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Honda Cbr 400 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Honda Cbr 400 car check

Is the Honda Cbr 400 reliable? We analysed 1,933 real MOT tests across 265 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 1,933 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
79.7%
Typical Mileage
31,749mi
Annual Mileage
463mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
38yrs

The Honda Cbr 400 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include reflector on motorcycle missing, tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm and shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Honda Cbr 400.

Honda Cbr 400 Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Honda Cbr 400. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Honda Cbr 400 MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Honda Cbr 400 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

85.5%
2003
81.7%
2000
78.1%
1999
78.7%
1998
79.2%
1997
74.3%
1996
88.2%
1995
81.4%
1994
77.3%
1993
81.8%
1992
74%
1991
81.8%
1990
87.1%
1988

Honda Cbr 400 Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Honda Cbr 400 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

reflector on motorcycle missing 40
Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 38
shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil 33
Stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies 27
Roller brake test indicates a binding brake 25
wheel bearings have excessive free play 19
Footrest missing 14
Headlamp aim too high 14
Handlebar handgrip not secure to handlebars. 13
Footrest insecure 12

Honda Cbr 400 Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Honda Cbr 400 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
127 mi/yr
Typical
463 mi/yr
Average
1,298 mi/yr
Heavy usage
1,298 mi/yr

Honda Cbr 400 MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Honda Cbr 400 year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2003 55 85.5% 24,623 28,632 41,689
2000 104 81.7% 29,966 35,995 55,285
1999 187 78.1% 17,032 21,898 29,856
1998 221 78.7% 21,319 27,683 41,137
1997 288 79.2% 21,594 30,814 47,083
1996 214 74.3% 27,665 36,266 47,618
1995 119 88.2% 22,276 31,288 50,273
1994 118 81.4% 17,511 38,498 53,117
1993 110 77.3% 33,624 41,168 50,161
1992 77 81.8% 16,289 30,486 51,744
1991 100 74.0% 24,423 36,068 55,254
1990 77 81.8% 23,102 45,684 62,989
1988 62 87.1% 25,025 28,518 48,376

How Long Does a Honda Cbr 400 Last?

Based on 265 Honda Cbr 400 vehicles on UK roads.

Average
18.4 years
Median
18.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
38 years

Honda Cbr 400 Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Honda Cbr 400 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
31,749 mi
75th Percentile
46,632 mi
95th Percentile
65,546 mi
Max Recorded
715,076 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Honda Cbr 400

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

Best year
1995

88.2% MOT pass rate from 119 tests

Year to avoid
1991

74.0% MOT pass rate from 100 tests

The best year to buy a used Honda Cbr 400 is 1995, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 88.2% across 119 tests. The 1991 model year has the lowest pass rate at 74.0% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Honda Cbr 400 Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Honda Cbr 400 THIS CAR 79.7% 1,933 31,749 mi 38 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
Fso Cars Caro 66.5% 606 48,913 mi 32 yrs

Compared to the Honda Civic (73.7% pass rate) and the Honda Jazz (81.0% pass rate), the Honda Cbr 400 sits in the middle of the pack on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Honda Cbr 400?

The Honda Cbr 400 has an overall MOT pass rate of 79.7% across 1,933 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 400 are reflector on motorcycle missing (40 recorded failures), tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (38), and shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil (33). 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 Cbr 400 owner drives around 463 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 400 models stay on UK roads for around 38 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 400 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Honda Cbr 400 reliable?
Based on 1,933 MOT tests, the Honda Cbr 400 has a 79.7% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Honda Cbr 400?
The most common MOT failures are reflector on motorcycle missing, tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm, and shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Honda Cbr 400 do per year?
The typical Honda Cbr 400 does around 463 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Honda Cbr 400 last?
Most Honda Cbr 400 models stay on UK roads for around 38 years based on our analysis of 265 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Honda Cbr 400?
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 400?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Honda Cbr 400 is 1995 with a 88.2% pass rate across 119 tests.