HONDA CB400SS

399cc Petrol Class 2

#2331 of 5426 overall #333 of 921 HONDAs #100 of 205 naked bikes

85.6%

first-time pass rate

6.7%

failed outright

17,239

median miles at test

568

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2016–2025

The CB400SS's first-time pass rate has risen 15.7 points since 2016, 70.0% to 85.7%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the CB400SS's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage CB400SS passes first time 88.0% of the time; by 30k that's 85.7%.

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 CB400SS

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lamps and reflectors	23	32.9	2.0×
brakes	11	15.7	0.4×
structure and attachments	9	12.9	1.3×
tyres	8	11.4	2.1×
tyres and wheels	5	7.1	0.3×
steering and suspension	4	5.7	0.2×
lighting and signalling	4	5.7	0.1×
Identification of the vehicle	3	4.3	2.3×
suspension	2	2.9	0.5×
wheels	1	1.4	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 CB400SS beats 3 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 CB400SS.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2006 (91.4% pass). Weakest: 2003 (75.9%).

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 CB400SS FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the HONDA CB400SS reliable?

The HONDA CB400SS is about average for its class: 85.6% of its 568 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #2331 of 5426 models.

What does a CB400SS fail its MOT on most?

lamps and reflectors — 33% of all defects recorded against failed CB400SS tests.

What is the best year of CB400SS to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2006-registered examples do best (91.4%) and 2003 worst (75.9%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a CB400SS last?

The median CB400SS shows 17,239 miles at test, and examples around 30k miles still pass 85.7% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.