Honda
11,446 MOT tests analysed. sits above the UK fleet average — here's where CBs pass, fail, and end up on the retest sheet.
That's 13.3 points above the UK fleet average across our 1,984 tracked models — a confident result.
Pass
90.8%
Pass-after-fix
3.8%
Fail
5.3%
Avg miles
15,729
Pass + Pass-after-fix + Fail = 100%
Trim variants
Performance by cohort
2 year bands · 11,430 tests
Pass rate climbs 2.8 points across the cohorts — newer CB examples clear the test more reliably than the early cars.
Pass
90.1%
Fail
5.7%
PRS
4.1%
Avg mileage at test
17,446 mi
Pass
92.9%
Fail
3.9%
PRS
2.9%
Avg mileage at test
10,226 mi
Cohort = vehicle's first-registration year band. Same model, different generations of build.
The picture
Across 8,636 MOT tests, the Cb returns 91.1% first-time pass — comfortably ahead of the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is tyre tread under the limit. A non-functioning shock absorber and brake pads worn below 1.0 mm round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 14,447, which is the lens to read those failure rankings through. If you own one and the next test is close, the ranked list below is a sensible pre-test checklist.
ABI Insurance Group
Below the fleet average — generally reasonable to insure. Lower groups cost less to insure; UK fleet average is around Group 22.
Source: ABI Group Rating Panel · administered by Thatcham Research · groups cover standard variants; performance trims may sit higher. Browse all insurance groups →
10–26
out of 50
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Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
104 occurrences · 0.9% of tests
A shock absorber not functioning or leaking severely
76 occurrences · 0.7% of tests
Brake lining or pad worn below 1.0mm
68 occurrences · 0.6% of tests
Excessive fluctuation in brake effort through each wheel revolution
39 occurrences · 0.3% of tests
A transmission belt, chain, sprocket or pulley excessively loose or worn
26 occurrences · 0.2% of tests
A wheel bearing with excessive play
26 occurrences · 0.2% of tests
Number plate does not conform to the specified requirements
23 occurrences · 0.2% of tests
Rate of flashing not between 60 and 120 times per minute
19 occurrences · 0.2% of tests
Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
16 occurrences · 0.1% of tests
Reflector missing or reflecting white to the rear
16 occurrences · 0.1% of tests
Counts cover Major and Dangerous defects logged at test. Advisory items excluded so this shows why a car was rejected, not just what the tester flagged in passing.
Worst-case fix budget · top 2 failures
£140–£255
If every one of this CB's most-logged Major fails hit at the same MOT, that's the real-world UK garage range. Reality is usually one or two items, not all of them. Open the estimator →
Try the calculator
Build your own retest budget.
Year-band analysis
First-time MOT pass rate split by registration band. A 2.8-point gap between bands is modest — the year you buy Honda CB makes a small but real difference to MOT outcomes.
Best band to buy
92.9%
2018–2020 registration
the 2018–2020 band climbs to 92.9% — a 2.8-point improvement. Tests in this band average 10,226 miles — roughly 7K miles fewer on the clock than the older band. Failures here are mostly wear items: tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm, less than 1.0 mm thick — the structural issues that drag down older examples don't appear in the top-10 for this band. The stricter post-2018 MOT test rules meant manufacturers had to tighten up emissions and electrical checks, but this band still shows far fewer major failures on suspension and bodywork than the older fleet.
Band to be cautious about
90.1%
Pre-2018 registration
On the older band (pre-2018), the data shows a 90.1% pass rate against a fleet average of 92.9% on the newer band. The main culprits logged at test: tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm, has a serious fluid leak, and less than 1.0 mm thick. Average mileage on test for this band is 17,446 miles — high-mileage wear items are a recurring theme.
Best band to buy: 2018-2020 (92.9% first-time pass). Worst band to avoid: pre-2018 (90.1% pass). That's a 2.8-point spread across 8,727 older tests and 2,703 newer ones — year of build makes a material difference on this model.
Picked against this car's top failure patterns. Affiliate links to Amazon UK — we earn a small cut at no cost to you. Disclosed up-front, doesn't shape the data.
Item 01 · Amazon UK
Digital tyre-tread depth gauge
Five quid for a gauge beats £150 for a retest. UK MOT minimum is 1.6mm — most testers fail anything below 2mm to be safe.
Search Amazon UK
Item 02 · Amazon UK
Brake pad measurement gauge
Testers fail pads under 1.5mm. A wear gauge tells you if you've got two months left or two weeks.
Search Amazon UK
My Motor World · affiliate
Affiliate links — small commission, no extra cost to you.
Draper
Draper Drain Plug Key, 3/8 Square x 3/8 Sq. Dr.
£15.39
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Hycote
Hycote Honda Nighthawk Black Pearlescent Double Acrylic Spray Paint 150ml
£6.59
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Hycote
Hycote Honda Milano Red Double Acrylic Spray Paint 150ml
£6.59
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Hycote
Hycote Honda Satin Silver Metallic Double Acrylic Spray Paint 150ml
£6.59
View at My Motor World →
Click Mechanic · affiliate
Affiliate links — small commission, no extra cost to you.
Mobile mechanic · UK-wide
Book a mechanic at your door.
Fixed-price quotes upfront. No garage needed. Click Mechanic sends a vetted local mechanic to you — home, work, or roadside.
Use the failure ranking as a pre-test checklist or a haggling lever. Treat the headline pass rate as a fleet-wide trend, not a guarantee on any individual car.
If you own a CB and your last MOT looked nothing like the ranked failures above, that's normal — individual cars vary widely. The ranking shows the patterns testers flag most often across the country.
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