HONDA CB SEVEN FIFTY

747cc Petrol Class 2

#3557 of 5426 overall #628 of 921 HONDAs #2263 of 2787 other bikes

80.1%

first-time pass rate

12.8%

failed outright

25,613

median miles at test

6,950

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2005–2020

The CB SEVEN FIFTY's first-time pass rate has risen 3.1 points since 2005, 82.4% to 85.5%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the CB SEVEN FIFTY's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage CB SEVEN FIFTY passes first time 87.8% of the time; by 50k that's 74.6%.

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 CB SEVEN FIFTY

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
brakes	597	29.9	1.4×
steering and suspension	454	22.8	1.6×
lighting and signalling	399	20	1.0×
tyres and wheels	210	10.5	1.3×
drive system	105	5.3	1.5×
fuel and exhaust	88	4.4	1.6×
driving controls	44	2.2	2.6×
body and structure	41	2.1	1.1×
lamps and reflectors	33	1.7	0.1×
structure and attachments	24	1.2	0.4×

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 CB SEVEN FIFTY beats 2 of its 4 closest rivals (KAWASAKI ZX-6R, SUZUKI GSF600, YAMAHA FZS600).

KAWASAKI ZX-6R 78.1% pass · 174k tests SUZUKI GSF600 77.3% pass · 143k tests YAMAHA FZS600 82.6% pass · 137k tests TRIUMPH SPRINT 85.6% pass · 133k 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 CB SEVEN FIFTY.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1971 (91.8% pass). Weakest: 1981 (77.0%).

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 CB SEVEN FIFTY FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the HONDA CB SEVEN FIFTY reliable?

The HONDA CB SEVEN FIFTY is less reliable than average for its class: 80.1% of its 6,950 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #3557 of 5426 models.

What does a CB SEVEN FIFTY fail its MOT on most?

brakes — 30% of all defects recorded against failed CB SEVEN FIFTY tests.

What is the best year of CB SEVEN FIFTY to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1971-registered examples do best (91.8%) and 1981 worst (77.0%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a CB SEVEN FIFTY last?

The median CB SEVEN FIFTY shows 25,613 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 74.6% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.