HONDA CBX

1047cc Petrol Class 2

#1784 of 5426 overall #231 of 921 HONDAs #1084 of 2787 other bikes

87.4%

first-time pass rate

6.4%

failed outright

26,086

median miles at test

1,537

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2006–2022

The CBX's first-time pass rate has fallen 2.1 points since 2006, 90.7% to 88.6%.

Pass rate by mileage

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

A low-mileage CBX passes first time 93.1% of the time; by 50k that's 86.8%.

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 CBX

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
brakes	51	24.4	0.6×
lighting and signalling	47	22.5	0.6×
steering and suspension	46	22	0.8×
tyres and wheels	20	9.6	0.6×
lamps and reflectors	15	7.2	0.5×
drive system	15	7.2	0.9×
driving controls	5	2.4	1.4×
fuel and exhaust	4	1.9	0.3×
steering	3	1.4	0.5×
reg plates and vin	3	1.4	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 CBX beats 2 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 CBX.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1980 (91.4% pass). Weakest: 1985 (75.4%).

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 CBX FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the HONDA CBX reliable?

The HONDA CBX is more reliable than average for its class: 87.4% of its 1,537 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #1784 of 5426 models.

What does a CBX fail its MOT on most?

brakes — 24% of all defects recorded against failed CBX tests.

What is the best year of CBX to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1980-registered examples do best (91.4%) and 1985 worst (75.4%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a CBX last?

The median CBX shows 26,086 miles at test, and examples around 50k miles still pass 86.8% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.