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Honda CB600 Hornet Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Honda CB600 Hornet car check

Is the Honda CB600 Hornet reliable? We analysed 32,894 real MOT tests across 2,748 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 32,894 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
82.1%
Typical Mileage
21,709mi
Annual Mileage
875mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
28yrs

The Honda CB600 Hornet 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 reflector on motorcycle missing. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Honda CB600 Hornet.

Honda CB600 Hornet Number Plates

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

Honda CB600 Hornet MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

88.9%
2008
84.3%
2007
90.2%
2005
86.7%
2003
82.3%
2002
83.3%
2001
82.9%
2000
81.4%
1999
80.9%
1998

Honda CB600 Hornet Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Honda CB600 Hornet 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 563
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 374
reflector on motorcycle missing 320
Stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies 289
shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil 238
Roller brake test indicates a binding brake 186
Drive chain excessively loose 168
Direction indicator not working 123
Throttle operating incorrectly 118
wheel bearings have excessive free play 107

Honda CB600 Hornet Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
277 mi/yr
Typical
875 mi/yr
Average
1,687 mi/yr
Heavy usage
2,153 mi/yr

Honda CB600 Hornet MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2008 72 88.9% 13,744 20,693 28,502
2007 70 84.3% 13,098 18,027 23,206
2005 61 90.2% 5,519 17,187 20,768
2003 120 86.7% 10,708 17,474 22,434
2002 735 82.3% 9,715 14,970 28,675
2001 6,783 83.3% 11,597 18,552 27,905
2000 3,976 82.9% 13,416 21,079 30,335
1999 12,157 81.4% 14,458 22,402 32,398
1998 8,302 80.9% 15,470 23,582 33,455

How Long Does a Honda CB600 Hornet Last?

Based on 2,748 Honda CB600 Hornet vehicles on UK roads.

Average
18.2 years
Median
19.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
28 years

Honda CB600 Hornet Mileage Distribution

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

Median
21,709 mi
75th Percentile
31,559 mi
95th Percentile
50,153 mi
Max Recorded
787,861 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Honda CB600 Hornet

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

Best year
2005

90.2% MOT pass rate from 61 tests

Year to avoid
1998

80.9% MOT pass rate from 8,302 tests

The best year to buy a used Honda CB600 Hornet is 2005, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 90.2% across 61 tests. The 1998 model year has the lowest pass rate at 80.9% — 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 Hornet Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Honda CB600 Hornet THIS CAR 82.1% 32,894 21,709 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
Citroen Bx 64.9% 40,178 117,676 mi 40 yrs

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

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Should you buy a used Honda CB600 Hornet?

The Honda CB600 Hornet has an overall MOT pass rate of 82.1% across 32,894 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 Hornet are tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (563 recorded failures), brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (374), and reflector on motorcycle missing (320). 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 Hornet owner drives around 875 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 Hornet 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 Hornet — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Honda CB600 Hornet reliable?
Based on 32,894 MOT tests, the Honda CB600 Hornet has a 82.1% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Honda CB600 Hornet?
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 reflector on motorcycle missing. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Honda CB600 Hornet do per year?
The typical Honda CB600 Hornet does around 875 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Honda CB600 Hornet last?
Most Honda CB600 Hornet models stay on UK roads for around 28 years based on our analysis of 2,748 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Honda CB600 Hornet?
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 Hornet?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Honda CB600 Hornet is 2005 with a 90.2% pass rate across 61 tests.