HONDA CBF

998cc Petrol Class 2

#1047 of 5426 overall #120 of 921 HONDAs #641 of 2787 other bikes

89.7%

first-time pass rate

5.8%

failed outright

13,188

median miles at test

7,568

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2008–2025

The CBF's first-time pass rate has risen 12.8 points since 2008, 78.1% to 90.9%.

Pass rate by mileage

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

A low-mileage CBF passes first time 93.5% of the time; by 50k that's 78.4%.

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 CBF

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
brakes	212	28	0.5×
lamps and reflectors	115	15.2	0.8×
lighting and signalling	89	11.8	0.2×
tyres	73	9.7	1.2×
steering and suspension	65	8.6	0.2×
suspension	57	7.5	1.0×
structure and attachments	43	5.7	0.7×
steering	42	5.6	1.2×
tyres and wheels	38	5	0.2×
drive system	22	2.9	0.3×

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 CBF beats 3 of its 4 closest rivals (BMW R1200, BMW R1150, TRIUMPH SPRINT).

BMW R1200 92.9% pass · 299k tests BMW R1150 88.5% pass · 171k tests TRIUMPH SPRINT 85.6% pass · 133k tests SUZUKI GSF1200 82.4% pass · 97.6k 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 CBF.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2017 (96.9% pass). Weakest: 1998 (80.0%).

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 CBF FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the HONDA CBF reliable?

The HONDA CBF is more reliable than average for its class: 89.7% of its 7,568 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #1047 of 5426 models.

What does a CBF fail its MOT on most?

brakes — 28% of all defects recorded against failed CBF tests.

What is the best year of CBF to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2017-registered examples do best (96.9%) and 1998 worst (80.0%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a CBF last?

The median CBF shows 13,188 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 78.4% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.