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Honda Cbr 900 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Honda Cbr 900 car check

Is the Honda Cbr 900 reliable? We analysed 1,814 real MOT tests across 166 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 1,814 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
84.9%
Typical Mileage
27,884mi
Annual Mileage
685mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
34yrs

The Honda Cbr 900 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm, stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies and brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Honda Cbr 900.

Honda Cbr 900 Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Honda Cbr 900. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Honda Cbr 900 MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Honda Cbr 900 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

82.5%
2000
81.8%
1999
86.1%
1998
82.1%
1997
86.5%
1996
85.4%
1995
84.7%
1994
81.6%
1993
85.3%
1992

Honda Cbr 900 Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Honda Cbr 900 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 23
Stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies 22
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 15
shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil 15
reflector on motorcycle missing 13
Drive chain excessively loose 11
wheel bearings have excessive free play 10
Steering movement excessively 'notchy' with the wheel raised 9
wheel bearings have excessive free play 8
Footrest insecure 7

Honda Cbr 900 Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Honda Cbr 900 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
224 mi/yr
Typical
685 mi/yr
Average
1,403 mi/yr
Heavy usage
1,662 mi/yr

Honda Cbr 900 MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Honda Cbr 900 year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2000 57 82.5% 11,395 14,752 35,081
1999 143 81.8% 16,122 24,268 30,534
1998 201 86.1% 21,552 28,311 38,377
1997 218 82.1% 13,919 21,042 26,784
1996 496 86.5% 19,448 25,172 36,392
1995 130 85.4% 25,816 32,598 45,213
1994 170 84.7% 28,124 34,300 40,271
1993 185 81.6% 26,384 35,768 48,650
1992 95 85.3% 32,715 39,859 78,720

How Long Does a Honda Cbr 900 Last?

Based on 166 Honda Cbr 900 vehicles on UK roads.

Average
21.8 years
Median
22.5 years
Estimated max lifespan
34 years

Honda Cbr 900 Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Honda Cbr 900 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
27,884 mi
75th Percentile
38,097 mi
95th Percentile
62,540 mi
Max Recorded
888,888 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Honda Cbr 900

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

Best year
1996

86.5% MOT pass rate from 496 tests

Year to avoid
1993

81.6% MOT pass rate from 185 tests

The best year to buy a used Honda Cbr 900 is 1996, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 86.5% across 496 tests. The 1993 model year has the lowest pass rate at 81.6% — 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 900 Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Honda Cbr 900 THIS CAR 84.9% 1,814 27,884 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
BMW 325D M Sport 76% 721 134,184 mi — yrs

Compared to the Honda Civic (73.7% pass rate) and the Honda Jazz (81.0% pass rate), the Honda Cbr 900 outperforms both on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Honda Cbr 900?

The Honda Cbr 900 has an overall MOT pass rate of 84.9% across 1,814 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 900 are tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (23 recorded failures), stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies (22), and brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (15). 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 900 owner drives around 685 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 900 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 900 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Honda Cbr 900 reliable?
Based on 1,814 MOT tests, the Honda Cbr 900 has a 84.9% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Honda Cbr 900?
The most common MOT failures are tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm, stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies, and brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Honda Cbr 900 do per year?
The typical Honda Cbr 900 does around 685 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Honda Cbr 900 last?
Most Honda Cbr 900 models stay on UK roads for around 34 years based on our analysis of 166 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Honda Cbr 900?
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 900?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Honda Cbr 900 is 1996 with a 86.5% pass rate across 496 tests.