HONDA CBR400RR

399cc Petrol Class 2

#4134 of 5426 overall #788 of 921 HONDAs #193 of 226 sport bikes

76.4%

first-time pass rate

15.7%

failed outright

32,214

median miles at test

4,468

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

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

The CBR400RR's first-time pass rate has risen 8.1 points since 2005, 73.6% to 81.7%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the CBR400RR's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage CBR400RR passes first time 87.6% of the time; by 50k that's 75.7%.

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 CBR400RR

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	477	27.5	1.6×
steering and suspension	368	21.2	2.0×
brakes	293	16.9	1.1×
tyres and wheels	167	9.6	1.6×
body and structure	97	5.6	3.0×
fuel and exhaust	80	4.6	2.2×
reg plates and vin	77	4.4	2.3×
lamps and reflectors	73	4.2	0.8×
drive system	52	3	1.3×
structure and attachments	49	2.8	1.0×

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 CBR400RR beats 1 of its 1 closest rivals (HONDA CBR400).

HONDA CBR400 74.0% pass · 7,949 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 CBR400RR.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 2000 (86.7% pass). Weakest: 1989 (70.5%).

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 CBR400RR FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the HONDA CBR400RR reliable?

The HONDA CBR400RR is less reliable than average for its class: 76.4% of its 4,468 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #4134 of 5426 models.

What does a CBR400RR fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 28% of all defects recorded against failed CBR400RR tests.

What is the best year of CBR400RR to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2000-registered examples do best (86.7%) and 1989 worst (70.5%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a CBR400RR last?

The median CBR400RR shows 32,214 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 75.7% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.