, brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick and stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Honda CB1000.

Honda CB1000 Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Honda CB1000. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Honda CB1000 MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Honda CB1000 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

91.3%
2012
88.7%
2011
89.1%
2010
86.7%
2009
84.6%
2008
89.1%
2007
88.8%
2006
84.6%
2003
84.3%
2002
87.5%
2001
88.3%
2000
86.5%
1999
87.9%
1998
87.2%
1997
88.4%
1996
85.1%
1995
87%
1994
84.5%
1993
78.3%
1992
80.9%
1983

Honda CB1000 Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Honda CB1000 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 64
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 45
Stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies 42
shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil 33
Roller brake test indicates a binding brake 26
wheel bearings have excessive free play 24
Tyre valve stem damaged which could cause sudden tyre deflation 23

Honda CB1000 Common Faults & Problems

These are the most common serious faults found on Honda CB1000 models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.

Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 26
Brake pad(s) less than 1.0 mm thick 22

Honda CB1000 Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Honda CB1000 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
238 mi/yr
Typical
724 mi/yr
Average
1,407 mi/yr
Heavy usage
1,751 mi/yr

Honda CB1000 MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Honda CB1000 year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2012 219 91.3% 6,712 9,577 16,952
2011 630 88.7% 6,191 10,506 17,811
2010 672 89.1% 7,176 12,188 19,264
2009 1,111 86.7% 7,704 13,444 21,033
2008 839 84.6% 8,196 13,881 23,727
2007 229 89.1% 11,740 21,937 33,086
2006 197 88.8% 8,318 15,187 25,406
2003 136 84.6% 9,932 24,012 28,948
2002 108 84.3% 24,899 35,712 52,677
2001 56 87.5% 23,707 43,910 69,813
2000 77 88.3% 18,210 20,651 27,442
1999 170 86.5% 19,823 30,376 40,776
1998 223 87.9% 8,470 12,745 29,144
1997 460 87.2% 11,645 24,338 41,953
1996 881 88.4% 15,660 24,912 37,344
1995 910 85.1% 17,148 28,680 39,288
1994 791 87.0% 20,824 28,808 45,413
1993 753 84.5% 16,408 31,483 41,483
1992 69 78.3% 23,169 36,583 39,654
1983 94 80.9% 24,085 43,376 49,909

How Long Does a Honda CB1000 Last?

Based on 842 Honda CB1000 vehicles on UK roads.

Average
18.3 years
Median
16.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
43 years

Honda CB1000 Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Honda CB1000 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
19,726 mi
75th Percentile
33,567 mi
95th Percentile
59,025 mi
Max Recorded
200,121 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Honda CB1000

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

Best year
2012

91.3% MOT pass rate from 219 tests

Year to avoid
1992

78.3% MOT pass rate from 69 tests

The best year to buy a used Honda CB1000 is 2012, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 91.3% across 219 tests. The 1992 model year has the lowest pass rate at 78.3% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Honda CB1000 Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Honda CB1000 THIS CAR 86.8% 8,993 19,726 mi 43 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
Skoda Felicia L 64.4% 3,274 64,368 mi 30 yrs

Compared to the Honda Civic (73.7% pass rate) and the Honda Jazz (81.0% pass rate), the Honda CB1000 outperforms both on MOT reliability.

Found a Honda CB1000 you like?

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Should you buy a used Honda CB1000?

The Honda CB1000 has an overall MOT pass rate of 86.8% across 8,993 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 CB1000 are tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (64 recorded failures), brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (45), and stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies (42). 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.

On the safety side, the most frequently flagged dangerous fault is tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a Honda CB1000 with an expired or recently passed MOT, ask the seller whether any dangerous faults were found and fixed during the last test.

A typical Honda CB1000 owner drives around 724 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 CB1000 models stay on UK roads for around 43 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 CB1000 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Honda CB1000 reliable?
Based on 8,993 MOT tests, the Honda CB1000 has a 86.8% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Honda CB1000?
The most common MOT failures are tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm, brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick, and stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Honda CB1000 do per year?
The typical Honda CB1000 does around 724 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Honda CB1000 last?
Most Honda CB1000 models stay on UK roads for around 43 years based on our analysis of 842 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Honda CB1000?
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 CB1000?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Honda CB1000 is 2012 with a 91.3% pass rate across 219 tests.