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Honda CB400F2 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Honda CB400F2 car check

Is the Honda CB400F2 reliable? We analysed 575 real MOT tests across 117 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 575 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
86.3%
Typical Mileage
29,193mi
Annual Mileage
179mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
49yrs

The Honda CB400F2 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil, roller brake test indicates a binding brake and stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Honda CB400F2.

Honda CB400F2 Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Honda CB400F2. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Honda CB400F2 MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Honda CB400F2 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

87.6%
1978
84.5%
1977

Honda CB400F2 Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Honda CB400F2 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil 7
Roller brake test indicates a binding brake 6
Stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies 5
Horn not working 5
Throttle operating incorrectly 5
Direction indicator not working 4
Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 4
Drive chain sprocket worn to excess 3
Drive chain excessively loose 3
Wheel alignment incorrect which adversely affects the handling 3

Honda CB400F2 Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Honda CB400F2 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
54 mi/yr
Typical
179 mi/yr
Average
551 mi/yr
Heavy usage
524 mi/yr

Honda CB400F2 MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Honda CB400F2 year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
1978 170 87.6% 23,065 30,405 35,811
1977 174 84.5% 18,170 27,376 36,575

Honda CB400F2 Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Honda CB400F2 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
29,193 mi
75th Percentile
39,381 mi
95th Percentile
65,863 mi
Max Recorded
622,280 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Honda CB400F2

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

Best year
1978

87.6% MOT pass rate from 170 tests

Year to avoid
1977

84.5% MOT pass rate from 174 tests

The best year to buy a used Honda CB400F2 is 1978, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 87.6% across 170 tests. The 1977 model year has the lowest pass rate at 84.5% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Honda CB400F2 Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Honda CB400F2 THIS CAR 86.3% 575 29,193 mi 49 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
Toyota Yaris Design Vvt-i 97.5% 993 38,405 mi — yrs

Compared to the Honda Civic (73.7% pass rate) and the Honda Jazz (81.0% pass rate), the Honda CB400F2 outperforms both on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Honda CB400F2?

The Honda CB400F2 has an overall MOT pass rate of 86.3% across 575 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 CB400F2 are shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil (7 recorded failures), roller brake test indicates a binding brake (6), and stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies (5). 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 CB400F2 owner drives around 179 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 CB400F2 models stay on UK roads for around 49 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 CB400F2 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Honda CB400F2 reliable?
Based on 575 MOT tests, the Honda CB400F2 has a 86.3% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Honda CB400F2?
The most common MOT failures are shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil, roller brake test indicates a binding brake, and stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Honda CB400F2 do per year?
The typical Honda CB400F2 does around 179 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Honda CB400F2 last?
Most Honda CB400F2 models stay on UK roads for around 49 years based on our analysis of 117 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Honda CB400F2?
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 CB400F2?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Honda CB400F2 is 1978 with a 87.6% pass rate across 170 tests.