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Honda CBR400RR Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Honda CBR400RR car check

Is the Honda CBR400RR reliable? We analysed 4,149 real MOT tests across 528 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 4,149 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
80.4%
Typical Mileage
34,500mi
Annual Mileage
605mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
38yrs

The Honda CBR400RR 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 shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Honda CBR400RR.

Honda CBR400RR Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Honda CBR400RR. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Honda CBR400RR MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Honda CBR400RR to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

81.1%
2003
83.8%
2002
80%
2001
85.5%
2000
82.8%
1999
80.2%
1998
81.8%
1997
75.8%
1996
80.7%
1995
81.6%
1994
80.3%
1993
85.4%
1992
81.3%
1991
79.3%
1990
78.1%
1989
75.8%
1988

Honda CBR400RR Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Honda CBR400RR 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 64
Stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies 63
shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil 59
reflector on motorcycle missing 47
Footrest missing 37
Handlebar handgrip not secure to handlebars. 35
wheel bearings have excessive free play 32
Tyre valve stem damaged which could cause sudden tyre deflation 27
Footrest insecure 27
Headlamp aim too low 24

Honda CBR400RR Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Honda CBR400RR owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
170 mi/yr
Typical
605 mi/yr
Average
1,594 mi/yr
Heavy usage
1,746 mi/yr

Honda CBR400RR MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Honda CBR400RR year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2003 95 81.1% 18,510 22,242 34,289
2002 130 83.8% 12,794 23,956 43,814
2001 125 80.0% 18,262 27,075 33,123
2000 262 85.5% 23,692 33,854 47,137
1999 285 82.8% 23,705 30,930 41,754
1998 582 80.2% 25,766 35,458 47,131
1997 548 81.8% 19,032 33,735 45,501
1996 554 75.8% 25,950 35,337 49,566
1995 348 80.7% 26,393 34,904 46,086
1994 185 81.6% 24,493 33,636 47,615
1993 208 80.3% 26,626 35,564 52,007
1992 130 85.4% 24,133 33,998 47,870
1991 139 81.3% 21,612 32,778 50,504
1990 164 79.3% 27,997 39,596 44,462
1989 128 78.1% 31,443 43,638 47,969
1988 186 75.8% 28,575 38,940 49,735

How Long Does a Honda CBR400RR Last?

Based on 528 Honda CBR400RR vehicles on UK roads.

Average
19.4 years
Median
19.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
38 years

Honda CBR400RR Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Honda CBR400RR MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
34,500 mi
75th Percentile
46,272 mi
95th Percentile
66,150 mi
Max Recorded
429,845 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Honda CBR400RR

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

Best year
2000

85.5% MOT pass rate from 262 tests

Year to avoid
1988

75.8% MOT pass rate from 186 tests

The best year to buy a used Honda CBR400RR is 2000, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 85.5% across 262 tests. The 1988 model year has the lowest pass rate at 75.8% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Honda CBR400RR Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Honda CBR400RR THIS CAR 80.4% 4,149 34,500 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
Land Rover R R Evoque R-dyn Hse D MHEV A 89.7% 3,418 27,171 mi — yrs

Compared to the Honda Civic (73.7% pass rate) and the Honda Jazz (81.0% pass rate), the Honda CBR400RR sits in the middle of the pack on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Honda CBR400RR?

The Honda CBR400RR has an overall MOT pass rate of 80.4% across 4,149 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 CBR400RR are tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (64 recorded failures), stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies (63), and shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil (59). 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 CBR400RR owner drives around 605 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 CBR400RR 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 CBR400RR — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Honda CBR400RR reliable?
Based on 4,149 MOT tests, the Honda CBR400RR has a 80.4% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Honda CBR400RR?
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 shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Honda CBR400RR do per year?
The typical Honda CBR400RR does around 605 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Honda CBR400RR last?
Most Honda CBR400RR models stay on UK roads for around 38 years based on our analysis of 528 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Honda CBR400RR?
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 CBR400RR?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Honda CBR400RR is 2000 with a 85.5% pass rate across 262 tests.