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Honda Cbr Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Honda Cbr car check

Is the Honda Cbr reliable? We analysed 98,965 real MOT tests across 15,112 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 98,965 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
85.8%
Typical Mileage
12,603mi
Annual Mileage
978mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
34yrs

The Honda Cbr 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 Cbr.

Honda Cbr Number Plates

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

Honda Cbr MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

92.4%
2020
92.3%
2019
90.1%
2018
87.8%
2017
86.2%
2016
86.1%
2015
86.1%
2014
84.4%
2013
83.3%
2012
87.9%
2011
87.4%
2010
88.3%
2009
83.1%
2008
84.1%
2007
82.9%
2006
75.7%
2005
83.4%
2004
85.5%
2003
86%
2002
82.6%
2001

Honda Cbr Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Honda Cbr 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 504
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 293
shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil 287

Honda Cbr Common Faults & Problems

These are the most common serious faults found on Honda Cbr models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.

Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 896
Brake pad(s) less than 1.0 mm thick 729

Honda Cbr Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
324 mi/yr
Typical
978 mi/yr
Average
1,804 mi/yr
Heavy usage
2,329 mi/yr

Honda Cbr MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2020 105 92.4% 1,701 3,612 7,971
2019 2,519 92.3% 3,153 5,895 10,274
2018 5,363 90.1% 4,032 7,479 12,954
2017 9,116 87.8% 4,927 9,282 15,526
2016 14,931 86.2% 5,348 9,719 16,012
2015 17,644 86.1% 5,904 10,583 17,431
2014 16,788 86.1% 6,229 11,246 18,633
2013 3,633 84.4% 5,824 10,504 17,572
2012 1,008 83.3% 5,612 11,228 18,190
2011 824 87.9% 5,218 9,220 15,176
2010 356 87.4% 5,359 9,552 16,176
2009 721 88.3% 6,277 10,650 17,449
2008 813 83.1% 6,677 13,200 19,137
2007 854 84.1% 6,709 12,145 19,715
2006 648 82.9% 7,882 13,717 21,125
2005 976 75.7% 7,336 13,032 21,453
2004 1,274 83.4% 8,390 15,506 23,248
2003 415 85.5% 10,526 18,548 30,774
2002 888 86.0% 11,594 18,841 28,037
2001 587 82.6% 15,735 22,550 29,283

How Long Does a Honda Cbr Last?

Based on 15,112 Honda Cbr vehicles on UK roads.

Average
9.8 years
Median
9.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
34 years

Honda Cbr Mileage Distribution

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

Median
12,603 mi
75th Percentile
22,704 mi
95th Percentile
44,382 mi
Max Recorded
746,634 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Honda Cbr

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

Best year
2020

92.4% MOT pass rate from 105 tests

Year to avoid
1988

75.4% MOT pass rate from 167 tests

The best year to buy a used Honda Cbr is 2020, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 92.4% across 105 tests. The 1988 model year has the lowest pass rate at 75.4% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Honda Cbr Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Honda Cbr THIS CAR 85.8% 98,965 12,603 mi 34 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
Daewoo Nubira 64.4% 130,499 61,516 mi 29 yrs

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

Found a Honda Cbr you like?

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Should you buy a used Honda Cbr?

The Honda Cbr has an overall MOT pass rate of 85.8% across 98,965 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 Cbr are tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (504 recorded failures), brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (293), and shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil (287). 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.

On the safety side, the most frequently flagged dangerous fault is tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a Honda Cbr with an expired or recently passed MOT, ask the seller whether any dangerous faults were found and fixed during the last test.

A typical Honda Cbr owner drives around 978 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 Cbr models stay on UK roads for around 34 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 Cbr — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Honda Cbr reliable?
Based on 98,965 MOT tests, the Honda Cbr has a 85.8% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Honda Cbr?
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 Cbr do per year?
The typical Honda Cbr does around 978 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Honda Cbr last?
Most Honda Cbr models stay on UK roads for around 34 years based on our analysis of 15,112 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Honda Cbr?
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 Cbr?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Honda Cbr is 2020 with a 92.4% pass rate across 105 tests.