BIKERELIABILITY Reg check
League table/ HONDA/CBF 1000 A-7
Model report · 2005–2025

Data as of: DVSA MOT results to 2025

HONDA CBF 1000 A-7

998cc Petrol Class 2
#1787 of 5428 overall #231 of 920 HONDAs #1085 of 2788 other bikes
87.4%
first-time pass rate
6.8%
failed outright
18,419
median miles at test
9,358
MOT tests, 2005–2025
+3.1pp
vs expected · age & mileage

The pass rate is the MOT first-time pass: a roadworthiness check of the items an MOT covers (brakes, lights, tyres, steering, structure, emissions), not a full mechanical inspection of engine or gearbox internals. It is a reliability signal, not a complete measure of mechanical reliability. What this measures.

“vs expected” adjusts for age, mileage and test class, so a cherished classic and a hard-used commuter are compared fairly. How this works.

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2009–2025

The CBF 1000 A-7's first-time pass rate has fallen 5.1 points since 2009, 88.4% to 83.3%.

82%86%90%2009: 88.4% pass (43 tests)2010: 88.2% pass (542 tests)2011: 86.8% pass (733 tests)2012: 88.0% pass (724 tests)2013: 88.0% pass (725 tests)2014: 88.1% pass (729 tests)2015: 89.0% pass (709 tests)2016: 88.0% pass (677 tests)2017: 86.7% pass (655 tests)2018: 88.3% pass (497 tests)2019: 85.9% pass (496 tests)2020: 87.7% pass (413 tests)2021: 88.6% pass (545 tests)2022: 87.4% pass (532 tests)2023: 87.3% pass (511 tests)2024: 85.1% pass (403 tests)2025: 83.3% pass (424 tests)20092025

Pass rate by mileage

how the CBF 1000 A-7's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage CBF 1000 A-7 passes first time 91.8% of the time; by 50k that's 81.5%.

79%87%94%0k: 91.8% pass (2,098 tests)10k: 88.4% pass (3,007 tests)20k: 86.2% pass (2,110 tests)30k: 83.5% pass (1,088 tests)40k: 81.8% pass (528 tests)50k: 81.5% pass (287 tests)0k30k50k

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 1000 A-7

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded
Component group Share of defects Defects % of defects vs all bikes
brakes
310 28.7 0.6×
lighting and signalling
198 18.3 0.4×
lamps and reflectors
126 11.7 0.7×
steering and suspension
121 11.2 0.4×
tyres and wheels
95 8.8 0.4×
suspension
61 5.6 0.8×
tyres
60 5.6 0.8×
structure and attachments
51 4.7 0.6×
steering
31 2.9 0.7×
drive system
27 2.5 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 1000 A-7 beats 2 of its 4 closest rivals (BMW R1200, BMW R1150, TRIUMPH SPRINT).

BMW R1200 92.9% pass · 299k tests Compare head-to-head →
BMW R1150 88.5% pass · 171k tests Compare head-to-head →
TRIUMPH SPRINT 85.6% pass · 133k tests Compare head-to-head →
SUZUKI GSF1200 82.4% pass · 97.6k tests Compare head-to-head →

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 1000 A-7.

Compare with any bike

rival not listed above? pick any model to see it head-to-head with the CBF 1000 A-7

More HONDA models

other HONDA bikes ranked by MOT pass rate
HONDA CBR600F 81.7% pass · 202k tests
HONDA CBR900RR 83.2% pass · 166k tests
HONDA CBR1100XX 87.1% pass · 105k tests
HONDA CB500 83.3% pass · 105k tests
HONDA C90 79.3% pass · 92.8k tests
HONDA VFR800 FI 86.7% pass · 89.4k tests

See all HONDA models →

Pass rate by registration year

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

Highest pass rate: 2009 (91.8%). Lowest: 2010 (85.2%). Every CBF 1000 A-7 year compared →

84%89%93%2006: 85.5% pass (654 tests)2007: 87.3% pass (6,042 tests)2008: 87.8% pass (2,369 tests)2009: 91.8% pass (231 tests)2010: 85.2% pass (54 tests)200620082010

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 1000 A-7 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the HONDA CBF 1000 A-7 reliable?

The HONDA CBF 1000 A-7 is more reliable than average for its class: 87.4% of its 9,358 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #1787 of 5428 models.

What does a CBF 1000 A-7 fail its MOT on most?

brakes: 29% of all defects recorded against failed CBF 1000 A-7 tests.

What is the best year of CBF 1000 A-7 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2009-registered examples do best (91.8%) and 2010 worst (85.2%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a CBF 1000 A-7 last?

The median CBF 1000 A-7 shows 18,419 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 81.5% of the time, so mileage alone rarely decides the result.

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