HONDA CB1

399cc Petrol Class 2

#4210 of 5426 overall #800 of 921 HONDAs #192 of 205 naked bikes

75.8%

first-time pass rate

14.6%

failed outright

35,272

median miles at test

2,637

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

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

The CB1's first-time pass rate has risen 18.1 points since 2005, 71.9% to 90.0%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the CB1's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage CB1 passes first time 86.6% of the time; by 50k that's 71.9%.

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 CB1

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
steering and suspension	264	27.4	2.3×
lighting and signalling	217	22.5	1.4×
brakes	198	20.5	1.2×
tyres and wheels	112	11.6	1.7×
drive system	52	5.4	2.3×
body and structure	36	3.7	2.4×
reg plates and vin	24	2.5	1.3×
fuel and exhaust	22	2.3	0.9×
suspension	22	2.3	0.9×
driving controls	18	1.9	2.9×

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 CB1 beats 0 of its 3 closest rivals (HONDA CB500, HONDA CB400, HONDA CB400N).

HONDA CB500 83.3% pass · 105k tests HONDA CB400 80.9% pass · 9,072 tests HONDA CB400N 77.5% pass · 5,366 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 CB1.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1995 (82.5% pass). Weakest: 1994 (70.0%).

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 CB1 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the HONDA CB1 reliable?

The HONDA CB1 is less reliable than average for its class: 75.8% of its 2,637 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #4210 of 5426 models.

What does a CB1 fail its MOT on most?

steering and suspension — 27% of all defects recorded against failed CB1 tests.

What is the best year of CB1 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1995-registered examples do best (82.5%) and 1994 worst (70.0%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a CB1 last?

The median CB1 shows 35,272 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 71.9% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.