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Honda CB600 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Honda CB600 car check

Is the Honda CB600 reliable? We analysed 51,340 real MOT tests across 4,424 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 51,340 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
84.4%
Typical Mileage
19,411mi
Annual Mileage
929mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
28yrs

The Honda CB600 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 shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Honda CB600.

Honda CB600 Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Honda CB600. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Honda CB600 MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Honda CB600 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

85.5%
2012
87.5%
2011
89%
2010
85.8%
2009
88.4%
2008
87.4%
2007
87%
2006
84.3%
2005
85.6%
2004
85.8%
2003
85.7%
2002
85.1%
2001
84.4%
2000
81.3%
1999
80.2%
1998
84.5%
1997
80%
1993

Honda CB600 Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Honda CB600 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 773
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 476
shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil 379
Stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies 332
reflector on motorcycle missing 297
Drive chain excessively loose 246
Roller brake test indicates a binding brake 185
Steering movement excessively 'notchy' with the wheel raised 152
wheel bearings have excessive free play 137

Honda CB600 Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Honda CB600 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
295 mi/yr
Typical
929 mi/yr
Average
1,789 mi/yr
Heavy usage
2,300 mi/yr

Honda CB600 MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Honda CB600 year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2012 186 85.5% 8,554 15,418 22,368
2011 343 87.5% 8,350 15,872 27,056
2010 846 89.0% 7,436 13,925 25,453
2009 985 85.8% 7,542 13,521 23,650
2008 2,001 88.4% 7,735 14,982 24,885
2007 2,549 87.4% 8,910 15,573 27,004
2006 1,658 87.0% 7,591 14,016 24,920
2005 1,527 84.3% 8,552 16,472 29,994
2004 1,946 85.6% 8,710 17,092 27,090
2003 5,249 85.8% 9,724 16,861 26,892
2002 6,785 85.7% 10,726 18,047 27,882
2001 7,167 85.1% 11,609 19,213 29,084
2000 5,093 84.4% 12,920 21,588 31,254
1999 8,418 81.3% 13,870 22,241 32,404
1998 6,156 80.2% 15,814 24,076 33,860
1997 58 84.5% 15,940 30,718 38,140
1993 90 80.0% 27,451 31,486 59,500

How Long Does a Honda CB600 Last?

Based on 4,424 Honda CB600 vehicles on UK roads.

Average
15.9 years
Median
17.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
28 years

Honda CB600 Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Honda CB600 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
19,411 mi
75th Percentile
29,876 mi
95th Percentile
49,354 mi
Max Recorded
516,937 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Honda CB600

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

Best year
2010

89.0% MOT pass rate from 846 tests

Year to avoid
1993

80.0% MOT pass rate from 90 tests

The best year to buy a used Honda CB600 is 2010, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 89.0% across 846 tests. The 1993 model year has the lowest pass rate at 80.0% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Honda CB600 Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Honda CB600 THIS CAR 84.4% 51,340 19,411 mi 28 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
Alfa Romeo Gtv 65.7% 93,802 80,546 mi 30 yrs

Compared to the Honda Civic (73.7% pass rate) and the Honda Jazz (81.0% pass rate), the Honda CB600 outperforms both on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Honda CB600?

The Honda CB600 has an overall MOT pass rate of 84.4% across 51,340 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 CB600 are tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (773 recorded failures), brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (476), and shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil (379). 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 CB600 owner drives around 929 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 CB600 models stay on UK roads for around 28 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 CB600 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Honda CB600 reliable?
Based on 51,340 MOT tests, the Honda CB600 has a 84.4% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Honda CB600?
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 shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Honda CB600 do per year?
The typical Honda CB600 does around 929 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Honda CB600 last?
Most Honda CB600 models stay on UK roads for around 28 years based on our analysis of 4,424 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Honda CB600?
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 CB600?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Honda CB600 is 2010 with a 89.0% pass rate across 846 tests.