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Honda CBR600 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Honda CBR600 car check

Is the Honda CBR600 reliable? We analysed 17,884 real MOT tests across 1,788 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 17,884 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
82.5%
Typical Mileage
26,812mi
Annual Mileage
770mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
35yrs

The Honda CBR600 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 stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Honda CBR600.

Honda CBR600 Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Honda CBR600. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Honda CBR600 MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Honda CBR600 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

87.6%
2012
85.2%
2011
85.7%
2010
87.7%
2009
85.2%
2008
89.4%
2007
89.5%
2006
84.8%
2005
84.2%
2004
83.1%
2003
84.2%
2002
83.7%
2001
82.3%
2000
83.9%
1999
83.9%
1998
81.1%
1997
83.1%
1996
83.9%
1995
80.2%
1994
79.7%
1993

Honda CBR600 Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Honda CBR600 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 333
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 226
Stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies 204
shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil 194
Roller brake test indicates a binding brake 141
Tyre valve stem damaged which could cause sudden tyre deflation 107
wheel bearings have excessive free play 95
Headlamp aim beam image kick up to the offside 90
Steering movement excessively 'notchy' with the wheel raised 79
Throttle operating incorrectly 77

Honda CBR600 Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Honda CBR600 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
236 mi/yr
Typical
770 mi/yr
Average
1,624 mi/yr
Heavy usage
1,940 mi/yr

Honda CBR600 MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Honda CBR600 year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2012 105 87.6% 5,733 11,616 17,165
2011 237 85.2% 8,116 18,391 25,470
2010 105 85.7% 7,323 11,324 20,012
2009 138 87.7% 6,846 10,938 15,880
2008 142 85.2% 9,525 16,594 27,624
2007 123 89.4% 6,772 12,588 19,123
2006 209 89.5% 9,047 16,924 23,465
2005 210 84.8% 11,299 16,906 25,858
2004 482 84.2% 11,466 17,183 26,405
2003 403 83.1% 9,390 17,072 25,461
2002 385 84.2% 11,690 17,944 28,616
2001 504 83.7% 11,709 18,378 24,742
2000 548 82.3% 14,028 25,568 40,682
1999 1,059 83.9% 14,286 22,702 33,581
1998 1,637 83.9% 18,420 27,650 37,136
1997 1,903 81.1% 17,648 26,430 38,067
1996 2,718 83.1% 19,681 26,922 36,690
1995 1,987 83.9% 20,614 30,356 40,571
1994 1,643 80.2% 23,802 31,723 41,586
1993 1,186 79.7% 20,905 29,809 37,065

How Long Does a Honda CBR600 Last?

Based on 1,788 Honda CBR600 vehicles on UK roads.

Average
19.7 years
Median
20.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
35 years

Honda CBR600 Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Honda CBR600 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
26,812 mi
75th Percentile
37,794 mi
95th Percentile
59,000 mi
Max Recorded
677,701 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Honda CBR600

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

Best year
2006

89.5% MOT pass rate from 209 tests

Year to avoid
1989

73.6% MOT pass rate from 91 tests

The best year to buy a used Honda CBR600 is 2006, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 89.5% across 209 tests. The 1989 model year has the lowest pass rate at 73.6% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Honda CBR600 Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Honda CBR600 THIS CAR 82.5% 17,884 26,812 mi 35 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
Yamaha Fazer 8 Abs 90.3% 5,653 14,015 mi 16 yrs

Compared to the Honda Civic (73.7% pass rate) and the Honda Jazz (81.0% pass rate), the Honda CBR600 outperforms both on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Honda CBR600?

The Honda CBR600 has an overall MOT pass rate of 82.5% across 17,884 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 CBR600 are tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (333 recorded failures), brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (226), and stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies (204). 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 CBR600 owner drives around 770 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 CBR600 models stay on UK roads for around 35 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 CBR600 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Honda CBR600 reliable?
Based on 17,884 MOT tests, the Honda CBR600 has a 82.5% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Honda CBR600?
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 stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Honda CBR600 do per year?
The typical Honda CBR600 does around 770 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Honda CBR600 last?
Most Honda CBR600 models stay on UK roads for around 35 years based on our analysis of 1,788 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Honda CBR600?
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 CBR600?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Honda CBR600 is 2006 with a 89.5% pass rate across 209 tests.