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Honda Cbr 900 RR-3 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Honda Cbr 900 RR-3 car check

Is the Honda Cbr 900 RR-3 reliable? We analysed 702 real MOT tests across 111 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 702 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
90.0%
Typical Mileage
14,366mi
Annual Mileage
817mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
23yrs

The Honda Cbr 900 RR-3 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies, reflector on motorcycle missing and shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Honda Cbr 900 RR-3.

Honda Cbr 900 RR-3 Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Honda Cbr 900 RR-3. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Honda Cbr 900 RR-3 MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Honda Cbr 900 RR-3 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

94.9%
2004
88.6%
2003

Honda Cbr 900 RR-3 Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Honda Cbr 900 RR-3 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies 6
reflector on motorcycle missing 5
shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil 5
Steering movement excessively 'notchy' with the wheel raised 4
Drive chain excessively loose 4
Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 4
Exhaust noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar motor bicycle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition 3
Brake pad(s) contaminated by oil or grease 2
wheel bearings have excessive free play 2

Honda Cbr 900 RR-3 Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Honda Cbr 900 RR-3 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
266 mi/yr
Typical
817 mi/yr
Average
1,513 mi/yr
Heavy usage
1,793 mi/yr

Honda Cbr 900 RR-3 MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Honda Cbr 900 RR-3 year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2004 79 94.9% 6,414 9,507 14,785
2003 554 88.6% 8,376 13,942 21,784

Honda Cbr 900 RR-3 Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Honda Cbr 900 RR-3 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
14,366 mi
75th Percentile
22,203 mi
95th Percentile
36,280 mi
Max Recorded
49,640 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Honda Cbr 900 RR-3

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

Best year
2004

94.9% MOT pass rate from 79 tests

Year to avoid
2003

88.6% MOT pass rate from 554 tests

The best year to buy a used Honda Cbr 900 RR-3 is 2004, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 94.9% across 79 tests. The 2003 model year has the lowest pass rate at 88.6% — 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 RR-3 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 RR-3 THIS CAR 90.0% 702 14,366 mi 23 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
Man Tge 3.180 4X4 85.7% 797 70,161 mi — yrs

Compared to the Honda Civic (73.7% pass rate) and the Honda Jazz (81.0% pass rate), the Honda Cbr 900 RR-3 outperforms both on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Honda Cbr 900 RR-3?

The Honda Cbr 900 RR-3 has an overall MOT pass rate of 90.0% across 702 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 RR-3 are stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies (6 recorded failures), reflector on motorcycle missing (5), and shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil (5). 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 RR-3 owner drives around 817 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 RR-3 models stay on UK roads for around 23 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 RR-3 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Honda Cbr 900 RR-3 reliable?
Based on 702 MOT tests, the Honda Cbr 900 RR-3 has a 90.0% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Honda Cbr 900 RR-3?
The most common MOT failures are stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies, reflector on motorcycle missing, and shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Honda Cbr 900 RR-3 do per year?
The typical Honda Cbr 900 RR-3 does around 817 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Honda Cbr 900 RR-3 last?
Most Honda Cbr 900 RR-3 models stay on UK roads for around 23 years based on our analysis of 111 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Honda Cbr 900 RR-3?
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 RR-3?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Honda Cbr 900 RR-3 is 2004 with a 94.9% pass rate across 79 tests.