HONDA C70

72cc Petrol Class 1

#3318 of 5426 overall #567 of 921 HONDAs #76 of 734 commuter bikes

81.3%

first-time pass rate

10.6%

failed outright

12,926

median miles at test

4,509

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2005–2025

The C70's first-time pass rate has risen 7.4 points since 2005, 75.9% to 83.3%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the C70's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 73.4%

A low-mileage C70 passes first time 84.2% of the time; by 50k that's 83.9%.

First-time pass rate by odometer reading at test, 10,000-mile bands for this model. Mileage is the strongest reliability signal. See the full curve.

What fails on a C70

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	608	44.3	1.4×
steering and suspension	210	15.3	1.1×
tyres and wheels	158	11.5	1.4×
brakes	151	11	0.6×
lamps and reflectors	57	4.2	0.5×
body and structure	55	4	2.1×
drive system	44	3.2	1.1×
reg plates and vin	33	2.4	1.0×
fuel and exhaust	30	2.2	0.8×
structure and attachments	25	1.8	0.6×

Defects recorded against failed normal tests, 2005–2025, grouped by DVSA inspection section. One test can record multiple defects. "vs all bikes" is how often this model's tests record a defect in the group, as a multiple of the all-bike rate.

How rivals compare

same type, similar capacity, high test volume

On first-time pass rate the C70 beats 1 of its 1 closest rivals (HONDA C90).

HONDA C90 79.3% pass · 92.8k tests

Rivals share this bike's type and sit within ±30% of its engine capacity, ≥ 5,000 tests. Card colour = better/worse first-time pass rate than the C70.

Pass rate by registration year

how each model-year cohort fares · registration year from first use date

Best year to buy used: 1974 (88.5% pass). Weakest: 1976 (75.6%).

First-time pass rate by the year each bike was first registered (cohorts with ≥ 50 tests). Older cohorts are survivors: the worst examples have already left the road, which tends to lift the earliest years.

HONDA C70 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the HONDA C70 reliable?

The HONDA C70 is more reliable than average for its class: 81.3% of its 4,509 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 73.4%. That ranks it #3318 of 5426 models.

What does a C70 fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 44% of all defects recorded against failed C70 tests.

What is the best year of C70 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1974-registered examples do best (88.5%) and 1976 worst (75.6%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a C70 last?

The median C70 shows 12,926 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 83.9% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.