HONDA NC35

399cc Petrol Class 2

#3493 of 5426 overall #610 of 921 HONDAs #2227 of 2787 other bikes

80.4%

first-time pass rate

11.3%

failed outright

26,732

median miles at test

576

MOT tests, 2005–2025

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2006–2015

The NC35's first-time pass rate has risen 10.1 points since 2006, 73.2% to 83.3%.

Pass rate by mileage

how the NC35's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage NC35 passes first time 85.7% of the time; by 40k that's 82.3%.

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 NC35

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded

Component group	Defects	% of defects	vs all bikes
lighting and signalling	46	31.7	1.3×
steering and suspension	31	21.4	1.5×
brakes	27	18.6	0.8×
tyres and wheels	13	9	1.1×
body and structure	7	4.8	1.8×
fuel and exhaust	6	4.1	1.4×
drive system	6	4.1	1.2×
reg plates and vin	4	2.8	0.6×
Items Not Tested	3	2.1	1.9×
tyres	2	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 NC35 beats 2 of its 4 closest rivals (KAWASAKI ER5, SUZUKI GS500, SUZUKI AN400).

KAWASAKI ER5 77.4% pass · 53.1k tests SUZUKI GS500 76.4% pass · 44.9k tests SUZUKI AN400 86.2% pass · 27.1k tests SUZUKI DR-Z400S 80.4% pass · 26.8k 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 NC35.

Pass rate by registration year

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

Best year to buy used: 1999 (91.3% pass). Weakest: 1994 (73.6%).

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 NC35 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the HONDA NC35 reliable?

The HONDA NC35 is less reliable than average for its class: 80.4% of its 576 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #3493 of 5426 models.

What does a NC35 fail its MOT on most?

lighting and signalling — 32% of all defects recorded against failed NC35 tests.

What is the best year of NC35 to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 1999-registered examples do best (91.3%) and 1994 worst (73.6%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a NC35 last?

The median NC35 shows 26,732 miles at test, and examples around 40k miles still pass 82.3% of the time — mileage alone rarely kills one.