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Honda CB72 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

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Is the Honda CB72 reliable? We analysed 672 real MOT tests across 115 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 672 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
92.3%
Typical Mileage
20,504mi
Annual Mileage
144mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
63yrs

The Honda CB72 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include footrest missing, tyre not fitted in accordance with side wall instruction/s and fuel cap mounting flange/sealing method defective. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Honda CB72.

Honda CB72 Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Honda CB72. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Honda CB72 MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Honda CB72 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

96.7%
1967
90.1%
1966
91.7%
1965
93.7%
1964
92.1%
1963

Honda CB72 Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Honda CB72 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Footrest missing 3
Tyre not fitted in accordance with side wall instruction/s 3
Fuel cap mounting flange/sealing method defective 2
Direction indicator affected by the operation of another lamp 2
position lamp adversely affected by the operation of another lamp 2
Fuel cap does not fasten securely maintaining the sealing arrangement 2
Roller brake test The less effective brake control does not achieve an efficiency of 25%. 1
Wheel alignment incorrect which adversely affects the handling 1

Honda CB72 Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Honda CB72 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
32 mi/yr
Typical
144 mi/yr
Average
542 mi/yr
Heavy usage
364 mi/yr

Honda CB72 MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Honda CB72 year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
1967 60 96.7% 14,702 29,396 33,914
1966 91 90.1% 9,842 17,232 26,560
1965 120 91.7% 6,748 17,566 26,218
1964 95 93.7% 12,610 21,128 28,298
1963 89 92.1% 12,273 21,978 33,584

How Long Does a Honda CB72 Last?

Based on 115 Honda CB72 vehicles on UK roads.

Average
40.7 years
Median
49.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
63 years

Honda CB72 Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Honda CB72 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
20,504 mi
75th Percentile
27,453 mi
95th Percentile
46,544 mi
Max Recorded
60,786 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Honda CB72

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

Best year
1967

96.7% MOT pass rate from 60 tests

Year to avoid
1966

90.1% MOT pass rate from 91 tests

The best year to buy a used Honda CB72 is 1967, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 96.7% across 60 tests. The 1966 model year has the lowest pass rate at 90.1% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Honda CB72 Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Honda CB72 THIS CAR 92.3% 672 20,504 mi 63 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
Peugeot 2008 Allure Blue HDI S/s 92.2% 1,048 64,010 mi — yrs

Compared to the Honda Civic (73.7% pass rate) and the Honda Jazz (81.0% pass rate), the Honda CB72 outperforms both on MOT reliability.

Found a Honda CB72 you like?

Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.

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Should you buy a used Honda CB72?

The Honda CB72 has an overall MOT pass rate of 92.3% across 672 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 CB72 are footrest missing (3 recorded failures), tyre not fitted in accordance with side wall instruction/s (3), and fuel cap mounting flange/sealing method defective (2). 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 CB72 owner drives around 144 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 CB72 models stay on UK roads for around 63 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 CB72 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Honda CB72 reliable?
Based on 672 MOT tests, the Honda CB72 has a 92.3% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Honda CB72?
The most common MOT failures are footrest missing, tyre not fitted in accordance with side wall instruction/s, and fuel cap mounting flange/sealing method defective. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Honda CB72 do per year?
The typical Honda CB72 does around 144 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Honda CB72 last?
Most Honda CB72 models stay on UK roads for around 63 years based on our analysis of 115 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Honda CB72?
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 CB72?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Honda CB72 is 1967 with a 96.7% pass rate across 60 tests.