Honda CB900 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Honda CB900 car check
Is the Honda CB900 reliable? We analysed 27,554 real MOT tests across 2,614 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Honda CB900? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Honda CB900 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm, wheel bearings have excessive free play and stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Honda CB900.
Honda CB900 Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Honda CB900. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Honda CB900 MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Honda CB900 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Honda CB900 Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Honda CB900 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Honda CB900 Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Honda CB900 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Honda CB900 MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Honda CB900 year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 170 | 93.5% | 4,146 | 12,029 | 24,048 |
| 2007 | 463 | 87.7% | 9,335 | 16,899 | 24,378 |
| 2006 | 600 | 90.3% | 7,521 | 12,348 | 22,352 |
| 2005 | 1,658 | 86.4% | 10,568 | 17,439 | 26,182 |
| 2004 | 3,046 | 85.9% | 8,728 | 14,954 | 23,836 |
| 2003 | 6,934 | 86.4% | 9,598 | 15,845 | 26,539 |
| 2002 | 8,753 | 84.6% | 11,671 | 19,920 | 30,707 |
| 2001 | 540 | 85.9% | 11,450 | 19,305 | 29,000 |
| 1999 | 54 | 81.5% | 20,180 | 25,708 | 49,432 |
| 1998 | 131 | 85.5% | 19,110 | 34,839 | 49,608 |
| 1997 | 67 | 80.6% | 17,260 | 28,294 | 30,778 |
| 1996 | 79 | 82.3% | 18,640 | 27,080 | 56,185 |
| 1995 | 69 | 79.7% | 24,376 | 33,019 | 47,878 |
| 1985 | 132 | 90.2% | 27,255 | 33,234 | 45,514 |
| 1984 | 384 | 84.4% | 22,175 | 32,946 | 39,786 |
| 1983 | 279 | 85.3% | 21,818 | 32,656 | 40,287 |
| 1982 | 910 | 82.4% | 21,793 | 32,655 | 41,793 |
| 1981 | 1,336 | 84.7% | 25,826 | 36,472 | 46,016 |
| 1980 | 955 | 83.6% | 23,092 | 32,346 | 42,310 |
| 1979 | 567 | 84.7% | 18,404 | 28,219 | 41,083 |
How Long Does a Honda CB900 Last?
Based on 2,614 Honda CB900 vehicles on UK roads.
Honda CB900 Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Honda CB900 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.
Best Year to Buy a Used Honda CB900
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
93.5% MOT pass rate from 170 tests
79.7% MOT pass rate from 69 tests
The best year to buy a used Honda CB900 is 2008, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 93.5% across 170 tests. The 1995 model year has the lowest pass rate at 79.7% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Honda CB900 Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honda CB900 THIS CAR | 85.5% | 27,554 | 19,854 mi | 47 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 |
| Ford F150 | 80.8% | 16,119 | 75,465 mi | 33 yrs |
Compared to the Honda Civic (73.7% pass rate) and the Honda Jazz (81.0% pass rate), the Honda CB900 outperforms both on MOT reliability.
Found a Honda CB900 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.
Check a specific Honda CB900Should you buy a used Honda CB900?
The Honda CB900 has an overall MOT pass rate of 85.5% across 27,554 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 CB900 are tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (312 recorded failures), wheel bearings have excessive free play (164), and stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies (161). 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 CB900 owner drives around 814 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 CB900 models stay on UK roads for around 47 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.