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Honda CB350 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Honda CB350 car check

Is the Honda CB350 reliable? We analysed 3,411 real MOT tests across 642 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 3,411 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
80.7%
Typical Mileage
32,378mi
Annual Mileage
393mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
55yrs

The Honda CB350 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 tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Honda CB350.

Honda CB350 Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Honda CB350. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Honda CB350 MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Honda CB350 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

85.5%
2016
81.2%
1989
80.3%
1988
78.2%
1987
77.7%
1986
82.9%
1974
84.9%
1973
81%
1972
89.9%
1971

Honda CB350 Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Honda CB350 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 40
shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil 37
Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 32
Roller brake test The less effective brake control does not achieve an efficiency of 25%. 28
Drive chain excessively loose 25
Roller brake test indicates a binding brake 24
Steering headbearing has excessive free play 22
shock absorber has inadequate damping effect. 18
position lamp does not illuminate immediately when switched on 18
Headlamp aim too high 17

Honda CB350 Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Honda CB350 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
103 mi/yr
Typical
393 mi/yr
Average
1,180 mi/yr
Heavy usage
1,128 mi/yr

Honda CB350 MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Honda CB350 year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2016 62 85.5% 5,572 11,119 19,166
1989 133 81.2% 26,558 44,831 51,064
1988 737 80.3% 28,697 41,353 55,166
1987 789 78.2% 25,566 35,038 45,344
1986 637 77.7% 30,370 41,349 57,412
1974 146 82.9% 18,344 26,370 35,985
1973 278 84.9% 14,769 21,832 28,627
1972 116 81.0% 12,336 17,810 22,984
1971 69 89.9% 12,298 14,745 19,998

How Long Does a Honda CB350 Last?

Based on 642 Honda CB350 vehicles on UK roads.

Average
26.0 years
Median
27.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
55 years

Honda CB350 Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Honda CB350 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
32,378 mi
75th Percentile
46,174 mi
95th Percentile
71,547 mi
Max Recorded
571,787 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Honda CB350

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

Best year
1971

89.9% MOT pass rate from 69 tests

Year to avoid
1986

77.7% MOT pass rate from 637 tests

The best year to buy a used Honda CB350 is 1971, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 89.9% across 69 tests. The 1986 model year has the lowest pass rate at 77.7% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Honda CB350 Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Honda CB350 THIS CAR 80.7% 3,411 32,378 mi 55 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
Kawasaki AR125 74% 1,325 18,056 mi 40 yrs

Compared to the Honda Civic (73.7% pass rate) and the Honda Jazz (81.0% pass rate), the Honda CB350 sits in the middle of the pack on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Honda CB350?

The Honda CB350 has an overall MOT pass rate of 80.7% across 3,411 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 CB350 are stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies (40 recorded failures), shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil (37), and tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (32). 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 CB350 owner drives around 393 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 CB350 models stay on UK roads for around 55 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 CB350 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Honda CB350 reliable?
Based on 3,411 MOT tests, the Honda CB350 has a 80.7% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Honda CB350?
The most common MOT failures are stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies, shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil, and tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Honda CB350 do per year?
The typical Honda CB350 does around 393 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Honda CB350 last?
Most Honda CB350 models stay on UK roads for around 55 years based on our analysis of 642 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Honda CB350?
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 CB350?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Honda CB350 is 1971 with a 89.9% pass rate across 69 tests.